Rating: 
Summary: A very convienent and insiteful book to help the beginer.
Review: All the fabled attractions of Italy in this pocket sized guide book. Rick Steves' provides you with a list of the best and cheapest places to stay including up to date prices, addresses and phone numbers. He also provides a good synopsis of what the worth while sites are as well as a quick history of the sites. The book also provides a list of recommended restaurants and connections in between cities. I like this guide book because it combines accomidations, attractions, connections and resturants all in one convienent, pocket sized book that is easy to carry around.
Rating: 
Summary: The worst book I have ever read!!!
Review: As my title suggests, this is absolutley the worst travel book that I have ever read. I have taken numerous trips abroad but this was my first to Italy. I must say that following Mr. Steve's information was the biggest mistake I have ever made. I got lost numerous times, thrown in jail, and almost didn't make it out of the country. All in all, not a great piece of literature.
Rating:
Summary: Don't leave home without it...
Review: Can't beat Rick Steve's for the itineraries and common sense advice. Skip his restaurent recs for the simple reason that everyone else with a Rick Steve's book is flocking to the same place, which has inevitably become a tourist trap by the time you get there. Also check out the tips on his Web site. Great companion to his book (for history and detailed info about your destinantion) are the Rough Guides.
Rating:
Summary: Well worth carrying on your trip
Review: For our first trip to Rome, this book was priceless. We used so much of the information; found a great hotel; followed its advice for safety and sight seeing. We couldn't have had such a great time without it! We even got a discount... by mentioning it--saved us hundreds of dollars. As with all of his books, we found it to be a great resource for our first trip to a foreign country. Would highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Rick's been hitting the grappa
Review: Hey folks - did you know there's nothing to see in Rome? You might as well move on. That's according to Rick Steves. He writes "For most travelers, Rome is best done quickly... Italy is more charming elsewhere." He recommends Rome as a side-trip from somewhere else!!! I think our friend Rick has been hitting the grappa rather hard because, to anyone who's been there, it's clear that he doesn't know what in the world he's talking about. I barely scratched the surface of Rome in one full exhilerating, romantic, intensely interesting week. Some of the best history, art and cuisine in the world are concentrated in just a few kilometers here. There's the Vatican, the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's, the Colleseum, the Forum, Pantheon, Catacombs, the Mamertine prison, innumerable piazzas and fountains, not to mention world-class shopping and restaurants. Nothing to see? What Rome did you allegedly visit, Rick? We're interested in Rome, Italy - not Rome, Ohio. If I had not spent time in Rome, I might not realize how whacked his assessment is and I might have taken his advice - which would have been to my great disappointment and loss. He's lost all credibility in my eyes. I know I can't trust his opinion on places I've not yet visited. And by the way, his maps and illustrations are amateurish hand drawings. Do NOT waste your money. There are far better books out there on this incredible country. The Lonely Planet Guide is way better. I'm returning my copy of Rick Steves' Italy.
Rating:
Summary: Rick's been hitting the grappa
Review: Hey folks - did you know there's nothing to see in Rome? You might as well move on. That's according to Rick Steves. He writes "For most travelers, Rome is best done quickly... Italy is more charming elsewhere." He recommends Rome as a side-trip from somewhere else!!! I think our friend Rick has been hitting the grappa rather hard because, to anyone who's been there, it's clear that he doesn't know what in the world he's talking about. I barely scratched the surface of Rome in one full exhilerating, romantic, intensely interesting week. Some of the best history, art and cuisine in the world are concentrated in just a few kilometers here. There's the Vatican, the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's, the Colleseum, the Forum, Pantheon, Catacombs, the Mamertine prison, innumerable piazzas and fountains, not to mention world-class shopping and restaurants. Nothing to see? What Rome did you allegedly visit, Rick? We're interested in Rome, Italy - not Rome, Ohio. If I had not spent time in Rome, I might not realize how whacked his assessment is and I might have taken his advice - which would have been to my great disappointment and loss. He's lost all credibility in my eyes. I know I can't trust his opinion on places I've not yet visited. And by the way, his maps and illustrations are amateurish hand drawings. Do NOT waste your money. There are far better books out there on this incredible country. The Lonely Planet Guide is way better. I'm returning my copy of Rick Steves' Italy.
Rating:
Summary: Best guidebook to Italy.
Review: Humerous, helpful, terrific guide book. Would only travel with Steves!
Rating:
Summary: Avoid this!
Review: I bought this book because I had seen (and suffered through) Steves' amateurish and infantile videos on visiting Italy. I was curious to see if his books were as bad as his videos. The verdict: they are equally as bad. The problem is, Steves isn't an innate or talented traveler, though he apparently has performed a miracle and makes money fooling others that he *is* a great traveler. The Arthur Frommer Guides are much better than these Steves offerings. Problems abound. Steves concentrates most of his time on two cities: Rome and Florence. He hasn't a clue on how to locate a low-cost Pensions and opts for dingy tents on the outskirts of town. His suggestions on eating are obtuse. Snacking in Italy is a cinch: go to a bakery in the morning, buy your rolls, cheese and coffee and be on your way. His suggestions of hanging around railway stations and saving a few pennies are insulting and poorly rendered. Similarly wretched is his advice on getting about the country. Forget the railway, you can rent an econo car for about $150 a week. Yes, gas is expensive, but driving is the only way to see this beautiful country. Another weakness is Steves' summation of Rome, which basically consists of 10 pages advising you to frequent the cheapest and most touris-ridden spots. If that's all there is to see and do in Rome, then we're all in trouble. Truly, this is a terrible book written in plodding, patronizing style, guaranteed to set your nerves a-jangle. Italy is a sublime place: the people, the food, the sights and sounds are fantastic! This book will steer you to the worst tourist traps. Avoid it.
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Summary: Read this book first -- six months before going to Italy
Review: I couldn't believe how valuable this book has been and we haven't even taken our trip yet. We used this book to design the itinerary of our upcoming trip to Italy starting last summer, right down to the specific places we wanted to stay and the sights we wanted to see. The first week of January, I used the e-mail addresses, phone numbers, and FAX numbers in this book and I was able to reserve all of our accommodations by the middle of January for our three-week trip in May. As I made contact with hotels and B&Bs in Varenna, Manarola, Florence, Siena, Assisi, Bagnoregio, and Rome, I came to understand just how accurate was the advice and information contained in this book -- right down to which family members speak English at family-owned hotels (useful when making reservation by long-distance from home) and which places give discounts when you mention this book. Rick points out where to watch out for pick pockets and where to find the best gelato. I feel like we are fully prepared for our first trip to Italy. I even have the driving directions to places we will visit in the Tuscany valley and which trains to take from Varenna to Cinque-Terre. I look forward to reading his "Mona Winks" to ge ready to visit the museums and art galleries. You will find details in this book not found in any other guide books.
Rating: 
Summary: The back door ....now the front door
Review: I have been an avid supporter and buyer of Rick Steve's books for about 10 years now. This is the first trip I've taken where I didn't feel the information would help us get what we wanted....reasonable accomodations etc. I found the restaurant recommendations hit or miss and the hotels were almost always booked...most likely because of this book. ******>>>>>>>>>>>>> It is still definitely a must have for European travel but make sure you get another guide book to back it up. *********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
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