Fodor's Essential Italy: Rome, Florence, Venice & the Top Spots in Between

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.

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.

I carried it with me as we traveled through Italy. Would hightly reccomend it. Info was accurate and just enough for first time visitors.

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.

I've been looking at a bunch of guides for planning an Italy trip this summer, and this is the best so far. It's not as big as other guides, but it's got as much information about the places I'm going as the other guides do, and it also manages to throw in little things that are unique, like an interview with a winebar owner in Venice, explaining the local winebar customs and no-nos.