Customer Reviews

Rick Steves Best of Travels in Europe - Italy

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If you love Italy and love to travel but are constrained by money or the obligations of work and family, this video is for you. Rick Steves is the kind of guy your mother probably wanted you to marry - practical, articulate and fun to be around. He approaches travel with such a positive attitude that he makes you ashamed you are sitting at home! Some of the footage here is new to me and some is "recycled" from his shows. However, the picture and sound quality on the DVD make it a good buy for this arm chair traveller. He covers the classic tourist places and some that are truly off the beaten path. He peppers the DVD with his philosophy on being a tourist, an American, on packing light and on dealing with the occasional problem. Since he travels most of the time, his insights are worth hearing. I love cheap travel and I like knowing "secret" places to sleep, eat and sight see - (Although after being shown on a TV program across the USA, how secret will it be?) Anyway, when I'm feeling a little lonely for Italy, I pop in the DVD and in a few minutes I'm back in one of the most exciting countries in Europe - with a perfect guide at my side.

This DVD is jam-packed with beauty. I liked the fact that it contains three huge chapters, each presented on its own. The whole DVD is over 3 hours long but no time is wasted on irrelevant stuff. The photography is excellent. You can tell the author really respects the places visited. This DVD is great as reference material for old world Italian architecture. Panning views of buildings and streets are often shown.

I love this DVD because Rick Steves is honest, and will tell things as is. No bull. Many of us may dream that Venice is the perfect romantic place. He warns us about the many tourist and the big crowds, the water is dirty, and you can get mugged. I think to have the best vacation possible, we need to be warned of such things so you'll know to be careful. Bring the right things such a money belt. He wasn't being negitive at all, just how he sees things. I'm taking my first trip to Italy, even my first trip overseas ever, and I'm very grateful for his honesty. Because I'm so aware of things now, I plan to have a safe trip and a trip of a lifetime.

We have a trip to Italy planned and thought we would enjoy the sights more if we knew what to look for rather than have our noses in the guidebook.