5 comments about Italy For Dummies.

1. I actually used mostly just this book to plan my 2+ week trip to Italy! Everything was pretty much true for the most part. One HUGE area I'd disagree with was Naples review. The book states that if you really want to see a true picture of Italy that a trip to Naples is a must. I highly recommend you stay away from Naples and stick to the other areas: Venice, Rome, Pisa, Pompeii, Florence. I went to all of these places and loved them all EXCEPT NAPLES!
   
   The book needs to add that if you don't speak Italian then Naples is not an area to go to! I repeat DO NOT GO TO NAPLES IF YOU CAN'T SPEAK ITALIAN!



2. Good book ...has all the basic information needed and a few tips which were invaluable!



3. Italy for Dummies is an excellent book. I found it to be more down-to-earth and helpful than the more in-depth books. I would recommend it to anyone going to Italy for the first time.



4. The book was very helpful in allowing us to set up our travels to Italy next year. It gave us insight as to what to see, where to go, and important information one needed to know when traveling in Italy. Thanks



5. Excellent service, prompt delivery, excellent conditon
   as described, packaged well.
   Would use again.

5 comments about Waterproof Map of Rome by Rough Guide Maps (Rough Guide Country/Region Map).

1. I have been in Rome now for almost four months with this map and it is simply fantastic. Not only does it include Rome's center with very good detail, its also has held up incredibly well, and has bus, train and tram routes. I've looked at all the other maps while I've been here but this map is simply the very best. If you are going to go to Rome, get one of these maps. The only potential drawback is that it does not have the outlying areas but most people traveling to Rome will not need a map with a larger area. It you need a broader area map with bus routs, then you can buy the ATAC map at a tourist info station for I think about 4 euros.



2. Rough Guides does it again! Beautiful cartography, quality product (it truly is durable and waterproof), accurate, and designed with eminent good sense.
   
   I used the map extensively in Rome, and found on it not just clearly marked street names, but also every point of interest where I wanted to go. The map would guide me correctly to the exact location of each one. Most useful of all was that Rough Guides had the good sense to include major bus routes marked on the streets; without fail, I was able to take buses to all major destinations and, in one case, also to an obscure destination. Try finding another bus route map in Rome!
   
   Highly recommended.



3. This is a nice map which we intend to use during a trip to Rome. The only downside is that it is not laminated with plastic as I had assumed. It is on good quality glossy paper but will be prone to tearing from constant usage. On the plus side, the map is detailed and informative.



4. Excellent color differentiation between tourist sites of interest, main piazzas, parks, metro stops, etc. Street names are large enough to read without needing a magnifying glass. Metro lines and tram lines routes (not bus routes) shown. Very sturdy. Waterproof. Provides street, sights, and hotel index finder. Also provides "Time Map" of hours and days open for sights and recommendations for shopping and eating, bars, cafes and venues (questionable value as these are subject to change). I liked it so well that, though I had purchased a Berndtson City Streets map of Venice, I purchased the Rough Guide Map of Venice in addition. One improvement: wish it came with a sturdy "pocket" to slide it into as protection and to keep the fan-folds from opening or being bent when packed away.



5. This map was in excellent condition and was extremely useful during our vacation in Italy. Package arrived in a timely manner and description was accurate. Happy customer; thank you!

5 comments about Streetwise Tuscany Map - Laminated Road Map of Tuscany, Italy - Folding pocket size travel map.

1. This map is a great laminated folding map of the country-side, which clearly marks the roads and is great for driving. If you want to bicycle or hike, this map does not have enough detail. When you arrive in Tuscany stop in any gift shop and pick up the Green Toscana map for about $6-7 euros. Streetwise is a starter map and note that it does not have any mini-city streets included. It will not give you any more detail than main driving roads. If you want a map of Florence or any other major or minor city you must look elsewhere.



2. I have used Streetwise maps and been pleased. However, the Tuscany map is pretty bad. It's awkward to use, difficult to read, and doesn't include all of Tuscany. I'm returning the one I purchased and printing maps off the computer.



3. If you are serious about driving through Tuscany, you will need something more than this map, which is pretty basic. Fine if you intend to travel only on the autostrade and other main roads, but one of the joys of driving in this region is finding small roads, sometimes unpaved, which can lead to small medieval hamlets (known as 'borghe')that have remained basically unchanged for centuries.
   
   There are a number of excellent maps produced but in my many travels in Italy, I have always found the maps produced by the Touring Club Italiano (TCI), and distinguished by the bright green cover with the TCI logo, to be unfailingly brilliant. Difficult to find in this country, they are widely available at gas stations, newsstands, and the like, in Italy.



4. I stopped to write a review when I read the other ones you have posted. I have to disagree with them completely. I have always relied on Streetwise and this map was no exception. It helped us both in the car and on foot, and we never had a complication. In quaint areas such as this I think you will always have discrepincies, even still we had a fabulous visit without any confusion. Actually, it would have been lovely to be lost there! But that was not the case.



5. We've used this map series in many places, and highly recommend it for ease of use and TRANSPORT. It's also durable, and we've wouldn't travel without it.

5 comments about Waterproof Venice Map by Rough Guide Maps (Rough Guide Country/Region Map).

1. I have lived in Venice for four years. My sister still lives there so I go every year. I still have some trouble finding restautant locations. I have used many maps of Venice, most of which I purchased there. Well, this was the best map I have ever seen. No one should go to Venice without it. There is absolutely no other map on which things are so clearly marked. Judy Potter, Esquire



2. I used this map to navigate Venice for 5 days and I would have been lost without it (literally). It was better than any other map I looked at and any of the maps for sale in Venice. Even my friend living in Venice commented on how good a map it was. The map also includes info on the water bus route and opening days and times for churches, museums, etc., basically eliminating the need to carry a guide book around all day. It is durable and waterproof, but it feels like paper and you can still write on it.
   
   I'm glad I didn't buy a map for Florence, because I got by just fine on a free map from a hotel. But a map was essential for Venice and this one was perfect.



3. Best map we had. It made the navigating of the stradas, fondmentas, and calles much easier!



4. Just used this map on a trip to Venice. Would still be searching for my hotel without it! This sturdy, tough map took my stuffing it into my bag over a 100 times and helped me to make it through 5 days in Venice without getting lost once! It helped to know the routes of the water boats, times when museum's were open, and gave some great ideas of places to visit. One small thing is that they seem to have renamed a route of the Vaporetto - from "82" as on the map to just "2". Buy it if you are going to Venice - You'll need it!



5. The Waterproof Venice Map by Rough Guides is nowhere near as full of useful information as the one included with my purchase of the Lonley Planet Guied to Venice.

3 comments about Fodor's Essential Italy, 2nd Edition: Rome, Florence, Venice & the Top Spots In Between (Full-Color Gold Guides).

1. I'm going to Italy for the second time in a few days, so I picked up this book, and it is GREAT. Not only does it give great suggestions about traveling, it gives you the history of every place you are going to. It offers advice on tours to take and where to head throughout the country, and also includes so many beautiful and colorful pictures throughout the book. It also includes a bunch of maps for all over Italy.



2. I bought this book while preparing for a trip to Rome, Florence and Venice. Some helpful things included:
   
   - Maps
   - Traveling tips (currency, cultural customs, etc...)
   - Museum and attraction information
   - Hotels
   - Restaurants
   - Contact information for all places mentioned
   
   The only criticism I had of it was on it's section regarding getting to and from Venice. The only options it gives is water taxi! Look into the regular bus line that leaves from the plaza west of the train station. Less than 5 euros to go to the airport (a lot better than 90 euros on a water taxi). Or, like we did, you can take a regular taxi for 35 euros.
   
   This is definitely a great place to start and a great tool to use on your trip.



3. FOR SOMEONE LIKE ME WITH NO INFORMATION - THIS IS A GOOD STARTING POINT. WON'T KNOW HOW HELPFUL UNTIL WE MAKE THE TRIP! WE ARE NOT PLANNING OUR TRIP AROUND THE BOOK BUT SOME OF THE TIPS HAVE BEEN REALLY BIG! LIKE MONEY EXCHANGE, PHONES, ETC.

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

1. 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!



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



3. This book is packed with information but it's hard to follow. Too much information is not necessarily helpful. Expected a suggested travel plan instead of the way it is organized. By the time I was through scanning the guide, the trip seemed like it was in the 'too hard to do' box.



4. Eyewitness Travel Guide has been recommended by seasoned traveler friends and I can't disagree, just wished for more time to follow all leads!



5. Of the 3 books we took with us on our 1st trip to Italy, this was the most useful. I'd highly recommend it to those visiting the Tuscany region, and Florence in particular.

5 comments about Streetwise Venice Map - Laminated City Center Street Map of Venice, Italy.

1. I usually have a great sense of direction and Venice is the first city I've ever vacationed where I actually got lost when there was still daylight. If I didn't have this map, it would have been much worse.
   
   The map has it's problems but that has more to do with the streets of Venice which have long names that often change every block. I don't blame the map-makers. I think that they did the best they could while keeping the map smallish: it folds out to 8.5 inches X 19 inches. (It is 8.5 inches X 4 inches folded up.) This map is much better than the maps included in the Venice travel book we bought ("Top Ten Venice"), and I'm glad we bought it. We'd truly have been lost without it.



2. The streetwise map of Venice was not quite as useful as other Streetwise Maps I've used in other locals. However, it is waterproof, small, easily taken along, and easy to read. If there is anywhere that a second map helps, it's Venice! So just take it along, don't rely on it alone.



3. If you are not great at refolding maps this is the map for you. I can fold it in any direction so I can have the area I want to concentrate on. This map and others from them are very difficult to destroy. Perfect for travel.



4. Perfect map for my trip in Venice...I love the fact that I can't destoy it if it gets wet...



5. This map is a perfect size for an inside pocket or a handbag. Being laminated the map can avoid getting crumpled in the way that maps annoyingly do and the print is clear and legible..

5 comments about Streetwise Florence Map - Laminated City Center Street Map of Florence, Italy - Folding pocket size travel map with train tracks & stations.

1. The Streetwise maps are handy, waterproof, and uncrushable, and they give you most of what you need for getting around a city's core. I buy one whenever there's one available for a city that I'm visiting. The Florence map is a worthy member of its family.



2. In order to maintain perspective, the publisher had to make the old town Florence print very small which made the streets had to identify. Lots of space is devoted to parts of Florence most tourists are not that interested in seeing. I think it would have been better to enlarge the section devoted to old town Florence and reduce the size of the surrounding area, even if it means distorting the perspective a bit.
   
   On a positive note, the map fit in the pocket of my cargo shorts very easily.



3. This is one of many Streetwise maps I brought with me to Europe. I found every one to be useful. The maps allowed me to see exactly where I wanted to go. I marked off with a tape for each famous places that I wanted to visit. (Since the maps are laminated, I can remove and change the tape as many times as I want.) Seeing where the places were located helped me get a bearing of the locations and the distance separating them. It was a great way to familiarize myself in a unfamiliar city. Keep in mind, however, that we walked, not drove. I'm not sure how helpful these maps will be if you drove. All I know is that the visual display of the map helped me plan my itinerary. For instance, this map allowed me to visit as many famous Florence sites as I could possibly squeezed in the very limited time I had and still get me to the SMN train station to catch the train to Pisa. (How can one leave Italy without visiting the Leaning Tower of Pisa?!) Without this map, I don't think I could've pull that off. (No, it's impossible to see EVERYTHING in Florence in 1 day! You need to be realistic and prioritize. You are on a vacation after all, not a marathon!) Thanks, Streetwise and Amazon.com!
   
   Note: Index of hotels and places of interest are on the side of the map. It is rather small print so you may need your reading glasses.



4. This laminated, fold out, double sided map was great. It included a section with zoom-in detail for easy naviagation, Metro and bus line charting too. I gave it to my tour director at end of trip. ALong with the one for Venice and Rome.



5. I LOVE the Streetwise maps and always search for them when traveling to a new foreign city. Compact but easy to use; they've saved me on many a trip.

5 comments about Streetwise Rome Map - Laminated City Center Street Map of Rome, Italy - Folding pocket size travel map with metro map, subway.

1. Great map of Rome. Very easy to read with map of metro and a detailed map of downtown. Extremely durable laminated finish. Folds up to fit in a back pants pocket or jacket pocket. Very easy to follow. Great value.



2. I purchased this map with another one. I can't wait to use it while in Rome. It is not only very detailed, but laminated so you can't destroy it with one use. Also the size is perfect to fit in any large pocket or purse...Great map



3. I just got back from a two-week stay in Rome, and this map was definitely more helpful than the paper one that came with the guidebook I bought. I especially liked the enlarged portion that showed central Rome. The lamination is key. We didn't get caught in any rain, but even with dry weather, my other, paper map was worn to shreds. Also helpful, the fact that some major landmarks were illustrated onto the streets, which helps you to stay oriented. The little metro/tram map was completely useless.



4. Streetwise maps are my favorites for visiting any unfamiliar city, and the Rome edition proved to be no exception. Its laminated, heavy construction guarantees that you can fold, re-fold, and carry it in pockets, purses and bags without having it fall apart on you.
   
   The only thing I wasn't crazy about on the Rome map was the way the Historic District was broken off from the other sections of the city...I sometimes found myself flipping back and forth between that part of the map and the other areas of the city, trying to locate where I was when traveling between them and having some difficulty. But within each district I had no trouble navigating with this map.



5. I have several other maps by this company that I really like. The size is convenient, the plastic coating keeps them from tearing on a windy or wet day. But I threw this Rome map away in frustration and just used the one free from the hotel desk instead! I found it difficult to use; I'd look up at a street sign and then struggle to find that street in the tiny print and abbreviations on the map, and the index grid system was little help.

5 comments about Rick Steves' Italy 2010 with map.

1. I mostly rely on various websites when I travel but I found Spain to be just too large to handle on my own; so last year, I decided to get Steves' Spain book. Now that I'm getting ready to explore Italy, I've once more turned to Steves' guide book. He offers the most valuable practical information at the fingertips of the ordinary traveler. I know now what to expect and I can't ask for more.



2. We went to Italy in 2007 and had the corresponding Steve's guidebook...as did every other touron in Italy that fall. Don't get me wrong the guidebook was great but I sure felt like a dork sitting in a restaurant with 20 other people who all had the same guidebook. "Oh what does Rick say I should eat here?" Guidebooks are good for a general plan...but we used it a little too much "to the letter" and frankly the experience lost it's luster. "Oh, Rick says we should go look at this but gee... I'm not quite as thrilled as he said I should be!"
   
   So in that sense maybe it was user error on my part. Travel should be about adventure, not canned experience IMHO, a guidebook should be bare bones or used as such. On our next trip I'll probably use a guidebook to lay out the general itinerary and leave it at home to add a little adventure.
   
   With all that said it's a good book. The maps are accurate, the hotel advice was great as was the restaurant info and recommendation.



3. Rick Steves is specific about what to see, where to stay and what you actually get, what not to miss and how to get to everything. Oh, and how much it will cost. I have used other Steves' guidebooks, and he is right on the money.



4. We are still planning our trip to Italy, but are finding this book to be the most valuable resource we have. It goes beyond lists of hotels and lists of restaurants. This book truly gives tips, advice, and 'how to'. It's given us the confidence to attempt this trip on our own.



5. I have traveled to Italy many times. Every other year I purchase Rick's book on Italy, I always learn many new things. March will be my 33 trip so I know what I am talking about. experiment a little take a chance and travel if you can.