Customer Reviews

Suzy Gershman's Born to Shop Italy

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

 

 

Since I'm planning another trip to Italy this year, I got the current edition on a whim. I had bought an old version several years ago on a discount rack when I first started traveling to Europe and I found a fair bit of the information helpful, but this one is a disappointment in several ways. As others have pointed out, much of the information is quite obviously inaccurate or out of date. Furthermore, this is not much good as a shopping guide unless you have money to burn since it is heavily skewed toward the high-end designer market. The author throws in a few snippets from her younger associates about more affordable places to shop but that's not enough. Admittedly, Italy hasn't been a bargain hunter's paradise for many years, even before the currency conversion that has almost ruined shopping in Europe for us Americans, but there really are many affordable options for the average traveler. Just take a look on Virtual Tourist or some fo the other travel forums & you'll find a wealth of advice. From that & my own searches, I've found a pile of good shopping information. Now if I can do that on my own, surely Gershman and her team could have done a better job of research, especially if they have the nerve to charge money for it.

However, my real problem is with Gershman's attitude, which has clearly worsened between the date of my old edition and the present one. The woman is a snob, plain and simple. If you don't catch this from her over-emphasis on designer goods, you'll figure it out from all of her complaining about Italy being overrun with tourists (obviously forgetting that she is one herself)and the Italian merchants taking advantage of this by offering more & more junk. When I read her review of Francesco Rogani, a handbag shop in Rome, I truly wondered if I had been to the same place: she claims that there is a discrepancy between the selling price & the actual retail, the latter of which she claims is too much for sub-standard goods, but what is even more puzzling is her complaint that the clerks have a "less than customer-oriented" attitude. I have been there several times & have never been told of this mysterious difference between prices. Also, I have always found them to be courteous and polite; in fact, on my last visit, they found out it was my birthday & offered to get me a reservation at a special restaurant that I never would have found on my own (it was wonderful and they treated me to the appetizer, dessert, and a glass of liqueur). Now if that isn't "customer-oriented" service, I don't know what is.

Anyone who's traveled abroad even a few times will tell you the same thing: if you act like a typical snotty, demanding tourist, you won't be treated well. The Golden Rule is especially important these days for us Americans, and I assure you that if you are polite, well-mannered and friendly to the Italians or anyone else, you'll have a wonderful time shopping. Talk to the concierge at the hotel and the waiters & shop owners if you want to find out the real bargains - they may not be big-name designer baubles screaming their status, but they will be special, something that a real Italian would own, and more than likely something that you wouldn't find back home.

Don't bother buying this book. First, none of the Born To Shop books get updated much between editions, so lots of information is out of date. Second, Suzy Gershman is totally out of touch with reality. I took a shopping tour to Italy with a company called Shop Around Tours and obviously a lot of us had this book. The tour leader warned us not to pay too much attention to it and she was right. BUT we went to Mantero, which is one of the places mentioned in the book, and it was great. Otherwise, the people that went off on their own following Suzy's wild goose chases were very disappointed. So the shopping in Italy was great, but this book was a waste of money.

I agree with many of the other comments here. There are glaring errors all throughout this book, as well as the other Born To Shop books. If you have an older edition, there's no need to buy the new one, as there has been almost nothing updated. The Born To Shop books are a fun read, but do your own homework before following any of the suggestions. Sometimes I think Suzy Gershman really needs to get a clue!

Suzy Gershman needs to retire already. All of her books, including this one, are full of inaccuracies. Each edition is barely updated, so there's no need to buy the new version if you have an old one. It's time Frommers dropped Gershman and hired someone under the age of 70 to update these books that shops NOW and knows what they're talking about. These Born To Shop books are an amusing read but a complete waste of money if you're looking for current information.

...even if shopping is not your primary travel goal.

Suzy is a hoot -- she reminds me of a little less mean Joan Rivers. I love all her Born to Shop books, and must admit that I use them to guide me through any city she's written about, even if I don't plan to do crazy shopping while there. If you're a person who, like me, learns more about culture and civilization in bars and shops all over the world than from great museums, these are for you. I have never had an experience with bad or out-dated information in her books, and her recommendations have guided me to treasured purchases that remind me of my European rambles and bring a smile to my face whenever I wear them. Suzy has a great eye and a lot of inside information and tips that will help you make the most of your mad money, even if all you plan to bring home with you is gifts. I especially appreciate her inclusion of street markets, vintage shopping and flea markets; great for fashionistas who are not glossy fashion magazine zombies, and for those who are looking for passable knock-offs of designer goods. Suzy's books also include wonderful cheap, on-the-go eating ideas for your busy, busy days, and she includes these stops as she tells you how to plan your shopping route to maximize your time.

The Paris, London and Italy books are superb. These, and skinny Eyewitness Top 10 guide books are all I need!

This guide gives a lot of information but some glaring errors. The Etro factory is in Milan not in Como, Pavia is a city south of Milan and not in Tuscany etc. I also do not necessarily want to know about the authors hot flashes while trying on cashmere sweaters.
Ann Dexter, Rome

Most of the guidebooks for countries include portions on shopping but they don't tell you what TO buy and what NOT to buy, as well as Where to buy it--SUZY DOES! She has shopped Italy backwards and forwards and knows the ins and outs and nooks and crannies. Having never been to Italy, I was unsure of the special things to buy while I was there. If you are going to Italy and want to know how to best spend your $ on souveniers, get this book. Tips like avoiding Piazza San Marco if you don't want to pay the highest prices for Venetian goodies are invaluable. Also,if you want to be a bit more spendy she gives you those highlights as well--Venezia Stadium is one of the most gorgeous stores in the shopping universe. She includes tips on stores both in the major cities and the rural countryside--including designer outlets. If you are interested in hotels and food she includes those as well, although her hotel budget is a little higher than the average person.
Most of all Suzy is hilarious! Buy this book if you plan to shop at all while visiting Italy.

Also Recommend: Born to shop France (Had a section on Provence region which was helpful)

I found much of the ROME content of this book already outdated.
With the economy and rising Euro, I urge Suzy to look for more affordable stores... and more "cheap and cheerful" items to take home. For example, I enjoyed my visit to the UPIM. It's a great place for affordable costume jewelry, Italian soaps and cosmetics. I also liked the clothes... and the price... plus there's a nice UPIM at the train station. I also found a fun store called "LA LA" which sells cool jewelry for between 10-20 Euros. The Vatican post office is a treasure box for quality religious items. Affordable, Vatican sanctioned and Pope blessed.. Who could ask for more? Lastly, don't overlook the street vendors and newsstands. They're a great source for scarfs, calenders and cheap murano glass necklaces. By the way, I love Suzy... It's just cheaper now to buy your Prada and Tods at Neiman Marcus here in the states... Don't go to Rome thinking you're going to fill your closets.

Suzy definitely knows how to get her shop on. It's admirable that she mentions all different shopping experiences for all different types of shoppers. You can appreciate her honesty and her expertise. Her book was the only map I used while in Italy and I came back with suitcases of great stuff thanks to her. This is the ultimate shopping guide for Italy.

The book is good, but it depends on what type of shopping you are looking for. If you are interested in designer clothing and where to find the outlets, then this is the book for you. I was more interested in finding information on the local crafts for each part of Italy I traveled to. While the book did touch upon this, the emphasis was more on designer clothes, bags, shoes, etc. Note that the book also covers hotel info, and it is already a small book to begin with.