Customer Reviews

Lonely Planet Italian Phrasebook (Lonely Planet Phrasebook: India) (Italian Edition)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
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My travel companion brought this book along and once I used it a couple of times, I hated to give it up. I used it for everything including bargaining, which saved us over $100. It also has a section that decodes menus which is not only useful but a life saver when you're dying to eat and don't want to risk something potentially unappetizing. It's too late for me to get the others for european countries, but I'm definetly buying the one for spanish to use here in Southern California. It also made us laugh because it's so thorough that it even includes conversing about suggestive subjects.

In a recent trip to Italy, I found the Lonely Planet Italian Phrasebook to be helpful while buying train tickets and making basic transactions. The book stayed in my pocket as insurance against any situation that I may run into where the other party did not speak any English. (The book is a very good size for living in a pocket). I did find, however, in the heavy tourist areas of Italy, many people speak a little bit of English. So, I did not use the phrasebook as much as I had expected.

As a suggestion, take a small dictionary along with the phrasebook. The dictionary in the back of the book is incomplete. You will need a dictionary to translate signs and labels.

I suggest purchasing the phrasebook, but buy a small dictionary also. WIth the combination, you should have a pleasant trip in Italy.

I visited Rome in October 1999, and I brought this book along with me. It was very useful for navigating through the city, and a wonder at restaurants. Also, while many phrasebooks are similar, the Lonely Planet phrasebooks are thoughtful enough to include phrases on sex (Was it good for you?), common pickup lines (Do you come here often?) and polite rejections for same (You're not my type.), and specific phrases for technology issues (I'd like to surf the Internet), disabled people (Is there wheelchair access?) and gay people (Where are the gay hangouts?). There's also a section called "Traveller's Latin", which will help you translate all the inscriptions you find on arches and tombs. In short, a well-rounded phrasebook for travellers who might not fit the standard tourist profile, or for ones who do!

I highly recommend this little book for anyone wanting to function quickly in Italian. We just got back from a trip to Italy and I found the little book a great help. My only regret is that I did not begin working with it a couple months before taking off. If you don't have time to do a full fledged course in Italian, this little book will get you operational in no time at all. And the Italians love it when they see you making an effort!

After travelling to Italy several times in the last few years for both work and pleasure, I have found this to be by far the best phrasebook available. The grammar is correct, there is instruction on improving your Italian capabilities and useful side information on everything from menus to dating. Not a substitute for practice and study, of course, but certainly the best available phrase book for Italian (believe me, I've tried at least 4 others!)

How do you say that in Italian? When you need a quick answer, this little pocket-sized volume can come to the rescue. Organized according to situation (politics, banks, music, souvenirs, even romance and dating), this compilation of phrases, vocab, and basic grammar is user friendly and practical. Tho it's hard for me to imagine having to say "Spogliati" to any of the Italians I meet ("take your clothes off"), if the need arises, I'll be prepared. Amusing in parts, portable, and broader in scope than most phrasebooks, you can't go wrong with this little personal assistant. Just remember to carry with you!