Dominican Republic Books

Top 10 Dominican Republic (Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guide)

DK Publishing

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Good breakdown 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 4 people found this review helpful.

I have to say that I haven't been there to validate what the book contains, but from the looks of it I think it provides a fair assessment. It was helpful and has loads of categories so whether you're going all-inclusive or not it can help.

Beautiful book 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Very beautiful, lots of good pictures.

On the negative side, a little bit hard to read, a just too little of information and not enough maps.

In general, very good book.

Great book if travelling to Dominican Republic 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I ordered this book for a recent trip to the Dominican Republic. It proved to be very useful! Great tips and great advice; it really helped out a lot while there.

Editorial Review:

Whether you're looking for the finest cuisine or the least expensive places to eat, the most luxurious hotels or the best deals on places to stay, Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guides provide useful information by local experts to find the best of everything at each destination.

Dominican Republic In Focus: A Guide to the People, Politics and Culture (In Focus Guides)

David John Howard

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Summary 3 out of 5 stars.
7 of 10 people found this review helpful.

This book has dealt well with subjects like the economy, politics, and local places to visit. Unfortunately, I found the information on the history and cultural identity of the Dominicans to be lacking information. For example, When Howard spoke too briefly of the Taino Indians or how the Dominicans have a need to be more "Indian". He was totally incorrect. The author does not hold a strong enough argument or facts to support this. He leaves the reader with much confusion about the Dominican identity.

Facinating 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 8 people found this review helpful.

This book is a much needed new insight on Dominican Republic where I travelled a lot a few years ago. It is very interesting situation with haiti and the author adresses cultural issues sensitively but informatively. The book is very easily to read and has a good order.

Editorial Review:

Currently one of the biggest tourist destinations in the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic has much more to offer than its idyllic beaches. "Dominican Republic in Focus" is a authoritative and up-to-date guide to this vibrant country. It explores the land, history and politics, economy, society and people, culture and includes tips on where to go and what to see. Photos and maps.

Lonely Planet Dominican Republic (Country Guide)

Gary Chandler, Liza Prado

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 9 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

consistently misleading 1 out of 5 stars.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful.

Lonely Planet has earned my loyalty through a lifetime of travel, but this guide is a glaring exception to their usual quality. Although it may be useful as a background read, it is so fraught with misinformation that it is worthless as an actual travel guide.

In addition to pervasive map inaccuracies, misquoted prices, misprints, and overly generous descriptions, the book's major shortcoming is that the country has changed so much since this edition was released that many of the businesses reviewed no longer exist and newer businesses aren't mentioned.


Do not buy this book until they come out with a new edition.

Editorial Review:

Catch the sunrise from the Caribbean's highest peak, dance in Spanish colonial streets during Carnival, glide through mangrove forests in search of gentle manatees - or find that deserted beach with pure white sand and clear blue seas. This essential guide will help you discover the many faces of this island paradise.

Get Active with our comprehensive coverage of the island's adventure sports, from hiking up Pico Duarte to world-class kiteboarding at Cabarete.

Live Like A Local - discerning eating and entertainment listings show you where to get the best pastelito and catch the latest baseball game.

Relax & Recharge in the best all-inclusive resorts or away from the crowds in a bungalow on the beach.

Plan The Perfect Getaway with dedicated itineraries, including beach-hopping, national parks and the highlights of Santo Domingo.

¡HABLA ESPANOL! with the help of our practical Spanish language chapter.

Frommer's Portable Dominican Republic (Frommer's Portable)

Darwin Porter, Danforth Prince

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 3.0 of 5

Good guide, but ... 4 out of 5 stars.
8 of 10 people found this review helpful.

The Frommer's Dominican Republic guide is a good guide for anyone making a quick trip to the DR. The book does overexaggerates on the crime issue. Crime in the DR is relatively low, maybe even lower than in the USA. Other than that, the book is excellent.

Editorial Review:

Put the Best of the Dominican Republic in Your Pocket

* With the island's best beaches, resorts, and attractions.
*

Outspoken opinions on what's worth your time and what's not.
*

Exact prices, so you can plan the perfect trip no matter what your budget.
*

Off-the-beaten-path experiences and undiscovered gems, plus new takes on top attractions.
*

The best hotels and restaurants in every price range, with candid reviews.

Frommer's. The best trips start here.

Experience a place the way the locals do. Enjoy the best it has to offer.

And avoid tourist traps. At Frommer's, we use 150 outspoken travel experts around the world to help you make the right choices.

Find great deals and book your trip at Frommers.com

The Rough Guide to The Dominican Republic Map (Rough Guide Country/Region Map)

Rough Guides

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Map is out of date 3 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

The most glaring error I found on this map is misleading info about Santiago's airport, which must be at least ten years old. The map shows it just north of the city, whereas the airport is actually 15 miles or so to the southeast. Otherwise, the map is vague about road conditions. Dirt roads are not distinguished from paved. Many roads are omitted. There is no detailed map of Santo Domingo or Santiago, the D.R.'s two largest cities.

Great find! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I have not purchased a map in a while. I am beyond myself impressed with the quality of this product! It has a smooth finish which makes me think I will be able to hang onto it for a very long time-I think it will last beyond my lifetime.

The Rough Guide to the Dominican Republic 3 (Rough Guide Travel Guides)

Sean Harvey

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 17 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Led me astray many times 3 out of 5 stars.
8 of 8 people found this review helpful.

I just returned from 16 days in the DR. I found this guide untrustworthy and wrong. I spent the first 3 days hiking Pico Duarte and then was based for 2 weeks in Santiago. To give you an idea of the level of error, the map of Santiago on p. 264 shows the Centro Leon in one place, the description on p. 269 gives another location: neither one is correct. Now, my travels were off the beaten tourist path--I only spent 4 hours at a beach. But that's why I chose the Rough Guide. In general the guide was written for travellers who rent cars, but everyone (including the guide) recommended against them. Guaguas are great!

Here are the errors in the order I encountered them:
p. 281 The Finca Altagracia does not accept overnight guests except on a long term stay. If you do manage to get a motoconcho to take you on the mountain road to get at their gates at night, they will not let you in and you will have to go to any farmhouse in a nearby village that's big and kind enough to take you in. The next morning they will tell you that they have been meaning to tell the guide that they got it wrong.
p. 287 Duarte's face is not sculpted onto the rocks. Clearly the writer or editor has never been to the summit of Pico Duarte.
p. 274 There *may* have been mines down the road leading to "La Cumbre de Juan Vegas", but the locals do not know of them, and my hour's hike to the end of the path did not find them. Currently there are mines off of a road about 3-4 kilometers further North. The turn is to the EAST right after the police station. Ask a motoconcho to take you to the mines. They are about 1 kilometer down the road, but hard to find on your own.
p. 269 The Centro de Recreo and the Palacio Consistorial are NOT on the North side of the park--on the west side.
p. 269-70 The Centro de Cultura is not where they say it is either.
p. 277 The Charcos de Los Indios is criminally overrated. I moved heaven and earth to find it, asking many locals and spending a whole day. The locals did say it is better when the waterfalls have more water, but the prose in this section should be toned down. I can send pictures of the place.
That's all I have time for now.

Editorial Review:

The revised, third edition of the Rough Guide to the Dominican Republic is the complete handbook to the Caribbean’s most popular destination. The guide opens with a 24-page, full-colour section introducing many of the island’s highlights, from the idyllic white-sand beaches and lavish resorts, to picturesque villages, coastal mangroves and the verdant Cordillera Central. There is lively coverage of all the island’s top attractions, from the colonial relics of Santo Domingo to the stunning beaches around Puerto Plata. There are detailed reviews of all the best places to stay, eat and drink, and for the more adventurous traveller the guide provides plenty of practical advice on all outdoor activities, including: snorkelling, scuba diving, white-water rafting and hiking. 

Moon Dominican Republic (Moon Handbooks)

Ana Chavier Caamano

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 3.0 of 5

Total And Complete Waste of Money 1 out of 5 stars.
3 of 9 people found this review helpful.

Seriously, if I could give this no stars I would.

This particular version is the worst I've ever encountered with Moon Guides. I love its Cuba and Yucatan books but this guide to the Dominican Republic was such a piece of junk I literally tossed in the garbage at the first place we stayed.

I understand that guidebook writers are paid very little but please do not take on this job unless you actually care about the travel advice you attach to your name. This was so obviously slapped together by someone who seems to have never set foot in the D.R.

Apparently the previous version of this book (early 2000s) was OK so I don't want to disparage the reporting of a previous author. But this version (by Ana Chavier Caamano) is uninspired and underreported at best and negligent and erroneous at worst.

Editorial Review:

Moon Dominican Republic provides you with the essential details needed to discover all the can't miss sights, attractions, and restaurants in this historical region, including the best lesser-known and local hotspots. Check out Cabarete, Las Galeras, Sosua, Taino ruins, and Santo Domingo. Or read intriguing sidebars about Dominicanisms, cockfights, the curse of Columbus, and "the green flash.
With firsthand experience and honest insight, author Ana Chavier Caamano provides you with all the tools you need to create your own unique experience. Ana's fun and creative travel suggestions can help you plan your perfect trip.

National Geographic Traveler: Dominican Republic (National Geographic Traveler)

Christopher Baker

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 2.0 of 5

Superficial, Poorly Indexed, Not Very Helpful 2 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

We are active travelers who explore extensively; we seldom "stay put". We want lots of details and like many recommendations of "sights to see". This disappointing guide contains very basic info about the DR, but lacks depth. The photos are nice, but many of the photo subjects (named waterfalls, for example) do not appear in the index, so you cannot determine exactly where they are. The index is very poorly done; you cannot find "scuba diving" in the index, even though good scuba diving spots are described in the text. There are no highlights of the "Best of" the country's beaches, fishing, sights to see, or anything else. There are no suggestions for how you might spend 7 days or 10 days or 14 days driving the "highlights" of the Dominican Republic. Unless you want a very superficial guide and some pretty pictures, buy a different guide.

Editorial Review:

Splendid resorts, aqua waters, sandy beaches, and evenings filled with merengue and dark rum: The Dominican Republic boasts all the ingredients for a relaxing vacation. But there is much to discover as well, with tropical rain forests, mangrove swamps, vast desert expanses, and a mountainous interior. An amazing array of opportunities for ecotourism and adventure travel are available throughout this beautiful natural realm. From the bustling, historic capital city of Santo Domingo to the wildlife-rich Lago Enriquillo, from the underdeveloped Semana Peninsula famous for whale-watching to the remote beaches and sugar plantations in the southeast, the guide provides everything you need to make the most of your trip.

Waterproof Dominican Republic and Haiti Map by ITMB

International Travel Maps and Books

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Editorial Review:

Folded road and travel map in color. Scale 1:400,000/1:350,000. Distinguishes roads ranging from highways to other roads. Legend includes tracks, railways, ferry routes, coral reefs, national parks, check-points, airports/regional airports, airfields, passes, botanical gardens, sites of natural interest, ruins, historical vestiges, churches, golf courses, hotels, palaces/castles, beaches, diving sites, fishing sites, wrecks, scenic viewpoints, museums. Includes inset map of Santo Domingo and Port-au-Prince.

Dead Man in Paradise: Unraveling a Murder from a Time of Revolution

J. B. MacKinnon

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Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

The award-winning story of a nephew's search for the truth behind his uncle's murder— described by CBC radio as "equal parts Ian Rankin, Jan Morris and Joan Didion."

At nightfall on June 22, 1965, amid the turmoil of the Dominican revolution and U.S. military occupation, a soldier emerged from the outskirts of a small town to report that he had just shot and killed two policemen and an outspoken Catholic priest. It's the opening scene in a mystery that, forty years later, compels writer J.B. MacKinnon— the priest's nephew, born five years after the incident—to visit the island nation for himself. Beginning with scant official information, he embarks on a chilling investigation of what many believe was a carefully plotted assassination—and on a search for the uncle he never knew.

Winner of Canada's highest award for literary nonfiction, Dead Man in Paradise takes MacKinnon to corners of the country far from the Caribbean paradise seen by millions of tourists; he meets with former revolutionaries and shadowy generals from the era of dictatorship, family members of the slain policemen, and struggling Dominicans for whom the dead priest is a martyr, perhaps even a saint. Along the way, he uncovers a story inseparable from the brutal history of the New World, from the fallout of American invasion, and from the pure longing for social justice that once touched a generation. Part memoir, part travelogue, part mystery thriller, Dead Man in Paradise is "a testament to the enduring virtues of literary journalism" (The Georgia Straight).