I really like Islands magazine. It would be easy to say that it is one big advertisement for the travel industry. And, to some degree, it would be true. But, I just can't bring myself to do it. Maybe it is the inner peace I associate with islands everywhere but this magazine does a pretty good job of showcasing lots of exotic and common locales that I would like to visit sometime in my life.
Another thing I like about this magazine is that it is middle class. They don't simply highlight $10,000 per week vacations in hard to reach locales. While some expensive options are highlighted, there are plenty in the price range I can afford - if only for my once a year big winter trip. The other thing to know is that this is not a budget magazine. It doesn't try to give you the inside track on saving money or finding deals. Instead, it is meant to inspire you to travel and showcases lots of destinations while providing specific information on local attractions and travel options. This is a great source if you can't decide where to take your next vacation and are looking for ideas. It is also great for armchair travelers that enjoy reading about other's vacations.
The travel articles in this magazine are really well-written. The most impressive thing is the content. The authors provide good, helpful information and advice. Each author seems very familiar with their subject matter and the travel articles are all interesting to read. The rest of the content is above average but I generally don't get into the articles on the arts or other non-travel topics (unless I am doing research for Epinions).
ISLANDS
This magazine covers all types of islands, big and small, exotic and common, from tropical to frigid. There was even an article on Nantucket, not too far from my home. The only uniting theme is that most destinations covered are Islands (although somehow Mexico gets a lot of coverage and I haven't quite figured out the loophole).
TYPICAL CONTENT
The most recent issue, September/October 2003, has the following feature articles:
Just Past Paradise: A lengthy article about the Dominican Republic.
Autumn in Nantucket: This articles gives me great faith in Islands magazine because they really nail it here. Autumn is a truly beautiful time to visit Nantucket. The crowds are gone but many stores and attractions are still open. In September, the water is still warm and it is even possible to swim. The prices drop and the restaurants have tables available. Islands magazine does such a great job with advice in this article, better than many other articles I have seen on the islands off the coast of Massachusetts.
East Side Story: An article about the windward side of Hawaii's Big Island.
Green Teams: This is an article about awards for locales that have created and implemented plans for sustainable tourism - that is, tourism that doesn't destroy the local environment.
Horizons: A collection of little tidbits of information that every magazine seems compelled to include. The tidbits range from stupid (how to build your own island) to pointless (some statute is 90 years old). This section is easily the weakest part of the magazine.
Artbeat: This is a collection of little articles about the arts, movies, books and music. Each highlighted piece somehow relates to islands. I think it is interesting to try to bring other elements to a travel magazine and I might get to one of these articles if I am bored, but it is really the travel articles that I focus on.
Crossroads: A few less-practical articles that focus on a particular hotel or place to visit. In this issue, they highlight a hotel on Molokai and haunted inns in Ireland.
The Guide: This section has the most practial information and presents it like a wordy tourist guide. In this issue, the present a lot of information on the Dominican Republic, Prince Edward Island and Honolulu's Aloha Stadium Swap Meet.
In addition to these sections, there are the standard magazine sections that don't particularly shine in Islands: the letter from the editor, letters from readers and a pointless article on the last page about nothing.
SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION
The cover price is US$4.95 and CAN$6.95. A one year subscription is 8 issues. If you order through the publisher, a one year subscription is $24 ($15 for each subsequent subscription). However, you can try discount magazine web sites which have a one year subscription for as low as $12. A couple sites to try are
ValueMags and
Magazine Values.
ADVERTISEMENTS
There are a LOT of advertisements in this magazine, primarily for Island destinations. In fact, a lot of the advertisements are written to look like articles and contain a lot of (biased) information. Some of the information is helpful and there are lots of opportunities to order brochures if you are considering a trip. Usually advertisements bug me, but in this magazine I find that they are very helpful in gathering information for planning upcoming vacations.
MORE INFORMATION
Each issue is around 125 pages. The magazine has lots of glossy photos and is printed on medium-grade paper.
The magazine's web site is www.islands.com.
FINAL RECOMMENDATION
I really like Islands. I find the travel articles really interesting and helpful. Just a few issues have already given me a long list of places I would like to visit. Plus, the ads give me plenty of practical information and opportunities to get brochures. While there are some weaker areas such as the Horizons section, they don't detract from my enjoyment of the magazine.
ANOTHER TRAVEL MAGAZINE REVIEW IS:
Conde Nast Traveler
MagazineLand. com
