Just returned from a fabulous 10 days in Kauai. We purchased and studied several guidebooks before our trip and took them all along with us. However, this was our "go to" book. It is like a friend had just returned and given us all their favorite places. And we cannot say enough about Hanalei and west of. Narrow your visit and no worries!

There are two guides that pretty much cover the field for a visit to Kauai. Although I don't have this edition, Kauai Underground has always provided very reliable information about the kinds of things visitors commonly do in Kauai - eat at restaurants, go to the beach, etc. Maybe it's just accident, but I find over and over again that I agree with Lenore and Mira's recommendations. What inspired me to write this is that the 18th ed identifies Kalihiwai as a great family beach. It is! And few people seem to realize that. These guys know what they are talking about!

Incidentally, the other "can't do without" is Kauai revealed, which is absolute tops for the OTHER side of the equation: hiking, sports, adventures, etc. from a truly knowledgable perspective.

Take em both because both are tops on different aspects of the island.

I bought 3 books on Kaua'i and I ranked this one second behind Kaua'i Revealed. This is a good guide with many good pointers, but lacks detailed directions on how to get to some places. I have been to Kaua'i now 3 times and I am looking for new places to explore. All in all, this is a good buy for the money.

If you like to dine out, this is the book for you. Over 90 pages of a 239 page book are devoted to restaurants. For my wife and I who like to pack a lunch and go exploring, this part of the book was not used. We like to hike and photograph scenic spots. Two of Kauai's most scenic spots, Wailua Falls and Opaeka'a Falls are not even mentioned in the book. The index is rather skimpy. The book is heavily weighted toward those who want to patronize the local businesses for tours, rentals, shopping, etc. with lots and lots of names and phone numbers. We found the section on choosing a helicopter company based on what each has to do for their FAA certificate helpful, as well as how many crash fatalities each has had. One of the most helpful guides that we had was a magazine called Kaua'i Traveler ($4.95 at Amazon) which we picked up at our hotel. It included very succinct descriptions of and directions to the top sites on the island. The magazine gave us directions to Kipu Falls which is easily accessible by a short well worn trail. The guide book says that "the only safe and legal way to visit Kipu Falls" is go take a kayak and hiking tour costing $75 to $129.

The book contains a great deal of information about Kauai's best hidden places and how to discover them on your own. It is a great resource for people who prefer peace and natural beauty without crowds or commercialism. However, tours are sometimes the only way to explore the places that make Kauai so special (for example boat tours of the Na Pali coast, helicopter tours, or hiking tours of the interior wilderness best accessed by experienced leaders) and so the authors suggest the best local companies, particularly those with a history of responsible tourism and respect for the environment. Readers need options, and the authors try to make detailed information available for informed choices. As the original guidebook writers to Kauai, the book has often been praised for its extensive and reliable research. It made my vacation!

Not enough information on how to do any activities on your own. Too many "Guided tours".

This is an amazing travel guide. The authors cover every inch of the island, and their descriptions are spot-on accurate. We spent 12 days in Kauai and stayed at the Lihue Marriott as perfectly recommended by the book. We carried this book with us every where we went.

The book was simply an inexhaustible resource that steered us in the right direction time and time again. The book made our vacation even more stress free. I don't know how the vacation would have gone without it.

The only downside of the book is that the authors don't recommend their "overall favorite" beach for winter and summer, or their "overall favorite" restaurant.

The beaches are dramatically different during the winter and the summer. For example, you do not want to be on the north side of the island during the winter, where it rains all the time. In the winter, the best beaches by far can be found at Salt Pond Beach Park on the south side of the island, or at Polihale State Park on the west side of the island (make sure to rent a Jeep or SUV if you want to enjoy the Polihale State Park's spectacular mountainside beaches, which can only be accessed via a dirt road through sugar cane fields; we braved the trip in a Pontiac G6 but it was a white knuckle drive.).

Unfortunately, the authors' descriptions of the beaches are generally in a "best weather" format, and generally don't distinguish between the seasons. As a result, we spent one day driving around in rain on the north and east sides of the island looking for what were supposed to be great beaches. The beaches are great in the summer, but in the winter they were nothing but rough waves, wind, and rain. (We confirmed the first day's results when we frequently re-visited those sides of the island to dine.)

We also spent a few nights at restaurants that the authors described as good, and that were generally good. However, I wish we hadn't waited to dine at The Blossoming Lotus, which offers a dining experience unmatched by any other restaurant on the island, and can certainly compete with any mainland fine dining restaurant. In 2006, the restaurant was named the best on the island and is critically praised by many experts. The authors should just acknowledge what everyone else already knows and come out and call it the best restaurant on the island. Generally, all of the island's restaurants except the Mexican restaurants (try Mariachi's!) offer the same dishes, and, thus, are redundant. The Blossoming Lotus is truly a unique dining experience, and I will quickly add not just on the island. It literally blew us away!!!

Buy the book and enjoy Kauai!!!

This Kauai Guide Book is One of the most recent and up-to-date Guides to "Things-to-do" on Kauai....My Third Trip is coming up in Febuary and this Guide has Information in it that I was not aware of of....Buy this Guide!!!!(Make sure when ordering that the Copy you are buying is the "Latest Most-up-to-date Edition--Some Amazon Merchants have Guides listed that are 1 to 3 years old)..It has a Nice Selection of Hawaiian Music on CD in the rear of the book....Two other Guides are also Great(It's Nice to have all 3 because each are different).."The Utlimate Kauai Guidebook(2006 is the latest Edition)" and "Kauai Trailblazer"(2007)....All 3 Books will give you just about everything you need to know...Don't forget to ask Locals questions on other Spots when you get there---As Great as these Guides are,Kauai is changing!...TWO TIPS----FOR GOLFERS---Check Ebay(Kauai Golf) for Golf Times at the Resorts--You can save a lot of Money buying these Tee Times in Advance....AVOID DRIVING IN RUSH HOURS ON THE COCONUT COAST(Kapaa area down to Lihue to Koloa)...You may creep along in traffic for an Hour or so.Jim Gscheidle

I AM PLANNING A TRIP TO KAUAI NEXT SUMMER THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS TO PACK FOR A VACATION BUT TWO THINGS YOU SHOULD NEVER BE WITHOUT IS (1) "ULTIMATE KAUAI GUIDEBOOK" AND (2) "KAUAI UNDERGROUND GUIDE". THESE TWO BOOKS ARE LIKE A BIBLE THEY SEPERATE A NORMAL VACATION FROM AN HAWAIIAN EXPERIENCE. THIS BOOK EVALUATE AND JUDGE THE BEST AND AVERAGE BEACHES ALL AROUND KAUAI, AND THERE IS A BIG SECTION WHERE THEY JUDGE AND EVALUATE THE BEST AND AVERAGE RESTAURANTS ALL AROUND KAUAI. IN THIS BOOK IF A BEACH OR A RESTAURANT IS REAL GOOD THEY TELL IT LIKE IT IS, AND IF A BEACH OR RESTAURANT IS MEDIOCRE OR POOR THEY TELL IT LIKE IT IS. AND AS A BONUS THERE IS HAWAIIAN CD WITH SIX BEAUTIFUL HAWAIIAN SONGS BUT IT IS DONE IN THIER HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO MY HAWAIIAN EXPERIENCE IN KAUAI WHERE I WILL PUT THESE TWO BOOKS TO GOOD USE

My husband and I have been using the Underground Guide for our trips to Kauai for 18 years. We make sure we have a current edition for every trip we take. It has saved us precious time and a lot of money over the years. Other guides are ok, but this one is by far and away the best for the most up to date information, useful information for those new to the island as well as seasoned veterans, the best directions, and a wide variety of reviews on activities and restaurants for different budgets. Safety is a priority when it comes to both the swimming (some beaches have tricky conditions to watch for) and helicopter tours and she has a great review of both. We have found many fabulous places that we never would have found on our own, even though we have spent many vacations there. Don't miss out on Hamura's Saimin - you'll never eat ramen from a styrofoam cup again!

Thank you for a speedy shipment and an excellent buy! Would highly recommend this seller.

Other then missing a thorough map this guide is excellent. It even comes with a fun little music CD to set the mood while you plan your trip.

I've been fortunate enough to have traveled to Kauai many times over the last decade. From the very first time, whatever is the current edition of this book has been with me. I have a sentimental and grateful attachment to "Kauai Underground Guide" as it's added so much to each trip.
When I hear that a family member or acquaintance is visitng Kauai for the first time, I order this book as a gift, knowing that it will add immensely to the enjoyment and discovery of their first journey to the "Garden Isle."
Yes, there are other Kauai guidebooks--more every year, it seems. There is even one that's supposedly the "Bible." But THIS is by far my favorite..and I've tried them all. Why? Lenore's sincere love of the island is so evident! She's not out to write anything sarcastic or negative, instead focusing on the many wonderful beaches, restaurants, shops, sites , and ideas for a full days' activities that she and her family enjoy, explaining in detail what makes them special. I love her ideas for how to spend special days in different parts of the island.
For any visitor, and especially for families, I daresay there's no better or more personal book. She and her family and freinds have been visiting Kauai for decades, and she writes from that point of view: as a Mom, friend, tourist, and part-time island inhabitant. Thus, she gives tips that so-called resident "experts" may miss, since they are not necessarily seeing things from a visitor's viewpoint.
Please note, if you are looking for numerous hotel reviews, this is not the standard guidebook with ratings of every hotel or condo. The book highlights some special accommodations, but if you're looking for a review of every accomodation on the island, it's not here. Instead, you'll get a great description of what to look for as you research the best accomodation to make YOUR stay special.
I also love that the Keali'i Reichel CD is included. You'll love it, as it gets you in the mood for your upcoming trip, or reminds you fo the great one you just had. And how many authors do you know who contribute part of their profits to give back to the local children in place that has given them so much joy?

"Mahalo" to the author, from one of those Kauai visitors with whom you've shared your insight!

I have traveled all over the world and have used all the "regular" guidebooks, but I have never found anything quite like the Kauai Underground Guide. You can just tell that the Horowitz's love the island and know it inside and out -- so much better than a generic book that covers every island in the same way. This guidebook describes each beach, restaurant, and activity in its own special way and lead us to hidden spots like Haimura Saimin -- perhaps the most unique Kauai experience and the tastiest noodles we ever had --and Mahalapu? It is a must read before you go -- and, the best part is that by buying it you give something back to the wonderful island that you are visiting. The proceeds of the Underground Guide are divided among 5 local children's charities. That alone seems enough reason to buy this book!!

My husband and I just spent two weeks in Hawaii for our honeymoon, one week on Maui and the second on Kauai. We had been to Maui before, but we bought this guide since we really weren't sure about anything on Kauai at all! Not only did we get great ideas for restaurants within our price range (Coconuts in the Lihue area and Duke's at the Marriot were our favorites), but we had accurate maps, insights on guided tours, and so much more. I truly believe our honeymoon wouldn't have been the same had we NOT purchased this guide. Thank you so much for making our trip so easy, relaxed, and a great time!

I just returned from Kauai, and I found that the Horowitz's recommendations were right on. They helped me find the best restaurants and beaches--and how to park to get to them!!! (Tunnels Beach is quite tricky, and Haimura Saimin is a hidden treasure!) I have traveled extensively, and I would definitely recommend this book to anyone thinking of going to Kauai. In fact -- I would recommend it to those just dreaming of going!