Fodor's Big Island of Hawaii, 2nd Edition (Full-color Travel Guide) Review

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Fodor's Big Island of Hawaii, 2nd Edition (Full-color Travel Guide) ReviewAs a guide to the Big Island of Hawaii, this book is pretty poor. It will tell you what is worth seeing for the most part, but getting you there is another story. If you're looking for a good guide that also has some fairly good maps in it, take a look at Experience the Big Island instead. It breaks the island down into various regions and provides good general maps for getting from one place to another. There is no 'official' map of the Big Island available, but you can get relatively good street maps at local shops. I strongly suggest you buy one of them first thing, as even with a good guide, you will probably still want a road map. Alternatively, you can bring a GPS with you, or rent one from your car rental place.
After having traveled to the Big Island twice now, here are a few recommendations:
1. Look into renting a condo instead of staying at a hotel for at least part of your trip. Condos can be had for $65-$200 a night depending on size and location, and will give you more privacy and the ability to cook some of your own meals.
2. Go to a local fish market and buy some fresh seafood! There is a marina near Kona where you can get fresh fish for very reasonable prices (at least by mainland standards). Some of the best meals my wife and I had while in Kona were comprised of fresh fruit from a street market and fish straight out of the ocean that morning.
3. You must, I repeat MUST go see Waipio Valley. It is stunning, and was the highlight of our last trip. If you get a rental car without 4X4, be prepared to walk down about a mile of steep switch back road to get to the bottom and the ocean, but it is VERY worth it. There is an overlook that doesn't require anything more than pulling your car over, but the best views are in the valley itself.
4. If you can, stay part of your time in Kona, and part of your time in Hilo or Volcano. Because of the size of the Island, it's really helpful to have a bit of time on both the east and west side as it will cut down the amount of driving you do and give you more time to explore Volcano National Park, etc...
5. If you can, take the helicopter circle tour. It's a bit pricey, but honestly you won't be thinking about the money you spent years later. The view of the lava flowing into the ocean (assuming it's active) is so worth the price.
6. If you want to hike to see the lava flow, get to Volcano National Park early (2-3 hours before sunset) so that you can park closer to the ranger station that leads to the active lava flow, as well as so you have plenty of time to hike out there. There are very many signs that talk about how dangerous this hike is, how you better be prepared, etc. These are intended to scare away those who really shouldn't be out there. If you are in reasonable health, the hike is not really taxing at all. Just make sure you have a couple high powered flashlights for the return trip. I recommend getting LED versions because they very bright, and will run on AA batteries meaning you don't have to lug a heavy 3-4 D cell version around, or carry it in your luggage. I recommend you get a Inova 5.8-Watt LED Flashlight. It is very light and produces an amazing amount of light for the size!
7. Bring "Experience the Big Island" with you on your trip! You might think you'll remember everything you want to see, and maybe you will, but having this excellent resource at your disposal in case something you planned doesn't work out is invaluable.
Enjoy your vacation to the Big Island!Fodor's Big Island of Hawaii, 2nd Edition (Full-color Travel Guide) Overview

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