Question:
I found that taxi drivers often have great recommendations for good restaurants far from the maddening tourist crowd. We have had great success in Spain and Italy with taxi driver recommendations.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> One problem with Rick Steve’s guides is that everyone else reading it, only go to > the exact places he recommands, and because he’s extremely selective, these > ‘backdoor’ places have quickly been swamped by other Rick Steve readers. > This is also quite true of Let’s Go and Lonely Planet in lesser extends, but at > least they offer a bit more insights to smaller destinations. What I personally > really like > are the Access guides and the more expensive Eyewitness guides. They tend > to focus on a specific city or region. The sights are color-indexed into > different > categories, with a paragraph or two on each, and sometimes with illustrations. > The > Access I had for Paris was great. Also the Rough Guide I found is also better on > giving > information on sights than Let’s Go. > By the way, how did you managed to read guide books for 9 hours in Borders? I > spreaded my > out over 6 months during my lunch hours in Barnes & Noble and Borders. No wonder > you were overloaded. > An entire grueling 9 hour day at Borders looking through the standard guide > books such as Fordors, Lonely Planet, Let’s Go … , etc left me feeling > exhausted and overwhelmed. > My problem was the same as many other first time travellers to Italy. With so > many options and so much information, how do I find out enough to simply start > figuring out what I might like? It felt as though the more I read, the more > confused I was becoming. It was a clear case of information overload! > The next day I returned, ready to do battle. On a whim I picked up a book > called "Culture Shock! Italy, A Guide to Customs and Etiquette." While not at > all a guide book, and really not that great a book, it did start to give me a > feel for the country, it’s people, customs, and regions. Even though the > pertinent parts could easily be read in the store, free of charge, I purchased > it. > Armed with a large salad and several cups of coffee, I sat back for a charming > 90 minute read. > Then I found Rick Steve’s "Italy 2000." While there probably is no such thing > as "the definitive" guide book, I found that this one was just what I had been > looking for. As valuable for what it does not include as for what it does, it > is well written, very tight, and extremely practical. Reading it thoroughly > cover to cover has given me a great starting point. > I heartily recommend it to others in the same position as I. For some it could > well be the only guide book they really need. > Please feel free to share any recommendations privately or on the net.
Response:
One problem with Rick Steve’s guides is that everyone else reading it, only go to the exact places he recommands, and because he’s extremely selective, these ‘backdoor’ places have quickly been swamped by other Rick Steve readers. This is also quite true of Let’s Go and Lonely Planet in lesser extends, but at least they offer a bit more insights to smaller destinations. What I personally really like are the Access guides and the more expensive Eyewitness guides. They tend to focus on a specific city or region. The sights are color-indexed into different categories, with a paragraph or two on each, and sometimes with illustrations. The Access I had for Paris was great. Also the Rough Guide I found is also better on giving information on sights than Let’s Go. By the way, how did you managed to read guide books for 9 hours in Borders? I spreaded my out over 6 months during my lunch hours in Barnes & Noble and Borders. No wonder you were overloaded. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > An entire grueling 9 hour day at Borders looking through the standard guide > books such as Fordors, Lonely Planet, Let’s Go … , etc left me feeling > exhausted and overwhelmed. > My problem was the same as many other first time travellers to Italy. With so > many options and so much information, how do I find out enough to simply start > figuring out what I might like? It felt as though the more I read, the more > confused I was becoming. It was a clear case of information overload! > The next day I returned, ready to do battle. On a whim I picked up a book > called "Culture Shock! Italy, A Guide to Customs and Etiquette." While not at > all a guide book, and really not that great a book, it did start to give me a > feel for the country, it’s people, customs, and regions. Even though the > pertinent parts could easily be read in the store, free of charge, I purchased > it. > Armed with a large salad and several cups of coffee, I sat back for a charming > 90 minute read. > Then I found Rick Steve’s "Italy 2000." While there probably is no such thing > as "the definitive" guide book, I found that this one was just what I had been > looking for. As valuable for what it does not include as for what it does, it > is well written, very tight, and extremely practical. Reading it thoroughly > cover to cover has given me a great starting point. > I heartily recommend it to others in the same position as I. For some it could > well be the only guide book they really need. > Please feel free to share any recommendations privately or on the net.
Response:
I very much agree, Cadogan guides have always been my favorite not only for their thoroughness but as this poster mentioned, great for reference on the places less travelled. Next favorite would be Rough Guides, they too a good in that respect. Mike
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I like the Cadogan Guides. They include more places less-traveled. I used > Let’s Go and Lonely Planet as well as Fodor’s and Frommer’s in the old days, > but they really don’t cover a lot of areas that interest me. > That being said, I can get a ton of great info on the net now, cut and paste > into my WP program and print my own special interest guide that has the > additional merit of being a few pages of typing paper, printed on both sides > that slides handily down the side of a smallish daypack or a largeish purse. > An entire grueling 9 hour day at Borders looking through the standard > guide > books such as Fordors, Lonely Planet, Let’s Go … , etc left me feeling > exhausted and overwhelmed.
Response:
The general guidebooks are useful for planning an itinerary, and perhaps good for hotels and such, but once you decide which cities you will visit, you may want to use more specialized guides. For Venice, I recommend J.G. Links’s Venice for Pleasure, which doesn’t recommend hotels (well it does recommend the Danieli) but provides four walks through the city, with all kinds of interesting data you won’t find in any other guide book. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > An entire grueling 9 hour day at Borders looking through the standard guide > books such as Fordors, Lonely Planet, Let’s Go … , etc left me feeling > exhausted and overwhelmed. > My problem was the same as many other first time travellers to Italy. With so > many options and so much information, how do I find out enough to simply start > figuring out what I might like? It felt as though the more I read, the more > confused I was becoming. It was a clear case of information overload! > The next day I returned, ready to do battle. On a whim I picked up a book > called "Culture Shock! Italy, A Guide to Customs and Etiquette." While not at > all a guide book, and really not that great a book, it did start to give me a > feel for the country, it’s people, customs, and regions. Even though the > pertinent parts could easily be read in the store, free of charge, I purchased > it. > Armed with a large salad and several cups of coffee, I sat back for a charming > 90 minute read. > Then I found Rick Steve’s "Italy 2000." While there probably is no such thing > as "the definitive" guide book, I found that this one was just what I had been > looking for. As valuable for what it does not include as for what it does, it > is well written, very tight, and extremely practical. Reading it thoroughly > cover to cover has given me a great starting point. > I heartily recommend it to others in the same position as I. For some it could > well be the only guide book they really need. > Please feel free to share any recommendations privately or on the net.
Response:
An entire grueling 9 hour day at Borders looking through the standard guide books such as Fordors, Lonely Planet, Let’s Go … , etc left me feeling exhausted and overwhelmed. My problem was the same as many other first time travellers to Italy. With so many options and so much information, how do I find out enough to simply start figuring out what I might like? It felt as though the more I read, the more confused I was becoming. It was a clear case of information overload! The next day I returned, ready to do battle. On a whim I picked up a book called "Culture Shock! Italy, A Guide to Customs and Etiquette." While not at all a guide book, and really not that great a book, it did start to give me a feel for the country, it’s people, customs, and regions. Even though the pertinent parts could easily be read in the store, free of charge, I purchased it. Armed with a large salad and several cups of coffee, I sat back for a charming 90 minute read. Then I found Rick Steve’s "Italy 2000." While there probably is no such thing as "the definitive" guide book, I found that this one was just what I had been looking for. As valuable for what it does not include as for what it does, it is well written, very tight, and extremely practical. Reading it thoroughly cover to cover has given me a great starting point. I heartily recommend it to others in the same position as I. For some it could well be the only guide book they really need. Please feel free to share any recommendations privately or on the net.
Response:
Overall I admire much of Steves’ work. His general philosophy is good. He identifies many ‘off-the-beaten-path’ spots that others do not. I, and many others, do disagree, strongly, with many of his omissions. And many of his choices are quixotic at best. His books are valuable, but should be used only in conjunction with other books that provide a bit broader coverage of destinations. Ed– Traveling With Ed & Julie: http://TWEnJ.com Trip Planning: Tips, Tools and Resources Rome . Switzerland . Bavaria . Colorado’s San Juans
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> An entire grueling 9 hour day at Borders looking through the standard guide > books such as Fordors, Lonely Planet, Let’s Go … , etc left me feeling > exhausted and overwhelmed. > My problem was the same as many other first time travellers to Italy. With so > many options and so much information, how do I find out enough to simply start > figuring out what I might like? It felt as though the more I read, the more > confused I was becoming. It was a clear case of information overload! > The next day I returned, ready to do battle. On a whim I picked up a book > called "Culture Shock! Italy, A Guide to Customs and Etiquette." While not at > all a guide book, and really not that great a book, it did start to give me a > feel for the country, it’s people, customs, and regions. Even though the > pertinent parts could easily be read in the store, free of charge, I purchased > it. > Armed with a large salad and several cups of coffee, I sat back for a charming > 90 minute read. > Then I found Rick Steve’s "Italy 2000." While there probably is no such thing > as "the definitive" guide book, I found that this one was just what I had been > looking for. As valuable for what it does not include as for what it does, it > is well written, very tight, and extremely practical. Reading it thoroughly > cover to cover has given me a great starting point. > I heartily recommend it to others in the same position as I. For some it could > well be the only guide book they really need. > Please feel free to share any recommendations privately or on the net.
Response:
I like the Cadogan Guides. They include more places less-traveled. I used Let’s Go and Lonely Planet as well as Fodor’s and Frommer’s in the old days, but they really don’t cover a lot of areas that interest me. That being said, I can get a ton of great info on the net now, cut and paste into my WP program and print my own special interest guide that has the additional merit of being a few pages of typing paper, printed on both sides that slides handily down the side of a smallish daypack or a largeish purse.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> An entire grueling 9 hour day at Borders looking through the standard guide > books such as Fordors, Lonely Planet, Let’s Go … , etc left me feeling > exhausted and overwhelmed.
Response:
I am an American who now lives in Italy; when I was first considering my move, I bought _Culture Shock! Italy_. However, I have since decided that it’s pretty innacurate, to the point of being useless. I tossed it before coming here. I haven’t read the Rick Steves book you recommended, but I have read the Italian sections of other Rick Steves works, and have also found them sadly lacking. My advice for others who are coming to Italy for the first time: As a general guide book: _The Rough Guide_ for Italy has a more complete coverage than any other general guide book I’ve seen. I recommend it in spite of the patronizing tone it often takes, which grates on me. Its lodging information is too vague and innaccurate to be of much use, unfortunately. However, if you want to go to small, untouristy places, this is the only guide book that will provide any lodging information for such places. The Michelin guides are useful for carrying along as specific reference guides to the sights, but the alphabetical listing reduces their usefulness for planning a trip. They also lack the general information about a town or city that a tourist needs, so they usually must be supplememented by another guidebook. As a guide for inexpensive lodging (for student and other shoe-string travellers): _Let’s Go_ is simply the best and most reliable. It’s prices include such details as the cost with or without bath, and the separate costs for single, double and triple rooms. It’s descriptions are accurate enough to allow you to decide whether a particular hotel is just too, too basic for you. It doesn’t cover as many places as the _Rough Guide_, so if you want to really get off the beaten track, it may not be your best choice. _Let’s Go_ also has better information about trains and buses than most other guides, as well as such useful things as the locations of post offices and laundromats. As a guide to mid-range lodging: Fodor’s is pretty good. There is an online version, www.fodors. com, which allows you to create a personal miniguide to many cities worldwide, including the big three of Italy, Rome, Florence and Venice. These guides allow you to specify your price range and section(s) of the city and will produce a listing of hotels and restaurants to your specifications, as well as other tourist information. These miniguides, once printed, are much more convenient to carry around than any book. Again, Fodors guides (the books, not the online version) don’t cover as many towns and cities as the _Rough Guide_. As a general book for understanding Italy, the best I have found is _Italian Neighbors_ by Tim Parks. This is written by an Englishman married to an Italian woman who has lived for many years in Italy. It was written over ten years ago, but really conveys the Italian-ness of Italy better than any other book I’ve read. It’s short, available in paperbook and an interesting and amusing book. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > An entire grueling 9 hour day at Borders looking through the standard guide > books such as Fordors, Lonely Planet, Let’s Go … , etc left me feeling > exhausted and overwhelmed. > My problem was the same as many other first time travellers to Italy. With so > many options and so much information, how do I find out enough to simply start > figuring out what I might like? It felt as though the more I read, the more > confused I was becoming. It was a clear case of information overload! > The next day I returned, ready to do battle. On a whim I picked up a book > called "Culture Shock! Italy, A Guide to Customs and Etiquette." While not at > all a guide book, and really not that great a book, it did start to give me a > feel for the country, it’s people, customs, and regions. Even though the > pertinent parts could easily be read in the store, free of charge, I purchased > it. > Armed with a large salad and several cups of coffee, I sat back for a charming > 90 minute read. > Then I found Rick Steve’s "Italy 2000." While there probably is no such thing > as "the definitive" guide book, I found that this one was just what I had been > looking for. As valuable for what it does not include as for what it does, it > is well written, very tight, and extremely practical. Reading it thoroughly > cover to cover has given me a great starting point. > I heartily recommend it to others in the same position as I. For some it could > well be the only guide book they really need. > Please feel free to share any recommendations privately or on the net.
Response:
>Then I found Rick Steve’s "Italy 2000." While there probably is no such thing >as "the definitive" guide book, I found that this one was just what I had been >looking for. As valuable for what it does not include as for what it does, it >is well written, very tight, and extremely practical. Reading it thoroughly >cover to cover has given me a great starting point. >I heartily recommend it to others in the same position as I. For some it could >well be the only guide book they really need.
I’m glad you found Rick Steves to be enjoyable. I personally like his guidebooks because I had a similar "traveling philosophy" even before I read his books. However, I can certainly understand how many people will not like his approach; I tend to use his books for advice on "interesting" lodgings and restaurants, but I’ve never used one of his 15 towns in 21 days itineraries. (In fairness, I recall that he even recommends picking from among the 15 cities, but allows that they can be "done" in a 21 day trip; my speed is typically 5-6 days per city.) >Please feel free to share any recommendations privately or on the net.
For sightseeing, I’m quite partial to the Michelin green guides. They include a bit of history and culture, and generally indicate how to find the "worth a trip’s." What I like is that they also include quite a bit that is merely "interesting," so if you’ve had your fill of the Sistine Chapel and the Colosseum, you can check out a few things off the beaten path that other guide books might not cover. It has the added bonus that if you walk around clutching one, people will sometimes mistake you for a Frenchman. Regards, George Dr. George O. Bizzigotti Telephone: (703) 610-2115 Mitretek Systems, Inc., MS Z313 Fax: (703) 610-1558 McLean, VA 22102-7400 —–= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =—– http://www.newsfeeds.com – The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! —–== Over 80,000 Newsgroups – 16 Different Servers! =—–
Response:
An entire grueling 9 hour day at Borders looking through the standard guide books such as Fordors, Lonely Planet, Let’s Go … , etc left me feeling exhausted and overwhelmed. My problem was the same as many other first time travellers to Italy. With so many options and so much information, how do I find out enough to simply start figuring out what I might like? It felt as though the more I read, the more confused I was becoming. It was a clear case of information overload! The next day I returned, ready to do battle. On a whim I picked up a book called "Culture Shock! Italy, A Guide to Customs and Etiquette." While not at all a guide book, and really not that great a book, it did start to give me a feel for the country, it’s people, customs, and regions. Even though the pertinent parts could easily be read in the store, free of charge, I purchased it. Armed with a large salad and several cups of coffee, I sat back for a charming 90 minute read. Then I found Rick Steve’s "Italy 2000." While there probably is no such thing as "the definitive" guide book, I found that this one was just what I had been looking for. As valuable for what it does not include as for what it does, it is well written, very tight, and extremely practical. Reading it thoroughly cover to cover has given me a great starting point. I heartily recommend it to others in the same position as I. For some it could well be the only guide book they really need. Please feel free to share any recommendations privately or on the net.
Response:
Overall I admire much of Steves’ work. His general philosophy is good. He identifies many ‘off-the-beaten-path’ spots that others do not. I, and many others, do disagree, strongly, with many of his omissions. And many of his choices are quixotic at best. His books are valuable, but should be used only in conjunction with other books that provide a bit broader coverage of destinations. Ed– Traveling With Ed & Julie: http://TWEnJ.com Trip Planning: Tips, Tools and Resources Rome . Switzerland . Bavaria . Colorado’s San Juans
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> An entire grueling 9 hour day at Borders looking through the standard guide > books such as Fordors, Lonely Planet, Let’s Go … , etc left me feeling > exhausted and overwhelmed. > My problem was the same as many other first time travellers to Italy. With so > many options and so much information, how do I find out enough to simply start > figuring out what I might like? It felt as though the more I read, the more > confused I was becoming. It was a clear case of information overload! > The next day I returned, ready to do battle. On a whim I picked up a book > called "Culture Shock! Italy, A Guide to Customs and Etiquette." While not at > all a guide book, and really not that great a book, it did start to give me a > feel for the country, it’s people, customs, and regions. Even though the > pertinent parts could easily be read in the store, free of charge, I purchased > it. > Armed with a large salad and several cups of coffee, I sat back for a charming > 90 minute read. > Then I found Rick Steve’s "Italy 2000." While there probably is no such thing > as "the definitive" guide book, I found that this one was just what I had been > looking for. As valuable for what it does not include as for what it does, it > is well written, very tight, and extremely practical. Reading it thoroughly > cover to cover has given me a great starting point. > I heartily recommend it to others in the same position as I. For some it could > well be the only guide book they really need. > Please feel free to share any recommendations privately or on the net.
Response:
I like the Cadogan Guides. They include more places less-traveled. I used Let’s Go and Lonely Planet as well as Fodor’s and Frommer’s in the old days, but they really don’t cover a lot of areas that interest me. That being said, I can get a ton of great info on the net now, cut and paste into my WP program and print my own special interest guide that has the additional merit of being a few pages of typing paper, printed on both sides that slides handily down the side of a smallish daypack or a largeish purse.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> An entire grueling 9 hour day at Borders looking through the standard guide > books such as Fordors, Lonely Planet, Let’s Go … , etc left me feeling > exhausted and overwhelmed.
Response:
I am an American who now lives in Italy; when I was first considering my move, I bought _Culture Shock! Italy_. However, I have since decided that it’s pretty innacurate, to the point of being useless. I tossed it before coming here. I haven’t read the Rick Steves book you recommended, but I have read the Italian sections of other Rick Steves works, and have also found them sadly lacking. My advice for others who are coming to Italy for the first time: As a general guide book: _The Rough Guide_ for Italy has a more complete coverage than any other general guide book I’ve seen. I recommend it in spite of the patronizing tone it often takes, which grates on me. Its lodging information is too vague and innaccurate to be of much use, unfortunately. However, if you want to go to small, untouristy places, this is the only guide book that will provide any lodging information for such places. The Michelin guides are useful for carrying along as specific reference guides to the sights, but the alphabetical listing reduces their usefulness for planning a trip. They also lack the general information about a town or city that a tourist needs, so they usually must be supplememented by another guidebook. As a guide for inexpensive lodging (for student and other shoe-string travellers): _Let’s Go_ is simply the best and most reliable. It’s prices include such details as the cost with or without bath, and the separate costs for single, double and triple rooms. It’s descriptions are accurate enough to allow you to decide whether a particular hotel is just too, too basic for you. It doesn’t cover as many places as the _Rough Guide_, so if you want to really get off the beaten track, it may not be your best choice. _Let’s Go_ also has better information about trains and buses than most other guides, as well as such useful things as the locations of post offices and laundromats. As a guide to mid-range lodging: Fodor’s is pretty good. There is an online version, www.fodors. com, which allows you to create a personal miniguide to many cities worldwide, including the big three of Italy, Rome, Florence and Venice. These guides allow you to specify your price range and section(s) of the city and will produce a listing of hotels and restaurants to your specifications, as well as other tourist information. These miniguides, once printed, are much more convenient to carry around than any book. Again, Fodors guides (the books, not the online version) don’t cover as many towns and cities as the _Rough Guide_. As a general book for understanding Italy, the best I have found is _Italian Neighbors_ by Tim Parks. This is written by an Englishman married to an Italian woman who has lived for many years in Italy. It was written over ten years ago, but really conveys the Italian-ness of Italy better than any other book I’ve read. It’s short, available in paperbook and an interesting and amusing book. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > An entire grueling 9 hour day at Borders looking through the standard guide > books such as Fordors, Lonely Planet, Let’s Go … , etc left me feeling > exhausted and overwhelmed. > My problem was the same as many other first time travellers to Italy. With so > many options and so much information, how do I find out enough to simply start > figuring out what I might like? It felt as though the more I read, the more > confused I was becoming. It was a clear case of information overload! > The next day I returned, ready to do battle. On a whim I picked up a book > called "Culture Shock! Italy, A Guide to Customs and Etiquette." While not at > all a guide book, and really not that great a book, it did start to give me a > feel for the country, it’s people, customs, and regions. Even though the > pertinent parts could easily be read in the store, free of charge, I purchased > it. > Armed with a large salad and several cups of coffee, I sat back for a charming > 90 minute read. > Then I found Rick Steve’s "Italy 2000." While there probably is no such thing > as "the definitive" guide book, I found that this one was just what I had been > looking for. As valuable for what it does not include as for what it does, it > is well written, very tight, and extremely practical. Reading it thoroughly > cover to cover has given me a great starting point. > I heartily recommend it to others in the same position as I. For some it could > well be the only guide book they really need. > Please feel free to share any recommendations privately or on the net.
Response:
>Then I found Rick Steve’s "Italy 2000." While there probably is no such thing >as "the definitive" guide book, I found that this one was just what I had been >looking for. As valuable for what it does not include as for what it does, it >is well written, very tight, and extremely practical. Reading it thoroughly >cover to cover has given me a great starting point. >I heartily recommend it to others in the same position as I. For some it could >well be the only guide book they really need.
I’m glad you found Rick Steves to be enjoyable. I personally like his guidebooks because I had a similar "traveling philosophy" even before I read his books. However, I can certainly understand how many people will not like his approach; I tend to use his books for advice on "interesting" lodgings and restaurants, but I’ve never used one of his 15 towns in 21 days itineraries. (In fairness, I recall that he even recommends picking from among the 15 cities, but allows that they can be "done" in a 21 day trip; my speed is typically 5-6 days per city.) >Please feel free to share any recommendations privately or on the net.
For sightseeing, I’m quite partial to the Michelin green guides. They include a bit of history and culture, and generally indicate how to find the "worth a trip’s." What I like is that they also include quite a bit that is merely "interesting," so if you’ve had your fill of the Sistine Chapel and the Colosseum, you can check out a few things off the beaten path that other guide books might not cover. It has the added bonus that if you walk around clutching one, people will sometimes mistake you for a Frenchman. Regards, George Dr. George O. Bizzigotti Telephone: (703) 610-2115 Mitretek Systems, Inc., MS Z313 Fax: (703) 610-1558 McLean, VA 22102-7400 —–= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =—– http://www.newsfeeds.com – The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! —–== Over 80,000 Newsgroups – 16 Different Servers! =—–
Response:
I very much agree, Cadogan guides have always been my favorite not only for their thoroughness but as this poster mentioned, great for reference on the places less travelled. Next favorite would be Rough Guides, they too a good in that respect. Mike
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I like the Cadogan Guides. They include more places less-traveled. I used > Let’s Go and Lonely Planet as well as Fodor’s and Frommer’s in the old days, > but they really don’t cover a lot of areas that interest me. > That being said, I can get a ton of great info on the net now, cut and paste > into my WP program and print my own special interest guide that has the > additional merit of being a few pages of typing paper, printed on both sides > that slides handily down the side of a smallish daypack or a largeish purse. > An entire grueling 9 hour day at Borders looking through the standard > guide > books such as Fordors, Lonely Planet, Let’s Go … , etc left me feeling > exhausted and overwhelmed.
Response:
The general guidebooks are useful for planning an itinerary, and perhaps good for hotels and such, but once you decide which cities you will visit, you may want to use more specialized guides. For Venice, I recommend J.G. Links’s Venice for Pleasure, which doesn’t recommend hotels (well it does recommend the Danieli) but provides four walks through the city, with all kinds of interesting data you won’t find in any other guide book. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > An entire grueling 9 hour day at Borders looking through the standard guide > books such as Fordors, Lonely Planet, Let’s Go … , etc left me feeling > exhausted and overwhelmed. > My problem was the same as many other first time travellers to Italy. With so > many options and so much information, how do I find out enough to simply start > figuring out what I might like? It felt as though the more I read, the more > confused I was becoming. It was a clear case of information overload! > The next day I returned, ready to do battle. On a whim I picked up a book > called "Culture Shock! Italy, A Guide to Customs and Etiquette." While not at > all a guide book, and really not that great a book, it did start to give me a > feel for the country, it’s people, customs, and regions. Even though the > pertinent parts could easily be read in the store, free of charge, I purchased > it. > Armed with a large salad and several cups of coffee, I sat back for a charming > 90 minute read. > Then I found Rick Steve’s "Italy 2000." While there probably is no such thing > as "the definitive" guide book, I found that this one was just what I had been > looking for. As valuable for what it does not include as for what it does, it > is well written, very tight, and extremely practical. Reading it thoroughly > cover to cover has given me a great starting point. > I heartily recommend it to others in the same position as I. For some it could > well be the only guide book they really need. > Please feel free to share any recommendations privately or on the net.
Response:
One problem with Rick Steve’s guides is that everyone else reading it, only go to the exact places he recommands, and because he’s extremely selective, these ‘backdoor’ places have quickly been swamped by other Rick Steve readers. This is also quite true of Let’s Go and Lonely Planet in lesser extends, but at least they offer a bit more insights to smaller destinations. What I personally really like are the Access guides and the more expensive Eyewitness guides. They tend to focus on a specific city or region. The sights are color-indexed into different categories, with a paragraph or two on each, and sometimes with illustrations. The Access I had for Paris was great. Also the Rough Guide I found is also better on giving information on sights than Let’s Go. By the way, how did you managed to read guide books for 9 hours in Borders? I spreaded my out over 6 months during my lunch hours in Barnes & Noble and Borders. No wonder you were overloaded. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > An entire grueling 9 hour day at Borders looking through the standard guide > books such as Fordors, Lonely Planet, Let’s Go … , etc left me feeling > exhausted and overwhelmed. > My problem was the same as many other first time travellers to Italy. With so > many options and so much information, how do I find out enough to simply start > figuring out what I might like? It felt as though the more I read, the more > confused I was becoming. It was a clear case of information overload! > The next day I returned, ready to do battle. On a whim I picked up a book > called "Culture Shock! Italy, A Guide to Customs and Etiquette." While not at > all a guide book, and really not that great a book, it did start to give me a > feel for the country, it’s people, customs, and regions. Even though the > pertinent parts could easily be read in the store, free of charge, I purchased > it. > Armed with a large salad and several cups of coffee, I sat back for a charming > 90 minute read. > Then I found Rick Steve’s "Italy 2000." While there probably is no such thing > as "the definitive" guide book, I found that this one was just what I had been > looking for. As valuable for what it does not include as for what it does, it > is well written, very tight, and extremely practical. Reading it thoroughly > cover to cover has given me a great starting point. > I heartily recommend it to others in the same position as I. For some it could > well be the only guide book they really need. > Please feel free to share any recommendations privately or on the net.
Response:
I found that taxi drivers often have great recommendations for good restaurants far from the maddening tourist crowd. We have had great success in Spain and Italy with taxi driver recommendations.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> One problem with Rick Steve’s guides is that everyone else reading it, only go to > the exact places he recommands, and because he’s extremely selective, these > ‘backdoor’ places have quickly been swamped by other Rick Steve readers. > This is also quite true of Let’s Go and Lonely Planet in lesser extends, but at > least they offer a bit more insights to smaller destinations. What I personally > really like > are the Access guides and the more expensive Eyewitness guides. They tend > to focus on a specific city or region. The sights are color-indexed into > different > categories, with a paragraph or two on each, and sometimes with illustrations. > The > Access I had for Paris was great. Also the Rough Guide I found is also better on > giving > information on sights than Let’s Go. > By the way, how did you managed to read guide books for 9 hours in Borders? I > spreaded my > out over 6 months during my lunch hours in Barnes & Noble and Borders. No wonder > you were overloaded. > An entire grueling 9 hour day at Borders looking through the standard guide > books such as Fordors, Lonely Planet, Let’s Go … , etc left me feeling > exhausted and overwhelmed. > My problem was the same as many other first time travellers to Italy. With so > many options and so much information, how do I find out enough to simply start > figuring out what I might like? It felt as though the more I read, the more > confused I was becoming. It was a clear case of information overload! > The next day I returned, ready to do battle. On a whim I picked up a book > called "Culture Shock! Italy, A Guide to Customs and Etiquette." While not at > all a guide book, and really not that great a book, it did start to give me a > feel for the country, it’s people, customs, and regions. Even though the > pertinent parts could easily be read in the store, free of charge, I purchased > it. > Armed with a large salad and several cups of coffee, I sat back for a charming > 90 minute read. > Then I found Rick Steve’s "Italy 2000." While there probably is no such thing > as "the definitive" guide book, I found that this one was just what I had been > looking for. As valuable for what it does not include as for what it does, it > is well written, very tight, and extremely practical. Reading it thoroughly > cover to cover has given me a great starting point. > I heartily recommend it to others in the same position as I. For some it could > well be the only guide book they really need. > Please feel free to share any recommendations privately or on the net.
Response:
— Curt http://curtjames.com/ 
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