The Garden Entertaining Cookbook: Recipes and Menus for Casual Dining Outdoors

Rating:
Summary: Excellent, personalized recommendations
Review: Although Ms. Gustafson's series of books is now "Great" instead of "Cheap", they still contain valuable, personal reviews of relatively inexpensive hotels. The idea is not the cheapest spots (see the Let's Go series for those), but less costly hotels which give above-average value for the money. I've stayed at her recommended hotels in both Florence and Rome and found them exactly as described. You won't be disappointed unless you expect 4-star amenities in a 2-star hotel.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent, personalized recommendations
Review: Although Ms. Gustafson's series of books is now "Great" instead of "Cheap", they still contain valuable, personal reviews of relatively inexpensive hotels. The idea is not the cheapest spots (see the Let's Go series for those), but less costly hotels which give above-average value for the money. I've stayed at her recommended hotels in both Florence and Rome and found them exactly as described. You won't be disappointed unless you expect 4-star amenities in a 2-star hotel.

Rating:
Summary: Solid information, a little dated.
Review: I picked this book up along with Rick Steves'. I've found Great Sleeps Italy to have many more choices, several being much less known and therefore a better bargain, and easier to get into. That being said, the book is from 2002, and a little dated. I've noticed several big price increases from what she shows and even a few hotels that appear to no longer be in existence. For $11 on this site though, it is worth it.