A hardcover guide with very thin pages, Footprint Handbooks' Caribbean Islands Handbook will stand up to travel better than most. There's a concise but incisive summary of each island's history, literature, flora, and fauna; activities, beaches, and festivals; and a detailed guide to sightseeing, accommodations, dining, and entertainment. A densely packed guide that's meant to be brought along, it's strong on current info (like which roads are rough and which museums are "temporarily" closed); good with phone numbers, hours of operation, and prices; frank on health risks and where to change money; and pithy when it comes to descriptions. The focus here is on packing in as much travel information as possible without weighing you down with an unwieldy tome. Footprint doesn't lead you here or push you there; instead, it provides all the information independent travelers need to explore as they choose. --Stephanie Gold