created on 2009-01-11 19:36:08
Avalon Travel Publishing has released the 6th edition of Moon Tahiti, the leading travel guidebook to French Polynesia. Author David Stanley wrote the first South Pacific Handbook in 1979. Ten years later the handbook’s French Polynesia chapter was spun off as a separate guide and Moon Tahiti continues to draw on Stanley's three decades of experience in the region. Moon Tahiti’s 330 pages include dozens of photos, line drawings, and charts, plus a bibliography, glossary, vocabularies, and index. The 54 maps are clearly labeled without the confusing map keys found in other guides. Four maps of the capital Papeete are provided, and this edition contains new town plans of Hauru (Moorea) and Hakahau (Ua Pou) and island maps of Fakarava and Tikehau. The book’s presentation has been entirely revamped with much of the introductory material moved to Background and Essentials chapters at the back of the book. In Essentials there’s now a Tips for Travelers section with specific advice for those interested in work or study, travelers with disabilities or children, and others with special needs. A new “blue section” in the front of Moon Tahiti features a five-page “Discover Tahiti and French Polynesia” essay with original color photos. Then comes “The Lay of the Land” with introductions to Tahiti, Moorea, and the Leeward, Austral, Tuamotu, Gambier, and Marquesas islands. “Planning Your Trip” in the blue section gives advice on when to go and what to take, while “Explore Tahiti and French Polynesia” offers precise day-by-day itineraries titled “The Best of French Polynesia,” “Underwater in the Tuamotu Islands,” “The Australs: Off the Beaten Track,” and “The Magnificent Marquesas.” “Romance on the South Seas” explores French Polynesia’s sensual pleasures, while “The Life Aquatic” is devoted to scuba diving, snorkeling, and surfing. All of the practical information in Moon Tahiti has been re-researched and rewritten, and the internet and email addresses are now embedded in the text for ease of reference. The travel chapters have become more strategic with Must See and Top Pick highlights coded with special symbols in both the text and on the maps. Boxes at the beginning of each chapter focus attention on the best of the best. Each chapter also has a new Planning Your Time section. David Stanley researches his books incognito and eschews the "hospitality" many other travel writers enjoy and the listings are thorough and critical. When one considers the high cost of a Tahitian vacation, the price of this guidebook is quite low and the savvy traveler will order a copy. About Moon Tahiti The 6th edition of Moon Tahiti (ISBN 1-56691-804-9 or 978-156691-804-6) was published by Avalon Travel Publishing of Berkeley, California, in November, 2007. Priced at US$19.95, the book is distributed in the United States by Publishers Group West, in Canada by Publishers Group Canada, and in Australia and New Zealand by Bookwise International. To order online, visit http://www.southpacific.org/tahiti.html
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created on 2009-01-11 19:20:42
Avalon Travel Publishing has released the 8th edition of Moon Fiji, the original travel guide to the 322-island Fiji archipelago. Since 1985, Moon Fiji has been the leading travel guidebook to Fiji. Author David Stanley began writing about the South Pacific in 1979, and over the years tens of thousands of Pacific travelers have used his guides to Fiji, Tahiti, Tonga, Samoa, Micronesia, and the South Pacific. In this 8th edition, the introductory material has been moved into Background and Essentials chapters at the back of the book. Background was updated with an account of the recent military coup in Fiji, and there’s now a “Tips for Travelers” section in Essentials with information for those with special interests or needs. A new “blue section” in the front of Moon Fiji includes a five-page Discover Fiji essay with color photos. Then there’s “The Lay of the Land” with summaries of Fiji’s nine regions, “Planning Your Trip” with advice on when to go and what to take, and “Explore Fiji” with two specific 14-day itineraries titled “The Best of Fiji” and “Island-Hopper Special”. Details of sports and recreation, nature reserves, and culture are also included in the blue section. Unlike the maps in other guidebooks which contain confusing numbered keys, the 52 maps in Moon Fiji are clearly labeled. To allow for detail, three street maps of Fiji's capital Suva are included, and two of the gateway city Nadi. A map of Denarau Island has been added in this edition. All of the practical information throughout the book has been re-researched and rewritten. New resorts in the Mamanuca Group such as Funky Fish Beach, Walu Beach, Likuliku Lagoon, and Amunuca Island are included for the first time, and the Marriott and InterContinental projects south of Nadi are discussed. Internet and email addresses are embedded in the listings for ease of reference. Rob Kay of FijiGuide.com has this to say about Moon Fiji: "Packed with great maps it also has resources such as a comprehensive bibliography, and tips on local etiquette. More importantly, Stanley excels at getting accurate information on hotels, inexpensive restaurants and tourist sites. However there is another reason why his guide is valuable. Stanley does not simply list the properties in alphabetical order and expect the reader to determine what's best. Based on personal visits and feedback from visitors, he will actually offer you an opinion and the straight facts." About Moon Fiji The 385-page 8th edition of Moon Fiji (ISBN 1566919827) was published by Avalon Travel Publishing of Berkeley, California, in September, 2007. Priced at US$19.95, this book is distributed in the United States by Publishers Group West, in Canada by Publishers Group Canada, and in Australia and New Zealand by Bookwise International. To order online, visit http://www.southpacific.org/fiji.html
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