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

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 As with all travel books, prices and a few other small things are out of date.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.

Well there is a lot to say. Today I got back from haiti trying out this book. I feel like this book was not budget oriented for a couple of reasons and thats why I gave it 4 stars.1. prices were not listed2. the shoestring budget hotels were listed >50 dollars3. many options were not listedI can understand why the author did what he did, he wanted travelers to help the economy of haiti and also knew that hotel prices fluctuate rapidly in haiti.Also I felt like the city to city bus transportation sections lacked content in terms cities that were not les cayes, cap haiten, gonaives, jacamel, and port au prince.the greatest part of the book was the economic, historical, and political excerpts that were quite fascinating. The sections on currency were immensely helpful as well.the hotel descriptions were quite good too-Thank you Paul Clammer, sorry I couldn't give it 5 stars.

...this must be it!Clammer has written the most well-balanced assessment of Haiti as a place to visit and not just a place to do "charity work". Not only that, but he asks the hard questions like, what makes you think that you can do a better job than the Haitians (with nearly 75% formal unemployment)?The only thing I would have liked to see changed, would be more color photos. Or more photos for that matter. The book reads like one of Uncle John's Bathroom Readers, with short essays on a wide range of areas. Not only does Clammer give an extremely thorough and accurate review of places to visit in Haiti, including places to stay and where to shop, but he also gives us a lot of interesting history and fun facts on the country. It is clear that Clammer loves Haiti and wants to see the country's success. I've learned more about Haiti in this one book than in any other single book I've read to date.I'll be going to do an immersion program with the Academy of Haitian Language and Culture, May 2013, and will bring this book for my own reference as well as for others to look at. [...]

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.

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!