Product Description

The Republic of Palau is the westernmost archipelago in Oceania; it is renowned for it’s pristine lagoons and immense marine diversity. Palau’s marine community features over 800 varieties of hard and soft corals, over 1,500 fish species and over 100 varieties of sponges. Its waters feature two species of endangered turtle the green and hawksbill turtles as well as the most endangered marine mammal, the dugong. There are over 800 islands within its territory with over 50 marine lakes within those islands, each supporting its own diverse marine microclimate. The skies above Palau teem with over 140 varieties of birds representing 41 families and 16 endemic bird species. Palau natural wonders are world-renowned and it’s clear waters host an assortment of dive sites that are considered by experts to be among the finest on the planet. This guidebook is written in a relaxed style, full of helpful information, presented with a touch of humor and the author’s personal opinions. You will enjoy the lighter side of this well researched guidebook as you discover the natural beauty of these islands.

• The only guidebook devoted entirely to Palau, allowing more in depth coverage than other titles encompassing all of Micronesia.
• The most extensive and up to date listing of accommodations of any guidebook of the region, including photos, Website listings and E-mail addresses.
• Complete Inter-Island flight schedules and island ferry boat schedules.
• Extensive coverage of activities on each island. Diving, Fishing, Snorkeling, Kayaking, Surfing, Tours and Cultural Events.
• Over 40 maps and pictures.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #204844 in Books
• Published on: 2006-01-12
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 160 pages

About the Author
Mike Hollywood is the author of two previous guidebooks. The West Indies on $50.00 a Day was published in 2001 and Papa Mike’s Cook Islands Handbook was published in 2003. Mike spent two months in the spring of 2005 traveling and researching his third guidebook on Palau. This book represents his third title with iUniverse. Mike resides in Emigrant, Montana.

Contact the author at: Post Office Box 21, Emigrant, MT 59027
E-mail: bimbolimbotravel@aol.com
Website: www.mikehollywood.com

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Customer Reviews

Do you really need a guide for Palau?
Normally I buy a guide for everywhere I go... thus, I bought 'Papa Mike's for my journey to Palau. Once I was here I found that Palau is a lot like going to a very small town USA... think Mayberry (Andy_Griffith_Show). There is not much that you can't find on your own or by asking anyone in Palau. The population of Palau is about 21,000, of whom 70% are native Palauans and there is one principle road going through Koror (no stop lights! Think Mayberry) where it is hard to get lost. However, if you really want a guide then Papa Mike's is the best out (actually it is the only current guide out - kinda reduces the field eh?). Mike's writing is more like talking with someone who knows the islands over a cup of Java. His recommendations for lodging are good and his restaurant reviews are reliable (though much in this guide is dated - pre 2006 and some of the restaurants listed have closed). The easiest way to get a grip on Palau is using the webpage Tripadvisor. Though the guide can be useful it has a great need of better layout, much better maps (to help locate recommended hotels and restaurants) and updated information. That said, Papa Mike's is a worthwhile guide if you really need one, but then again, in Palau you can find out about anything by just asking Aunt Bee or Barney. For divers highly recommended is Lonely Planet Palau: Diving & Snorkeling

A humorous yet useful approach to travel
I found this guide to be a great introduction to palau and useful in my wanderings around the islands. Too bad the author is a redneck old guy without much of an interest in marine exploits, or he would have expanded much better on the best side of Palau, which is scuba diving. Also the maps are confusing as the keys to places are kind of mixed-up in the black and white reproductions. But I would nevertheless recommend the book to anyone going to Palau as a very good reference.

Papa Mike's Palau Islands Handbook
Very helpful in planning our trip. The book even gave details on the outer island besides the main island of Koror. Books on Palau do not exist if you want info buy this book