Customer Reviews

Italy, Instructions for Use: The Practical, On-Site Assistant for the Enthusiastic (Even Experienced) Traveler

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I bought several books on Italy. This was the one book I carried with me at all times. As a novice traveller to Italy it got me through everything. I mastered the train system and Fast Ticket machines, travelling on the autostrada, getting gas, and use of the pay phones. I used it every day for reference and it never let me down. I even stopped carrying my phrase book because this book already had everything I needed to say. If space is a concern, forget those other books and rely on this one. It's small and compact and has it all.

I recently toured Italy for the second time with Nan McElroy's book in my purse. It was invaluable in getting my husband and me on and off the train and around town using both public transportation as well as the taxi. I particularly liked the information about tipping, restaurants and the Italian mind set. The vocabulary at the end of each chapter was helpful in formulating some halting Italian to order food and to find our way around Rome and Florence. Her information on money and protection from pickpockets was right on. I have traveled europe for over 10 years and found this book to be a most practical guide. I not only read it before I left home but as we were touring in Italy for it's helpful hints. The book is small and lightweight enough to carry in your pocket and made our trip completely enjoyable and easy.

When it comes to getting ready for a trip with family or friends, I'm the planner. I always manage to build a pretty impressive collection of guide books and research the internet for months to find other traveler's favorite things to see and do. While getting ready for our latest trip to Italy, I found myself becoming overwhelmed with all the information I had in front of me and I couldn't make up my mind which guide to read. That's when I settled down with the book that saved me from information overload and gave me dozens of practical gems that made seeing all the sites in Italy so much easier. I read "Italy, Instructions for Use" cover to cover. This perfectly pocket-sized "personal assistant" helped us to relax and enjoy our trip. We knew just what to do and what to look for. I took it with me and consulted it over and over again. It even helped me remember the Italian word for this and that and saved me from so many embarrassing moments. We used it to make train reservations; to know in advance what it was like to drive on the Autostrada and how to buy the right gas for our rental car; what to expect in a restaurant and so many other answers to the questions you forget to ask before you go. You'll still need your favorite Travel Guide to read up on sites and pick hotels, but trust me; you will find that "Italy, Instructions for Use" is the best investment you can make before your next trip to Italy.

I travel to Italy often and I wish I had Nan's book during my initial travels because all the things I have learned through trial and error are in this book. I also learned new things as well..which will make my next trip to Italy less stressful. From the basic italian glossary to help you order your meals or ask for directions to the information on how to navigate through Italy to suggestions on what to pack for your trip...Italy, Instructions for Use is exactly that...an easy to follow and compact instruction guide. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends and family.

My husband and I have been to Italy 3 times, the third with this book. Many lessons we've learned the hard way were confirmed by this book, along with some we hadn't encountered yet. This is a great book for first-time travelers, and still very useful for return trips. Topic-associated glossaries, specific coping techniques, and pocket size make it worth taking when you're packing light.

Pocket-sized for easy carrying, Italy: Instructions For Use is a simple guidebook offering a wealth of basic travel advice organized so that one can consult it for quick answers to common questions, anywhere, anytime. Color-coded sections further speed up one's ability to find answers swiftly. Italy: Instructions for Use is not a conventional travel manuel with hotel and restaurant listings; it focuses especially upon culture shock and other problems, from how to get around to dealing with the post office, changing currency and much more. Italy: Instructions For Use is a "must-have" reference before sojourning into Italy, for business or for pleasure.

This is exactly what I was looking for... I am going with a tour group, so didn't really need to know all the good places to go (besides there are tons of other tours books that will tell you that.) This book tells you the logistics of Italy, something that other guide books have a little of, but not enough. I found especially helpful the sections on calling home, the VAT refund, and what to expect in general from Italian people. There's also a great section on transportation that would be very useful if you were not with a tour group and were going it alone.

When you are traveling in an unfamiliar country, you need to understand how things work. Where can I park? What do the blue lines mean? Do I pay for my coffee when I order? Basic, everyday things, that are not the same as where you live. What you need is an instruction manual. And now, for Italy, you have one! "Italy, Instructions for Use" is small enough to fit into your hip pocket but contains everything that you need to know for survival in Italy. If you are heading to Italy, slip this book into your pocket - it will make your trip easier and let you get into the swing of things from the moment you arrive.

Pauline Kenny, Slow Travel, www.slowtrav.com

This is a wonderful book, especially for novice travelers.
The writer includes pictures to assist with vending machines
at the bus and railway terminal, phrases invaluable for any visitor
and simple hints to guarantee a most wonderful trip. I wish I read this
10 years ago! Good advice on what to expect in this most romantic and
enchanted country. I advise any new traveler to pick up a copy. It is
easy to read and carry in your purse for reference.

St. Monica

Of all the travel guides in the stores, Nan's "instruction book" really hits the mark. My wife and I made our first trip to Italy in April 2004 equipped with a slew of bulky travel guides (Rick Steves', Frommer's and Let's Go). However, I acquired a copy of Nan's book a couple days before I got on the airplane and never put in down again. Since we did not know the language, it turned out to be an invaluable resource during my trip --and it fit in my pocket!! From ordering coffee to catching a train, my wife and I found ourselves actually saying things like: "Well, what does Nan say to do in this situation?"

This is one that you don't want to leave home without!!!