100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should Go

Most of the criticisms of this book appear to be that it's not your typical checklist-type guidebook. And it's true that it can't be your ONLY guide in Italy, especially if it's you first time. After all, the Colosseum isn't in the book and yet every woman (and person) should see it. But this book it about those special, unique, off the beaten path places. I am a man, but my wife brought this book on our three week trip to Italy and after a few days we made a it a mission to visit every place mentioned. From the gelato stands in all cities, paper shops in Venice, leather shops in Florence and restaurants in Rome, every place we ate or shopped was worth the visit. This is not a book a la Rick Steve's that will bombard you with every hotel/restaurant/historic site in each city. It's the places to visiti AFTER you've seen the big stuff. Do you need ANOTHER book to tell you to see Pantheon? No, but you need one to tell you to visit nearby Armando al Pantheon for lunch (trust me). Get your big Fodor's/Rock Steve's/Froemmer's guide and bring this book too. You won't be sorry.

great ideas for my trip to Italy. enjoyed reading this book.

I bought myself this book for Christmas and seriously haven't been able to put it down...I started reading yesterday...the information is Amazing! I have just finished a delicious section on where to find the best coffee and chocolates... Susan gives detailed historic information along with practical travel advice and even shares her secrets with us...worth every penny..and of course it makes a Great Gift!!

I bought this book hoping it would help me find the gems of Italy. However, it's more of a narrative/essay book than a helpful planning guide. I think it would have been a better book if she listed more options for each of the chapters (she provides only 1 or 2 for most experiences), and included some budget-friendly options. I've been combing through the book all day trying to find some key experiences, but everything is way over my budget, and many only offer week-long options which increases the cost. I will have to save some of her suggestions for when I'm middle-aged and have more money and less time to splurge on Italian getaways (I am a student). It's a little disappointing in a way that it gets your hopes up for a particular experience, and then it costs 2000 euros to do it, and there's no alternative listed. Yet, this will definitely help hone in on delightful things to look out for while in Italy. This book combined with a proper planning guide, such as Rick Steves', would be good for creating a customized and varied trip. This book is not organized well for self-planning. I find myself constantly jumping from chapter to chapter to figure out what to do where, and will have to take extensive notes just to organize the info myself. Unless, of course, you want to pay a company to customize one for you, then she offers resources for that quite a bit. Also, be aware that some of the websites listed are not written correctly--Google the places she mentions and you will find the right website. Overall, if you want a book to dream about Italy, this is it. She has "recommended reading" at the end of almost every chapter. If you want a book to plan a trip to Italy right now, and want to do more than 2-3 things on a single trip, then make sure you get at least one supplemental guidebook.

I got the original edition from the library and found it had lots of fun ideas for trips to Italy, my favorite place in the world, so I bought the new edition. I 'm not sure how it's been revised but I don't have the old one to compare - probably some updated websites, etc. At any rate, the author has a very amusing style and loads of recommendations for places to visit all over Italy that women travelers would enjoy, not simply for tourism but for crafts, language learning, cooking, etc., plus lists of resources, packing tips and essays.

I have been to Italy several times, and am blessed to have done so. This book covers areas and activities that I never thought of in the past. On my next trip, I will absolutely be investigating many places she has offered in this book. I learned more about Peggy Guggenheim than I ever did, and found her life most fascinating! Would recommend this book to all my female friends that dream of some day going to Italy.

The book is good for someone who have already been to Italy and would like to deepen their experiences. I am not sure the information is organized in the best possible way. But maybe it is a meter of preference. Still think it is worth reading.

The information and heart-warming side stories make for enjoyable and enlightening reading. I moved to Italy last year, and there's so much to see and do! I've written a how-to guide titled, Move to Italy! available here. While I address the process of making the move and settling in well, the author of "100 Places..." will help you to make your list of all of the best things to do and places to visit.

The book was able to point out places to travel to that I would have maybe not seen, had I not read this book. It was a good book, but was really focused on woman-owned or female godesses, etc; so, I felt that the book wasn't able to give me a holistic picture of what was fully available to me in Italy.

a gift

Lots of history and good useful information. Written with a sense of humour! I hope I can get to all those spots. It's like reading a friend's notes on her favourite places to go!