Papa Mike's Cook Islands Handbook

Announcing publication of the newest guidebook on the increasingly popular Cook Islands. With maps, photos, websites and E-mail addresses on tours and accommodations on all fourteen populated islands.

Santa Barbara California, October 26, 2003. Author Mike Hollywood announced today the release of, "Papa Mike's Cook Islands Handbook, a travel guidebook concentrating on wide-eyed, open minded adventure travel, in this case to the South Pacific's Cook Islands. The book, published by iUniverse, is the authors second in a series on island destinations, intended to expose the reader to the people and culture of a region.

The book differs from the majority of mass-market guidebooks, by speaking directly to the reader in a relaxed conversational tone. The well researched book is dispensed with a dose of humor by an author that feels that guidebooks do not need to read like textbooks. The reader will enjoy the lighter side of this guidebook as he discovers the natural beauty that is Rarotonga and the Cook Islands.

At US$15.95 the book is a dollar cheaper than the competing Lonely Planet guidebook. While lacking the color photography of the mass-market guidebook, "Papa Mike" dispenses personal humor and anecdotes to offset photography.

With over 72,000 visitors per year and growing, the Cook Islands are fast becoming a welcome alternative to Tahiti and Fiji for South Pacific vacationers. The islands tourism board is actively promoting the destination worldwide and while encouraging visitors, is dedicated to preserving the natural beauty of the islands.