Rick Steves' Italian Phrase Book and Dictionary

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.

Rating:
Summary: fun and useful
Review: Rick Steves is a terrific travel writer, and really knows how to make just about anything entertaining. He does the same with his language books, and this one is no exception. full of useful, though sometimes hilariously irreverant, phrases, this is a great pocket-sized language guide for Italy. you won't find everything you need in here (the Menu guide, for example, is particularly lacking), but it's a very good start and a fun read.

as noted by others, the odd organization of items in the book can make finding things a bit tricky at times, but it's usually in there if you know where to look. just familiarize yourself with where things are located and you'll be fine.
definitely recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Fun book
Review: This book provides a myriad of helpful phrases and is convenient in size. He even includes phrases that other phrase books won't even touch (you'll know what I mean). It's very easy to use and well organized.

Rating:
Summary: Fun book
Review: This book provides a myriad of helpful phrases and is convenient in size. He even includes phrases that other phrase books won't even touch (you'll know what I mean). It's very easy to use and well organized.

Rating:
Summary: Very useful pocket translation guide
Review: This book was a great help during my recent trip to Italy. I liked that Rick Steve's would also add a little bit of the culture and things you should note in here. In the restaurant guide he gives you suggestions, and the fact that your going to pay a bread charge when you sit down at a restaurant. While this book is not complete with all of the words you may need. This coupled with patient folks, you will get what you need.

I think this book is a good starting point, and certainly helped me out as a tourist. I was able to order in a restaurant, get subway directions, receive assistance in a shop without too much trouble. This was one of my best investments on my trip.

Rating:
Summary: Nice Basic Start
Review: This is a nice way to start to learn "By the Phrase" Italian. Having just been to Italy, I can vouch for the generally friendly and helpful nature of most of the residents. Also, in most of the more popular tourist destinations, English is often spoken. So, if you were to work with this book and learn some of the useful, ordinary phrases, it would probably make a nice impression on the native Italians and would make you feel less like a clueless tourist. This book will not make you really fluent, nor will it teach you the real mechanics of the language. Keep in mind this a phrase based, quick start approach that is easy to read and should help the average tourist.

Rating:
Summary: Nice Basic Start
Review: This is a nice way to start to learn "By the Phrase" Italian. Having just been to Italy, I can vouch for the generally friendly and helpful nature of most of the residents. Also, in most of the more popular tourist destinations, English is often spoken. So, if you were to work with this book and learn some of the useful, ordinary phrases, it would probably make a nice impression on the native Italians and would make you feel less like a clueless tourist. This book will not make you really fluent, nor will it teach you the real mechanics of the language. Keep in mind this a phrase based, quick start approach that is easy to read and should help the average tourist.