swalter518

I agree to copy and pitch them or better yet, leave them in the sitting area of the hotel for the next person. I also take a couple "disposable" books to read on the plane/train and them leave them at the hotel when I'm done. You may also find that your notes duplicate some of the stuff in your books so you can cut down that way too. HAVE FUN!

suze

The Life of Pi is an excellent choice. fascinating story. Will be perfect for a trip.

Micheline

Stever I'm thrifty too but I can't imagine taking library books on a trip. What if you lose or forget them? I once lost one and had to pay more than it was worth (restocking fee). Have a wonderful trip!

missypie

I actually lugged the big DK Eyewitness books AND the Rick Steves for Rome, Florence and Venice - yes, 6 books. I find the DK books so valuable that I don't mind the weight. (We had 5 22" suitcases, so it was easy to distribute the weight.)It's great for identifying smaller sights that are nearby or on the way to your main destination. What IS that Roman Temple looking building across the street from the Mouth of Truth? We were able to read all about it, even though it wasn't the sight we had come to see.

stever

Well, guess I'm thriftier than most. It's libray book or bust. We just hate to buy books when they're ... free at the ole' library. The good thing about buying them though, especially if it's like, The Fountainhead at 950+ pages is you can tear the book in half and toss it as you go. When you're done, it's done and ready for the garbagio. (is that Italian? )

I think I have to time for copies today so I guess I've reduced it to my copious Fodor's notes, and I'm not kidding. I took TONS of notes here. Quite frankly, I almost don't need Rick Steves Italy as my notes are ... alot, and I have the Eyewitness guides for pics and more info.

Cheers ya all. Hope to write a trip report when I get back, but there's so many already written here, not sure what I could add...

Steve R

suze

Stever- hey, don't get me wrong, i LOVE the public library. i just don't take their books on the road with me. too much hassle. and if one gets lost or damaged it is more of an expense than buying the book would have been.

annabelle2

Take your Top 10 books as planned (I like these, too; small and the maps are not bad.

Photocopy or tear out the Rick Steves pages for Florence, Rome and Amalfi Coast. Leave the pages behind or pass them on to a fellow traveler as you move on to the new destination. As mentioned by others here, he is concise and I also like his walking tours (night walk of Rome is a good one).

Look through the Let's Go and the Frommers and just photocopy/rip out what you don't already have in the Top 10s and the Rick Steves' pages.

Just realized you are leaving tomorrow, so maybe the tearing out is more in order now than the photocopying!

To add to the mix, print out the best Fodor's forum tips and toss as you go.

Just my opinion, but I like Lonely Planet guides for maps and background info (and some of the Rough Guides) more than Let's Go for the budget options.

Have fun and don't read too much. Just relax and let it flow a bit.

LoveItaly

Have a wonderful trip stever!! And please do give us a trip report, each travellers trip adds another layer of information, impressions for those interested in Italy. And since it is not possible for anyone to see everything and do everything in Italy there is always new things to read about no matter how many times one has been to Italy. Enjoy every moment!

stever

Well, thx everyone for their advice. We've decided to take the Rick Steves Italy book and the 2 Top Ten Eyewitness guides. I didn't have time to photocopy anything, just like I thought, so we're stuck taking the RS library book. Oh well. Can't tear out as we go, but ... what the heck.

It's all good. Yes, I'll try to write a report when we return. The Fodors notes are really great, though. I can't wait to use them, and yes, we'll let it flow as much as possible.

Can't do it all, you're right.

We're OUT A HERE! Yeeeee haawwwwwww.

Steve R