From a pulsing reggae beat to the waves lapping the beach, volcanoes to casinos, all kinds of water sports to great golf and tennis, the Caribbean has something to delight any traveler. Whether you’re looking for an active adventure or a relaxing escape, a spectacular honeymoon suite or a quiet retreat, a ritzy golf resort and spa or a kid-friendly resort, you’ll find it in the Caribbean. This book gives you information on: The most popular islands: Aruba, Barbados, The British Virgin Islands, Grand Cayman, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, St. Lucia, Sint Maarten/St. Martin, and The U.S. Virgin Islands Handling your money, including the currency used on each island and tipping recommendations All sorts of accommodations, ranging from a Palladian-style mansion to two-story rondavels designed like Tiki huts on stilts and from a plantation-style retreat to rustic villas The best beaches, including Palm Beach on Aruba, Gold Coast on Barbados Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman, Luquillo Beach on Puerto Rico, and more Intriguing ideas for active vacations, including exploring the cunucu by Jeep in Aruba, windsurfing in Barbados, scaling Jamaica’s highest peaks, hiking in a Puerto Rican rainforest, and more Great scuba diving, including wreck diving in Aruba and the British Virgin Islands, the famous Cayman Wall, and more Great golf courses, including some designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., Robert Trent Jones, Jr., and Tom Fazio Where to shop for everything from European china, jewelry, perfumes, and linens to flavored rums, Jamaican coffees, and Puerto Rican carnival masks Like every For Dummies travel guide, Caribbean For Dummies, 4th Edition includes: Down-to-earth trip-planning advice What you shouldn’t miss — and what you can skip The best hotels and restaurants for every budget Handy Post-it Flags to mark your favorite pages Fantastic fishing. Incredible snorkeling. Great tennis facilities. Incomparable sailing and windsurfing. Casinos, shows, and discos. Intriguing cuisine, including Nuevo Latino, West Indian, and French plus local fare like cod fritters, conch, and all kinds of seafood concoctions. Beautiful scenery ranging from sandy beaches to jungle-like forests. Sample all the Caribbean has to offer in this friendly guide and then plan your trip and dig in.

The perfect introduction to Caribbean island getaways. This complete guide helps you decide which island to visit based on what you want to do, when you want to go, and how much you have to spend. Focusing on the islands that are best for first-time visitors--and that offer the biggest bang for the buck--Caribbean For Dummies offers the best of the best and includes Reviews of travel basics--from finding the very best deals to overcoming language barriers Analysis of the benefits of package deals--the easiest, cheapest way to get to the islands Coverage of Aruba, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Grand Cayman, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, St. Lucia, St. Martin/St. Maarten, and the U.S. Virgin Islands

If you’re planning a Bahamas getaway, this guide gets you in the know and in the mood. You’ll practically feel the sand between your toes and the sea breeze brushing your face. Find out about hot spots, like the well-touristed Nassau, Paradise Island, and Freeport/Lucaya on Grand Bahama Island, and less-visited islands like the Exumas and Abacos that are perfect if you want serious R & R. This guide covers: An overview of Bahamian customs, music, festivals, cuisine, and “thirst-busters” Accommodations ranging from simple Bahamian inns and guesthouses to mega-resorts, and from quaint gingerbread villas to a spectacular beach resort with a kids’ camp The best places for all kinds of water sports, including water skiing, banana boat rides, Jet-Skiing, sailing, and parasailing Snorkeling and scuba diving, including dramatic reef trips, shark dives, shipwreck dives, and even night dives Fishing for wahoo, blue marlin, oceanic bonito, blackfin tuna, snapper, grouper, barracuda, dolphins, and more Great places to stay and play if tennis or golf is your game Gambling at glamorous casinos and taking in great stage shows Shopping for international imports of china, perfume, crystal, gemstones, or watches A calendar of events including festivals, tournaments, and local holidays Like every For Dummies travel guide, Bahamas For Dummies, 4th Edition includes: Down-to-earth trip-planning advice What you shouldn’t miss — and what you can skip The best hotels and restaurants for every budget Handy Post-it Flags to mark your favorite pages Whether you’re honeymooning or bringing the kids…whether you want to be an adventurous underwater explorer or a contented beach potato…this guide will help you enjoy the many sites and moods of the Bahamas.

With a wealth of attractions and adventures, Costa Rica is one of the hottest vacation destinations in the Americas. Whether you want relaxation or excitement, you’ll find it. Stroll leisurely on the beach or zip through the treetops on a canopy tour. Explore urban San Jose or incredible national parks with unspoiled wilderness. Choose the Caribbean Coast or the Central Pacific Coast. Lounge beside an infinity pool or battle a billfish. Seek out exuberant nightlife or take in the lush tropical scenery. Go golfing, snorkeling, volcano viewing, river rafting, sea kayaking, mountain biking, or horseback riding. Stay in a luxurious resort or a rustic wooden cabin . . . a Mediterranean villa or an Ecolodge tent. This friendly guide clues you in, with: The lowdown on how to get to Costa Rica and how to get around after you arrive Details on San Jose and the Central Valley; the Guanacaste area, Costa Rica’s “Gold Coast”; the Manuel Antonio area, the most popular ecotourism destination; the Monteverde area with its misty cloud forests; and the rest of the country Suggested itineraries to help you make the most of your time A “Quick Concierge” section with key phone numbers, Web addresses, and other handy how-to’s for traveling in Costa Rica Like every For Dummies travel guide, Costa Rica For Dummies, 3rd Edition includes: Down-to-earth trip-planning advice What you shouldn’t miss — and what you can skip The best hotels and restaurants for every budget Lots of detailed maps

Relatively tiny Ireland (32,600 sq. miles) packs great attractions into a small area. You can pack a lot of diverse experiences into your trip with this book as your guide. Climb the cliffs. Kiss the blarney stone. Have a bowl of Irish stew and a pint of Guinness in a local pub. Pay homage to literary giants W. B. Yeats, James Joyce, or Frank McCourt. Play championship golf courses. Whether you?re a book lover or a golf nut?a history buff or a Celtic music fan?a full-fledged adventurer or a laid-back sight-seer, you?ll find plenty to enjoy in this guide that gives you the scoop on: Historic sights, including the 5,000 year old Newgrange Tomb, the burial mounds at Knowth, the storied Hill of Tara, ancient seat of the Irish high kings, and Glendalough, a monastic community founded in the sixth century Gorgeous natural wonders, including the sheer Cliffs of Moher and Slieve League cliffs; the rocky, wildflower-studded Burren; the beautiful Aran Islands; the wild landscape of Connemara; and more Cosmopolitan Dublin, hot-and-happening Belfast, and intriguing medieval villages The Traditional Irish Musical Pub Crawl Strolling through Powerscourt Garden or touring the Waterford Crystal Factory Exploring Killarney National Park on horseback, on a bike, or on foot Driving the Ring of Kerry with its seascapes, cliffs, and spectacular mountain views or the Dingle Peninsula with its patchwork of farms, plus sandy beaches, craggy cliffs, and more seascapes Staying in an ancient but luxurious castle or a comfortable B & B overlooking a working dairy farm Dining on diverse cuisines, ranging from Italian to Mediterranean to fusion and from meat-and-potatoes to sushi; enjoying great pub food at a local haunt or feasting at a medieval banquet in an authentic castle Like every For Dummies travel guide, Ireland For Dummies, 5th Edition helps you make the most of your vacation. It includes: Down-to-earth trip-planning advice What you shouldn't miss--and what you can skip The best hotels and restaurants for every budget Lots of detailed maps No, this book can?t tell you where to find a leprechaun, but if you?re looking for other Irish sites, attractions or adventures, you?re in luck with this guide.

In Cancun and the Yucatan, you can enjoy exquisite beaches, exhilarating adventures, or rejuvenating relaxation. You can go to Playa del Carmen with its hip social life or Isla Mujeres, where life moves along in a manana mode. Whether you want to explore ancient Mayan culture or modern day margarita culture, enjoy a siesta or a fiesta, stay in a luxurious resort or small palapa hotel, seek out best archaeological sites or the liveliest nightlife, this friendly guide is just the ticket with the scoop on: The best beaches, known for powdery white sand and crystal-clear waters Cozumel, a diver’s paradise with a myriad of water activities centered around its famous reef World-class scuba diving, snorkeling, cenote diving, fly fishing, golf, tennis, or birding Delicious local specialties Shopping for jewelry and authentic Mexican crafts Like every For Dummies travel guide, Cancun & the Yucatan For Dummies, Second Edition, includes: Down-to-earth trip-planning advice What you shouldn’t miss—and what you can skip The best hotels and restaurants for every budget Handy Post-it Flags to mark your favorite pages

Whether you want to go to New Orleans for its history or the revelry…the incredible, unique cuisine or the music and club scene…the risqué aura of Bourbon Street or the ritzy lushness of the Garden District, this is your fun and easy guide to exploring and enjoying "The Big Easy". New Orleans is indeed open for business; more than 1000 restaurants and more than half of the areas hotels are welcoming visitors. Written by Julia Kamysz Lane, a resident and fan of the Crescent City, New Orleans For Dummies, 4th Edition helps you make your most of your time, with: A full chapter on Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath, plus sections called “Assessing Katrina’s Effect” at the beginning of relevant chapters and the post-hurricane status for every listing Dining info on where to try a variety of local flavors, such as Cajun and Creole cuisine at Emeril’s, Antoine’s, or Arnauds, a romantic dinner at Court of Two Sisters, a greasy, roast-beef po’ boy from Elizabeth’s, a plateful of shucked oysters from Acme Oyster House, or beignets —tasty fried doughnuts — to start your day at Café du Monde Advice on shopping for everything from exquisite antiques and fine art to pralines and T-shirts A rundown of the city’s varied and exciting cultural scene, including the best bars and clubs in the French Quarter and beyond Info on cultural and historic attractions, including the Canal Streetcar, the New Orleans Museum of Art, the mansions on St. Charles Avenue, the courtyards in the French Quarter, the antebellum plantation houses in the Garden District, and more An overview of the vibrant, eclectic music scene, including where to catch live jazz, R & B, Cajun or zydeco vibes, or modern-day brass bands getting funky Four suggested itineraries, plus three day trips Like every For Dummies travel guide, New Orleans For Dummies, 4th Edition includes: Down-to-earth trip-planning advice What you shouldn’t miss — and what you can skip The best hotels and restaurants for every budget Handy Post-it Flags to mark your favorite pages The jazz is jammin’, the jasmine is blooming, and the jambalaya is simmering, so get this book and get packing. The infinite variety and captivating mystique of New Orleans await you.

From New England to the Oregon Coast, from Texas to the Tetons, America is full of fascinating and friendly places — and your RV is a great way to get to any one of them. This fun, friendly guide shows you how to get the most out of your RV vacations with fun itineraries and handy tips on: Choose the right route and the right season for travel Picking the RV that will get you where you want to go on a budget you can afford Eating and sleeping comfortably on the road Tying up the loose ends before you leave Planning ahead to take care of special travel needs Tips on fun museums and special getaways for snowbirds Like every For Dummies travel guide, RV Vacations For Dummies, 3rd Edition includes: Down-to-earth trip-planning advice What you shouldn’t miss — and what you can skip The best restaurants and hotels for every budget Lots of detailed maps

There are more than 5,400 timeshare resorts in destinations as diverse as England and Africa, Orlando and Shanghai. More than 3 million North Americans own timeshares around the world. Is timeshare ownership for you? Packed with information for current and prospective owners, this guide points out the plusses and the pitfalls and lets you in on the smartest ways to buy, sell, or swap timeshares. It covers: Questions to ask yourself Questions to ask timeshare sales representatives An overview of the types of timeshare ownership An update on variations on traditional timeshare vacations Financing, maintenance fees, assessments, and other economic considerations Like every For Dummies travel guide, Timeshare vacations For Dummies includes: Down-to-earth trip-planning advice What to look for—and what to look out for Which options best fit your budget and your vacation style Handy Post-it Flags to mark your favorite pages

This is the book to read before you book your cruise! Even if you’ve never set foot on a ship, you’ll know what to expect and how to enjoy every minute—on board or in port! Cruising is a great vacation value; for one price, you get your cabin, meals and entertainment, a variety of onboard activities, and the chance to explore different places. Discover how to pick the cruise for you and choose great things to do, with: Reviews of the best cruise lines Overviews of popular cruise ports in the Caribbean, Alaska, the Mediterranean, the Mexican Riviera, Hawaii, and New England and Eastern Canada Info on onboard entertainment, food, spa offerings, shopping, gambling, and children’s activities Recommendations on the top attractions and best shore excursions at popular ports Details on everything from passport requirements to packing tips, and from embarkation day to clearing customs Like every For Dummies travel guide, Cruise Vacations For Dummies 2006 helps you make the most of your vacation. It includes: Down-to-earth trip-planning advice Info on the best ships for every budget Tips on sightseeing at ports of call Handy Post-it Flags to mark your favorite pages