No comments about Berlitz Italian for Your Trip (Berlitz for Your Trip).

3 comments about Naples & the Amalfi Coast (City Guide).

1. I've always used Lonely Planet's guidebooks when I travel. I used the Amalfi Coast one when I was there this summer. It provided the necessary travel information and the format makes for easy reference. The hotel recommendations are also very helpful.



2. If this is indicative of a "new look" Lonely Planet guide, then it is a wonderful step up. I have used LP guides for years, and always found them reliable , informative and occasionally nicely opinionated.
   
   However, there was a format change a couple of years ago I wasn't too pleased about, which somehow rendered the txt less readable for "mature eyes" (lighter print?).
   
   This guide is fabulous. There are colour pics scattered throughout, the layout is attractive and clear, and the information as good as ever. There has been some criticism that LP are now aiming at the "flashpacker" market, and leaving behind the budget traveller. Perhaps. But while appealing to the more experienced independent traveller, there are still the budget sleep and eat recommendations, and lots of info for the younger, party-searching traveller.
   
   The only niggling thing I don't like about LP guides is their maps. They are not street-indexed, and they don't mark all the streets. Don't rely on LP to get you about - you will need a stand-alone map, or if you are an Eyewitness Guide fan, try to fit both in your luggage, as Eyewitness do great maps.



3. While the Naples section is more than adequate, Sorrento and south is woefully lacking. Little more than blurbs. Inexcusable considering the amazing beauty and power and history the area once had.

5 comments about Milan & The Lakes (Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guides).

1. This book is great. It divided milan into smaller sections so it's easy to figure out where everything is located. It's rare to find so many pictures that are as big and clear as they are in this book. There's also a street finder map in the back, which is very helpful. It really helped me prepare for my upcoming study abroad trip to milan.



2. I usually buy these guides when I travel for my pleasure, so it seemed a good idea to buy this one when I had American friends visiting , and I wanted to introduce them my city in a thorough, well-informed way. And it was a really good idea indeed! This volume is consistent with the other ones in the series: the Eyewitness may not be as updated or insightful as the Frommer about hotels or restaurants (though I found the Milan listings generally good), but it's virtually unbeatable when it comes to find your way around a city. The many maps and, above all, the amazingly detailed 3-D drawings with the itineraries are entertaining and real time-savers: thanks to the visual approach you don't waste a lot of time trying to understand if the old building you're looking at is actually the one you were looking for! As a native , I found the big "X-rays" pictures of the "big attractions" ( the Galleria, the La Scala Opera, the Castle, the Duomo Cathedral) especially well done, but I also could find at least a couple of off-the-beaten-path attractions I didn' t know ! As ever, the guide also provides an informative presentation of the social and historical background of the city. Finally the "practical life" section (money , transportation, aiports) is extremely well done and clear. We also used the guide for a trip to Lake Como and Bellagio (astonishingly, I had never been there before!) and the whole thing was smooth and exhaustive. The texts are, as ever, somewhat succint but not too simplistic : they tell you more or less what you need to know, and the (unavoidable) inaccuracies are few. The guide is also satisfactorily updated, even if it misses some of the latest renovations, like the new huge Deco-ish fountain of the Castle and the new La Scala Square, now beautifully restored to its turn-of the century appearance, but these guides are regularly updated, and the next edition will surely have them. Finally , my friends' visit was a success, and I know much more about my city, too. Also used (and recommended) : Rome, London, Berlin, Barcelona NYC, San Francisco, Florida.



3. Off to Lake Como soon, so wanted do some reading. Very interesting and information guide to the area. I highly recommend it.



4. Received in condition promised and in a timely manner. thanks and it was helpful during my travels to Milan and the lakes.



5. I bought the book for it's portability and was disappointed when I found there was no map of the Metro included, which meant I needed to bring the Milan (big DK book) instead. Gives a basic overall view of Milan, but not enough details to make it THE book you'll use. I recommend using Zani Viaggi bus tour with guaranteed Last Supper viewing if you're short on time and didn't buy tickets to Last Supper well in advance. Also the tourist info place near the Duomo was helpful.

No comments about Wallpaper City Guide: Milan (Wallpaper City Guide Milan).

No comments about Tuscany Umbria & the Marches, 10th (Country & Regional Guides - Cadogan).

No comments about Sardinia (Regional Guide).

2 comments about Sardinia (Eyewitness Travel Guides).

1. I went to school in Rome for a semester, and during a four day weekend I decided to go to Sardinia b/c I saw some pics of it on the 'net and it looked and sounded awesome. As I read this book I became very excited at all the cool things one could do and see.The book listed many of the best beaches, festivals, scenery, and archaeological sites of the island. It was very hard to decide what I should do first!
   The book was a huge help and gave me lots of great ideas. However, I did have some trouble finding some of the things mentioned in the book, despite what seemed like very detailed directions. That may have had more to do with the very old and poorly maintained roads and signs than the book though. I have found some pictures online of places that I don't think were mentioned in the book that I want to see the next time I go, so I wouldn't rely exclusively on one source when planning your trip.



2. Sardinia travel guide is as good, clear and concise as all the DK travel guides. It is ideal for those tourists who do not have the time to learn a long history, or simply do not want to do so. Ratio of photos/texts is perfect, maps are clear not filled with useless details. Quality of paper again is ideal, so can take it out from and put it back to your bag 100 times a day without transforming it into a pellet.

1 comments about Shorter Walks in the Dolomites: 40 Selected Walks (Cicerone Mountain Walking).

1. I was pleased to find this book about shorter walks in the Dolomites, written in eloquent English. This is a wonderful area of German and Ladino-speaking Italy with many hiking options. I was completely unfamiliar with what we might encounter and this book gave ideas on where to go and what to do. There are many lifts and gondolas that run during the late spring, summer, and fall to take hikers from the main road to higher elevations to start hiking. There is nothing like this in the US so it was difficult to envision. The author gives an overview of the area and then describes each numbered hike (location found on large scale map) in exquisite detail, including directions to the trailheads, mileage, elevation gain (in meters), and walking time. There are beautiful color photos and small-scale maps of each hike. I emailed the author prior to our trip and she answered immediately with suggestions on which hikes to do given the location of our lodging.
   
   We had no idea how long it would take to drive even a short distance on the map. As it turned out, we stayed within a very small area as the roads are narrow and winding and we wanted to spend more time hiking and less time driving (although the scenery was spectacular!). We also had no idea how much the various lifts cost. It depended on the type of lift, location, and whether going one-way or round trip, but the ones we went on ranged from about 8-15 Euros per person. That can add up. Another thing we learned the hard way is that lifts close in the late afternoon and might be closed mid-day while hikers are at elevation and not yet ready to go down. You can always sit at the upper station, which likely has a cafe, and enjoy the scenery if they are not yet open for the descent. Be sure to check the closing time and make sure you beat it or it might be a painful, steep trip down.
   
   The rifugios, or huts, are a delight. Again, coming from the US we had no idea what they would be like. They are much bigger and have more services than expected. You can get some great food and hot and cold drinks. They have restrooms which they prefer you to use rather than the countryside. We would have enjoyed spending nights at them had we known how to go about doing this. We look forward to returning!
   
   Gillian Price has done an excellent job at putting together a rather comprehensive book of day hikes in the Dolomites. Note that there are many hikes available that are not mentioned. She picked a smattering of the best, and there is great variety.

1 comments about Siena & the Heart of Tuscany (Footprint - Pocket Guides).

1. With the lovely town of Siena serving as home base for many visits to the Tuscany area, a good guidebook is invaluable. I'm a guidebook junkie--on a recent trip, I brought several guidebooks for the Tuscany area, but "Siena & the Heart of Tuscany" is the one we used the most. It's compact, but is full of great information. Rebecca Ford describes sights, restaurants, and accommodations in the various districts, or terzi, of Siena. Because Siena is a hill town, streets meander up and down and around, so the book's maps came in handy.
   
   In addition to Siena, the book covers surrounding towns, including San Gimignano, Volterra, and Cortona. Note that Florence is not included.

1 comments about The Architecture of Rome.

1. A wonderful book to carry around with you in Rome. The book provides very detailed maps of the City with brief descriptions of what seems like every building in Rome. It is a great format for wandering and discovering as you go.