Haiti (Bradt Travel Guide) Paperback – February 19, 2013

Having travelled to Haiti several times a year for the past 11 years, I'm familiar with the Port Au Prince area and more especially, the Sud, where Les Cayes is the largest city. The first chapter, Background Information, is accurate and doesn't shy away from the historical background information that doesn't always flatter US politics. Chapter 2, Practical Information, is authentic and quotes accurate prices. He includes very helpful information about health (malaria, etc.) One notable and much appreciated comment: "By bringing in free stuff, you are out-competing local people trying desperately to make a living selling similar goods." The example he uses speaks of all those well-meaning collections of missions groups who bring in suitcases of 'free shoes'. He is right on! The chapter on Southern Haiti includes helpful information about where to stay, where to eat, where to find local transportation, etc. All of the information is thorough (names, phone numbers, rates, websites if available, etc.) I highly recommend this as a really useful travel guide for anyone who is considering a trip to Haiti. There are several wonderful full color photo plates that illustrate the true beauty of Haiti; the only thing more beautiful is the people!

I bought this because, honestly, it was the ONLY travel guide that focused exclusively on Haiti (and not the DR too). I was impressed with the depth of history that Clammer put into the book. He includes good travel and safety information and precautions and this book will prepare you well for getting ready to travel to Haiti. The actual travel guide centers around Port-au-Prince, and then expands to focus on "Southern" and "Northern" regions, all of which are clustered into these sections. Having never been to Haiti before, it was slightly hard to follow the guide and orientation of the book but he has great recommendations for places to stay and things to do and all are laid out in an easy-to-read fashion! Highly recommend!

Being the only travel book on Haiti this is a must-have for anyone visiting the country. It is compact, yet full of helpful information. Clammer has a refreshing, positive view of Haiti and is eager to introduce others to this unique and interesting country. Be sure to read his sections on La Citadelle and the National Museum before you visit. We found that these descriptions were sometimes more helpful than the trained guides. As with all travel books, prices and a few other small things are out of date. That said, we found that the hotel ranges were sometimes a bit off - plenty of the "$$$" hotels had rooms in the $85-100 range (which is average for hotels in Haiti - limited competition and expensive utilities --> high prices), so don't be afraid to check out hotels that seem to be above your price range. Keep in mind, too, that Haiti is very much a developing country and you should, in general, keep your expectations for accommodation and facilities low. Clammer at times oversells some of the "must-see" sights in the book and, given how challenging transportation can be in the country, we were glad that we did not go terribly out of our way to see some of the places he covers (our two-week trip took us to Cap-Haitien, Montouis, Jacmel, and Port-au-Prince). All-in-all I was really impressed with this guide. It covered the practical basics and provided a terrific history and general overview of the country which made for enjoyable - and often entertaining - reading both before leaving and in-country.

I go to Haiti several times a year so I was happy to find this newly published guide book about Haiti. It is very helpful for a foreign visitor who wants to get out and see some parts of the country. The descriptions are accurate and helpful. My Haitian friends now say that I "now more about their country than they do." My only complaint, which the book has no control over, is that some of the phone numbers and prices are wrong. Regarding the phone numbers, they change and are out of service regularly in Haiti so it is best to find as many possible numbers as possible to contact a place. As for the prices, there is not a lot of competition in Haiti, inflation is high, and everything is imported, so prices are surprisingly high. Because of thess things, prices often rise. regardless, I'd buy this guide book again.

I have been to Haiti about 10 times and travel there 3 to 4 times each year because I oversee a partnership between the school where I serve as chaplain and a school in the mountains of the Central Plateau. Each year, I take a group of high school students to Haiti, so they can meet the students, teachers, and families of our partner school and work with them to exchange ideas and gifts. We also visit other places to learn about Haitian culture. The Haiti (Bradt Travel Guide) is an excellent resource to round out such a service trip. The book includes excellent descriptions of places to visit, special attractions, and historical insights to the various regions of the country. Also, the book provides maps of how to travel from one place to another, which can be helpful because since the earthquake street signs are non-existent. The book also offers a small lexicon of Creole phrases and key words that one would use while traveling in Haiti. Finally, the book provides a short history of the country from the landing of Columbus to the present day. The book is a must purchase for any one who ventures to Haiti.