5 comments about Italy (Country Guide).

1. wonderful speedy service from the bookseller. I am in New Zealand and I was getting a little apprehensive - I thought I would not get the book in time for our trip to Italy at the beginning of June but no it arrived here today and I am thrilled - thank you J K Books



2. I own about 20 Lonely Planet guides and am a real fan.
   This is probably the most disappointing one to date.
   The info seems to be all over the place, sometimes completely wrong or the opposite of what you would expect : A luxury complex in the book was a real dump in reality, a palace not worth while, was probably the best thing we saw on our 10 day trip.
   Complete "must see" places are missing and others who LP claims to be "must see" were not that great, so overall the weakest LP guide I've read and used so far.
   They should start this one from scratch



3. My friend bought this guide for our trip through Italy this summer. Our trip went through Venice, Florence and Rome, with side trips into Tuscany and Naples/Pompeii. This book contains information on so many different places that it does not provide much useful information on any one city. We felt so lost in Venice and Florence with the scant information provided in this book that we ended up buying the LP Rome City Guide when we got to Rome. You would be much better off buying individual city guides before you leave the US though because travel books are very expensive once you're in the city. I have used many LP books over the years for both domestic and international travel, but I would recommend city books from now on.



4. This book tells you everything you need to know about Italy. Anyone who is planning to visit Italy should read this before they go. It is full of good information and will help you to get the most from your trip.



5. Decent range of information, though some more specificity would be nice-especially in Venice. They had very little on accommodations or dining there.

5 comments about Rome (EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDE).

1. The Eyewitness series is always superb.
   
   I won;t repeat all the glory heaped on this volume in other reviews, other than to say, apart from the superb cut-aways, sumptuous photography and enagaging text, what Eyewitness unfailingly delivers is USABLE, properly indexed street maps. Too many guidebooke provide sketchy maps where scale turns out to be a mere fantasy, missing minor streets.
   
   Sometimes I find Eyewitness books a BIT too heavy for the baggage allowance, so I wish the maps were included in some sort of detachable form. They really are better than those in other guides, and as usable as a "freestanding" map book.



2. Rome (Eyewitness Travel Guides)
   
   Eyewitness Travel Books are all we use! Very informative and easy to use!
   Recommend these books for your travels anywhere!



3. -- update: 'looks like there are 2 guides published by eyewitness; this is *NOT* the "Top 10;" it seems like several of the reviews below are based on that book, not this one. Be careful. --
   
   5 stars? Am I reading the same book?
   
   The book has an average of 4 pictures or graphics per page -- they're small and the text is squeezed around them. Some pages have 10 graphics or pictures. The whole thing seems like a textbook case in how not to design something to be user friendly.
   
   I found the text to be wanting, big time! I've spent a lot of time with Rome guidebooks, and this is clearly the worst of the lot -- sorry I spent the money. Even Fodors and Frommers are better than this. I recommend you take a look at Rick Steves (very plain, but good info) and Access (great idea of putting everything - food, hotel sights, together, block by block, but the seriies isn't what it used to be -- I think the company was sold a few years ago. The best I've found so far is the Rough Guide -- highly recommended



4. Look no further than any D&K guide for your travel needs, it covers everything and anyting; the guide divides any big area in sections and then suggests which routes, or attractions you must see; it also covers a historical background on them. From history of the city in question as to how to get there, how to use public transportation, basic conversation dialogues a tourist may encounter, places to eat, see, stay, do, it's all there.
   
   To me, there are no better guides than D&K guides. Recommend 100%.



5. Bad news first: this book has the issue of trying to cover too much in too small of a format and page count. As a result, you'll run into some cases where entries are text only. This is not too big of a deal, but sometimes a photo would really help identify a place when you're hemmed in by roads and buildings with little in the way of addresses to guide you. When in Rome, this can be a problem for the uninitiated.
   
   On the other hand, I found the descriptions, diagrams, and photos of the major areas to be more than adequate. I also found on several occasions that the guide pointed out little details (such as the location of Raphael's tomb in the Pantheon) that I would have missed otherwise. The restaurant and refreshment recommendations (save yourself some ground money by drinking from the aqueduct fountains) were right on - not a bad meal in the bunch. Which reminds me...if you like coffee, stop by Tazza d'Oro next to the Pantheon for a really good cup.
   
   To sum up, you cannot go wrong with this guide. Actually, all of the Eyewitness Guides I own - Rome, Florence, Naples, Venice, and Amsterdam - are essentially the same: not exactly perfect, but very good. Other than the minor issue of missing photos on some pages where it would have been useful, I can think of no complaint.

4 comments about Rick Steves' Rome 2008 (Rick Steves).

1. Sure sometimes the jokes are groaners, but having traveled in Europe for a number of years now at least I know that the stuff that Rick puts out there on hotels, restaurants and local tours is road tested and good. He does his homework and it shows. I have never gone wrong with using a Rick Steeves guide for any area of Europe I have been in. I always get a currant guide for where I am traveling.



2. I highly recommend this book for visiting Rome. I was actually in Italy as part of a Rick Steves tour group in Florence then went down to Rome for a week on my own using the 2007 edition of this book. I highly recommend the walking tours and found the restaurant selections to be spot on. While the maps are not ones you'd really use for detail navigation, they give you a good overview of where things are located.
   
   The tips given for the Colleseum, Palantine Hill and Forum were spot on - pay attention to the ticket advice. I purchased mine at Palantine Hill then walked right up the "group" entrance for the Colleseum directly to the ticket turnstiles. I wouldn't have found this without the book and would have wasted time in the wrong line.
   
   After such good information in this book, I found I didn't need some of the private tours I had hired (i.e. Vatican) and found myself with this book in hand the entire time and delighted in my trip to Rome.



3. I took three books with me to Rome, and Rick Stevens was the best of the lot. I liked the history given with the must see sights. It was similiar to a top-notch self guided tour. The metro train info was very good, but not the bus routing. Since Rome is an easy city to move about, a better bus map would make this a five star product. I had to rely on the Eyewitness book for the bus routing. That is one thing that needs to be worked on in the Stevens book. Then it would not be necessary to have more than one book in hand. I highly recommend this guide.



4. The title of this review practically says it all: Rick Steves' guide is an excellent aid in finding about the opening hours, cost of tickets, locations of bathrooms and similar important things. On the other hand, its historical and cultural content is anecdotal and sketchy, and must be complemented by more serious publications, such as the Blue Guide, the Rough Guide, or the immortal "Companion Guide to Rome" by Georgina Masson. Steves' uncritical repetition of many canards about the Church and the Inquisition is quite jejune, just like his equally partisan pro-Jewish comments. Nevertheless, this book has definite practical merits and should be consulted by all future visitors to Rome.

5 comments about Florence and Tuscany (Eyewitness Travel Guides).

1. My husband and I are free spirit travelers that like to keep the planning somewhat spontaneous, yet still have enough planning to get the most from the experience. We enjoyed this book for providing enough history and background to provide context for the experiene. Plus this book (along with the help of a great GPS system) was great for mapping and planning the day. I actually used a friend's books for our trip and thought they were so great that I bought a copy for myself as a keepsake for when we returned.



2. The travel sections of most bookstores, particularly the larger ones, are awash in books about Italy, and in particular, the region of Tuscany. This is clearly too much of a good thing; take 10 of these books----and there must be closer to 20 of them----and you will find much duplication. How is a traveler, particularly the first-time traveler to central Italy, to know which guides are helpful and which merely rehash information that has been available for many years? One of the problems is that many of the guides issue a new edition each year in an apparent attempt to render last year's guide obsolete. Nonsense! I have some travel guides that are 15 years old and are still valuable. Keep in mind that the Etruscans were in Tuscany well over 2,000 years ago; their monuments and culture is not going to change much between 2007 and 2008.
   
   In short, this book serves a purpose but so do many others with similar titles.



3. We enjoyed this guidebook on our recent trip to Florence. It was comprehensive, easy to use, and fun to read. This publisher also offers a companion map and mini-guide book to use on the go.



4. Yeah, doesn't everyone? There is so much in this book outside of Florence and I really wanted to make the trek into the Tuscan hills around the city, especially to Pisa and Siena. But alas, I was trapped in Florence...and what a prison it was! Everyone should find themselves thus abused at some point in their life, I believe.
   
   This DK guide made the punishment a lot easier to endure, saving me time and headache by thoroughly breaking down specific areas of the city in detailed maps. From Palazzo and Ponte Vecchio, to the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore (il Duomo), and on to Brancacci Chapel and Santa Croce and everything in between. This guide gave me detailed information on each of the sites and helped enrich the experience. The exploded diagrams cover the finer points, giving the reader recognizable visual elements to look for along the way. This is so much better than words alone.
   
   Overall, I highly recommend this book...and the city itself. Florence is a place like no other!



5. We used this guide and found it to be excellent. We had several guides but this was the most complete and easy to use.

5 comments about Streetwise Rome Map - Laminated City Street Map of Rome, Italy - with integrated metro map including subway and railway lines, stations.

1. Rome is a hard city to map. Lots of small streets hidden down even smaller streets (but some how the Italians still drive 70 down them), but sometimes those are the streets that you need to find. The free map I got at my hotel was MUCH better than this map and I ended up not using it.



2. This map is wonderful!!!! It was a great asset to our trip. It is laminated and folds easily so you don't have to worry about it getting ruined. I would highly recommend this map to anyone going to Rome.



3. Has most of Historic Rome but not much of the out lying area. Have bought two to use on different trips.



4. Just returned from eight days of walking in Rome. This is the only map we needed to find our way to everything that was of interest to us. It seems that just about every street and alleyway is listed and shown to scale (which is not the case with the free "tourist" maps). Experienced the joy of just wandering around following our noses to one interesting area after another, always knowing that our trusty "Streetwise Rome" would come to the rescue when we wanted to reach a particular destination. We ventured to the Borghese Gallery, the Vatican, to Trastevere, Palatine Hill, the Colosseum, Piazza del Popolo, Spanish Steps, Via Veneto, the Baths of Diocletian and from and back to the Termini Train Station. Including having the map out in the rain on several occassions, it still looks like new. The best thing is, it is only 4" X 8.5" when folded in your pocket and so easy to flip open to use (unlike so many other maps that you must unfold in several directions).
   The map also has sketches of many of the sights you will be looking for to help you quickly find them. While we only used the Metro once, all the stations are clearly marked. If you want to spend less time folding and unfolding the map and more time enjoying the sights, you may find this product very much to your liking.



5. There's not much you can say about a Map. It Works. I've used this "Streetwise" series in many cities, and I find them very handy. You don't have to worry about the map tearing, or not being able to fold it back after using it. My only regret is that they don't have more cities. How about Istanbul Streetwise?

5 comments about Italy (Eyewitness Travel Guides).

1. I love this book. My husband is stationed in Italy. We have been living here for 2 years now & this is my favorite travel book. Our 4 year old loves looking at the pictures while I read to him. It make our trips that much better when he is excited to see the sights as well. It's quick & easy to look up what you want & has great info. I would recommend this book to anyone planning a trip to Italy. However, if you are only going to visit one or two places a more specific book may be need.



2. I must say that this guide was exactly what I needed, but also I must confess that another thing came up since I have been traveling to Europe for some time now. I didn't realize or wasn't even thinking about travel insurance?? I mean we all have insurance, that covers us while we are in the US, but not for traveling abroad. I recently planned a second trip to Germany, but wasn't sure if my insurance company policy would take care of minor details in my policy for things I am not sure I have thought about. I am not saying I might or might not be covered, but I need peace of mind when it comes to my family. I then called my HR to find out general things about traveling abroad and "What would happen if" scenario's. I wasn't going to read my lengthy policy, even if I did I wouldn't understand the legal double-talk anyway not being a lawyer and all.
   
   My HR told me everything would be ok, and I shouldn't worry. But some thing in the back of my mind said call again and asked the same questions to see if the results would be the same from another Representative, to my surprise, it was. Ok then, not feeling a warm feeling of confidence in my HR responses. I didn't have much time to keep doing the research, so I looked up travel insurance and started to focus my attention on getting some basic package to cover me and family while we were abroad. There are a lot to choose from, but again this became confusing. So I came across www.securemytravelonline.com which had an aggregate of different well known insurance companies. I choose AIG with a basic plan and the rest was history. Also I didn't know you can insure your travel and luggage also in case of theft, flight cancellation etc. I thought I would share something from one avid traveler to the next. Overall a GREAT Guide and I have bought another copy for my friend.
   
   Take care.
   Carl>



3. The Good:
   - Beautiful pictures, drawings and maps highlight all the major attractions in Italy
   
   - Book is organized by region, and is relatively easy to follow along
   
   - Loaded with interesting facts about Italy, each region and each main attraction. This includes history, tips and useful facts.
   
   - Nice touchs like 2 pages of common Italian words/phrases, breakdowns on everything from how to read a road sign to the Euro currency.
   
   The Bad:
   - Cumbersome to read - reads like a text book
   
   - Hotel recommendations are difficult to use. Not a big deal, because I prefer Trip Advisor for my hotel recommendations anyways.
   
   - Limited info on where to eat
   
   - Limited "candid" info on where to go, what is worth your time and what isn't. I've read Rick Steve's website, and I like how he tells you candidly what you should see in Italy given X number of days. That is helpful and is missing from this book.
   
   The Verdict:
   Loaded with useful info and beautiful images, this book will prove a good resource while on your trip; however, don't count on this book to help you fully plan your trip. It will give you some ideas to get started, but for finalizing trip details, I'd recommended reading Rick Steve's website, Trip Advisor, etc.



4. Great guide with tons of valuable information. Just returned home from a 2 week vacation covering several cities in Italy and this guide helped us appreciate everything we were seeing by giving an explanation and history about everything. The maps are great and it was nice having advice on good restaurants to choose.



5. DK travel guides (Eyewitness brand) are known for its unique photograpy and pictures. They are printed full-color and magazine-style and the sublime pictures get supreme treatment. The maps are not ideal, but they do the job for some one new to Italy and answers the question of what to see and where to go with a little history and background tossed in. The maps will get you from Florence's Pitti Palace across the River Arno and to the Galleria to see Michelangelo's David, but good luck finding that little bistro in the cobblestone alley. This is a guide for the county of Italy in general and its regions and may lack some depth in terms of detail but for the first and even second time visitor to Italy its great considering its relative small weight and size in your travel case or backpack. Don't expect this guidebook to have that out-of-the-way gallery, or even the celebrated gelato shop directions. This little book covers the most important sites in any given city or region - with lush pictures that DK is known for and short blurbs to match. It also covers general information to the first time visitor covering money, agencies, other basic travel information which can be of great help to some one not famliar to Italy.

5 comments about Passion on the Vine: A Memoir of Food, Wine, and Family in the Heart of Italy.

1. Forgetting the obvious attraction of learning about Italy and an insiders perspective on magnificent wine, Sergio Esposito tells a story like no other. Pick this book up and you will never again put it down.



2. While I have come to appreciate Sergio's vast wine knowledge by way of his weekly e-Letters (through Italian Wine Merchants), I was intrigued when I heard about Passion on the Vine. Honest, engaging, personable and humorous, it brought me to a new level of understanding about the patience required to appreciate wine, from its production to its later enjoyment (or at least analysis). A passage that has stayed with me is Sergio's interactions with the late, Bartolo Mascarello, a traditional winemaker from the Piedmont region, known for his Barolos. Sergio relays the events with such respect and fond admiration, as the two take in a half-opened bottle of 1978 Barolo. Waiting for the elder's cues for an approval to taste, Sergio is left waiting far longer than he initially anticipated. However, it is over the duration of this exchange (that is so eloquently narrated and moving) that you are, like Sergio in that moment, anticipating Bartolo's gracious admission for a taste. It is also in this moment that you witness Sergio's growth. Powerful stuff.



3. Sergio Esposito is a terrific and engaging writer-it is impossible to put this book down! Filled with humorous anecdotes from his numerous trips to Italy,"Passion on the Vine" will become a must read for all lovers of Italian wine, food and culture.



4. This is a FANTASTIC read!!! Anyone that loves good food, good wine, good friends and/or travel must buy this book! I have forced myself to go slow and savor but much like with a great glass of wine that is very hard to do! Everyone on my gift giving list is getting a copy. One of the best books I have read in a very long time to be sure.



5. If you have any interest in wine, food, travel, culture, history, family, and people as I do, then I recommend you read this book - I enjoyed all of it. Basically, it's a memoir of the author's move from Italy to the U.S. as a boy, and how his interest and love of wine and food inspired him to learn more about wine, open an Italian wine store in New York, and through his travels, continue his wine education.
   
   He describes his travels throughout Italy in quest of the finest wines produced in that country (and the world) and understanding what motivates and inspires the people who make them. Along the way the reader gets taken for the ride through the beautiful wine making regions of Italy, and introduced to some of the iconic figures (some a bit eccentric) of Italian wine making. The author describes in detail his meetings, conversations, and tastings with these producers, and we get an inside perspective of how some of these icons have passionately and steadfastly respected history, terroir, and nature in crafting memorable wines they believe in. You'll visit their wineries, meet their families and partake in meals the author shared with the wine makers. Together they discuss the importance of food and wine pairing, and how, when done well, enhance each other and represent one of the essential aspects of an enjoyable and elevated quality of life.
   
   I imagined myself as a secret participant of the winery cantina visits and mealtime conversations he describes in the book. As a person who appreciates good wine and food, they were absolutely riveting for me as it enabled me to learn more by getting a peek inside the minds of these great wine makers.
   
   When you open this book and begin to read, it is much like a bottle of fine wine that develops and evolves over time. It has varying layers of characteristics that enhance your enjoyment, promote thinking, and will stay with you even as you drink the last drop or read the last page.

5 comments about Playing For Pizza: A Novel.

1. When Grisham writes against type take notice. After reading this I MUST go to Italy. Well written, imaginative story. Highly recommend.



2. In another witty and fun departure from his legal thrillers, Grisham has penned a delightful yarn about disgraced NFL quarterback Rick Dockery. After throwing fabulous passes to the opposing team in his final game with Cleveland, Rick's agent Arnie has the unenviable job of informing his client that there is no way he will again play in the National Football League. Hated by Cleveland fans for his shockingly bad performance in a game that was as much as won (until Rick came off of the bench) it doesn't take long for Rick to realize that he practically needs police protection anywhere in the city. Then Arnie receives a call from a coach inquiring about Dockery; the catch is that the team is in Italy.
   When a sullen Rick finally agrees to give the Italians a try, the experience is one of bravery,brotherhood, and a genuine love for the game. It would appear the Rick may have finally found a home with the Parma Panthers.....
   A story rich in descriptions of Italian culture...which of course includes good food. A great story made all the more so for those readers who have a love for and understand American football. A fun, light read.
   
   
   
   DYB



3. What I can't figure out is why John Grisham wrote this in the first place. It's certainly a far cry from his usual good stuff. The plot: A not-so-good NFL quarterback winds up in Italy to play for a more-or-less pro team there. Can he survive the Italians? Can they survive him? It seems to me that Grisham simply let his ego write this book to inform us all how much he has learned through his obvious travels through that country. The details of Italian life, opera and especially food and drink, I found interesting. However, his attempted details of (semi-)professional football were certainly not in enough depth to hold my attention. Sure, a comfortable read for a guy, but my wife tossed it within an hour. Charles A. Reap, Jr., author of Devil's Game and My Friend Sam.



4. This book certainly reflects Grisham's fascination with Italy that first became evident with "The Broker". He lovingly describes the people and sights of Bologna. However, the plot and pacing of "Playing for Pizza" are too predictable for it to be rated higher than two stars by me.



5. This is not what we have come to expect from John Grisham. It is however, a light hearted and very entertaining read. Delightful!

5 comments about Rick Steves' Italy 2008 (Rick Steves).

1. This is my favorite Italy travel guide, and I buy each yearly update when it comes out. The Maps are the best for actually getting around!



2. This book has helped me so much in my vacation planning process. I thought I'd have to pay lots of money for big company tours of everything but this book has shown me so many ways to save my cash. It tells you how to book locally run, English speaking tours and reservations rather than paying extra for English services online. It also has easily readable maps of every area of interest in the country, with every sight labelled clearly so you can plan where to start and finish your days. It suggests the level of tourist priority of each sight to help you decide where to spend your time. I cannot convey how much money I will save, using this book enough to you all! I don't know what I would do without this book!



3. I just love Rick's travel books....having used many others over the years, I find his to be highly readable and entertaining, and full of essential information for the unwary traveller. Top marks once again!



4. I bought the Rick Steves' Italy 2008 book several weeks ago, It has helped alot with my preperation for my trip to Italy. I plan on taking it with me, I know it will be very helpful. I have booked hotel rooms and B&B's for our trip, as well as planning our agenda. I know I could not have planned this trip away from a tour group with out it. AJ



5. The book is of average quality when compared to other Italy travel books. It comes with the standard "Rick Steves Advertising" throughout the book. The issue which brought me to return the book was the omission of Sicily from the book. As far as I know, Sicily is still very much a part of Italy and thus should have been included.

5 comments about Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia.

1. Being a commercial writer myself, books like this make me wonder if I'm missing something because this book is really not very interesting. It left me feeling that most readers who enjoy such a story must be living a very superficial existence because this is exactly what this story describes, even taking into consideration its lightweight overtures to some vague kind of spiritual dimension working behind the mundane goings on of everyday life. If you're looking to hear about something new and inspirational and exciting I would not recommend that you read eat, pray and love.



2. SHALLOW! I can not believe this is a best seller. It makes me sad to think so many people find this book good.



3. This is an exellent book for those of you who love the richness of grammar and descriptive language.
   
   I could not put down the book. Elizabeth's journey towards discovering herself made me ponder if I had discovered my purpose in life!!!
   
   Highly recommended for those in search of who they want to be and for those who have a light sense of humor.



4. I enjoyed sharing Elizabeth Gilbert's journey to find herself. Although she had a life many would envy her for, she was unhappy. I believe the fact that she took the initiative to do something about it and take time out in order to come to terms with herself is what this book is all about. While I feel that her decisions were selfish, at least she was truthful and determined not to deceive herself or those close to her.
   
   During her journey, she was determined to seek God. However, I believe she missed out on seeking His order and purpose for Man. In addition, she came to her own conclusions about God that I have to strongly disagree with. I don't believe that anyone can make his or her speculations about God and assume them to be true.
   
   Nevertheless, the success in finding inner peace and forgiveness is commendable. I did find myself getting a lot of laughs as I was reading! Gilbert's honest and realistic perspective is what made this book an enjoyable read. I like it when people say it like it is!



5. After seeing this book do so well, I had to read it! However, while reading it, I found myself wondering what all the fuss was about. While I found Gilbert to be incredibly talented with metaphors and insightful at times, she displayed an air of superiority that got under my skin and kept me from fully enjoying her story.