Rating: 
Summary: Most Useful and Entertaining!
Review: A friend bought Rick Steves' Italian Phrase Book & Dictionary for me last summer before I embarked on my first trip abroad. My Italian speaking friend had actually lived in Italy for a few years, and after careful consideration, felt that this phrase book/guide would be useful for me. He was absolutely right. The book proved to be invaluable. It was compact enough that I could carry it around with me in a small purse/backpack that I carried with me throughout my entire trip. I did not speak any Italian whatsoever, and found the words and phrases in the book to be exactly what I needed to get around and communicate effectively. I especially appreciated the pronunciation guide to each Italian word in the book- that was extremely helpful. The practical advice given throughout the book proved to be invaluable, as well as humorous, and the menu decoder was also of particular help. I quickly got over any "qualms" I may have had over appearing too "touristy" on my trip and used the phrase book repeatedly as it proved to be a most definate asset. Thank you Rick Steves' for so accurately predicting the needs of the average beginning traveler. The book greatly enhanced a most wonderful traveling experience. In fact, I am still studying it in anticipation of my next trip to Italy.
Rating: 
Summary: Great take-along phrase book!
Review: Contains the words and phrases you will actually use on a trip. Organized for easy, quick reference. Highly recommend Rick Steve's guidebooks as well. Have used them with great success in the past!
Rating: 
Summary: Description
Review: From laughing with cabbies to charming new friends, Rick Steves' Italian Phrase Book & Dictionary includes well-tested phrases and key words to cover every situation a traveler is likely to encounter. Now includes a two-way dictionary, plus the latest on European currency and rail transportation.
Rating: 
Summary: Not useful
Review: I love Rick Steves, but this book is too broken up into categories to use very well. We read all the great reviews on this prior to our trip and bought it - mistake. Any time we wanted to look up a word it wasn't in there (first example coming to mind, BLACK! - it was in the Italian to English, but you'd have to be translating that direction only). It's good for a laugh and has funny translations, like slow down the car or i will vomit, but realistically, will you really use that (OK, in Italy if not elsewhere, but it's not something you'd look up at that moment feeling that way). Impractical is the best description of this book
Rating:
Summary: The most helpful "little" Italian book
Review: I purchased Rick Steve's Italian Phrase Book & Dictionary in preparation of my trip to Rome. Rick not only makes Italian easy, he makes it fun. This book spells out hundreds of everyday words and phrases, as well as the common phrases and words that will be used by a tourist. He gives helpful hints on how to speak with the locals and make the most of your experience. He also includes many words/phrases that many people would want to know how to say but would be embarrassed to ask someone to translate for them. His attention to detail is fantastic. Although this book will not teach you fluent Italian, it gives you a great foundational vocabulary to start you on your way. A must for anyone planning to travel to Italy! Buon viaggio!
Rating:
Summary: The most helpful "little" Italian book
Review: I purchased Rick Steve's Italian Phrase Book & Dictionary in preparation of my trip to Rome. Rick not only makes Italian easy, he makes it fun. This book spells out hundreds of everyday words and phrases, as well as the common phrases and words that will be used by a tourist. He gives helpful hints on how to speak with the locals and make the most of your experience. He also includes many words/phrases that many people would want to know how to say but would be embarrassed to ask someone to translate for them. His attention to detail is fantastic. Although this book will not teach you fluent Italian, it gives you a great foundational vocabulary to start you on your way. A must for anyone planning to travel to Italy! Buon viaggio!
Rating:
Summary: Easy to use, fun, and a great help
Review: I used this phrasebook while in Florence in November 2003 and found it very easy to use and helpful. It even made me laugh: what other phrasebook would tell you how to say "I'm a pest" or how to talk with animals? I should add that I studied Italian over 40 years ago, so the language wasn't totally strange to me. The desk clerk at my hotel noticed the phrasebook and commented that it was very good. A street vendor told me I spoke pretty good Italian "for an American."
Rating:
Summary: Easy to use, fun, and a great help
Review: I used this phrasebook while in Florence in November 2003 and found it very easy to use and helpful. It even made me laugh: what other phrasebook would tell you how to say "I'm a pest" or how to talk with animals? I should add that I studied Italian over 40 years ago, so the language wasn't totally strange to me. The desk clerk at my hotel noticed the phrasebook and commented that it was very good. A street vendor told me I spoke pretty good Italian "for an American."
Rating:
Summary: Prego...
Review: Now if you read this book, you'd know what that means (Can I help you. Do you speak Italian? Here it is). It's not a high school langauge class, but it's a lot more fun, and with some time you'll get pretty good. I think Rick does a great job is laying out the phrases that you'll need if you go to Italy. We're going in a few weeks, and it's really helping. Now if he could only improve the memory. The book is small, will fit in a shirt pocket. It's broken down into sections (basics, eating, chating, etc.) so you can focus in on a section that you need, master it, then move to another section. After you've been through it all, you can then start combining different phrases and make some great sentences. It's got a lot of mnaterial in it, so start early when you decide to use it. Thanks Rick, I actually feel that I can go into the Italian world and be somewhat understood. And, not to worry, I'll smile as I butcher the language, use my hands a lot, and laugh at the whole thing.
Rating:
Summary: Everything you need to say - and more
Review: Of course, it has the obvious phrases regarding directions, hotel rooms, food, etc. It also has things you really need to say, but that aren't found in standard phrase books. For example, in the "Taxi" section, you can quickly find out how to tell the driver, "If you don't slow down, I will vomit!" There is just enough humor to keep you smiling without wasting your time, and succintly hepful comments throughout. This is the phrase book to get for your next trip to Italy.
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