I would like to take 1 guide book to Italy (we are going to Santa Margherita, Pienza, Todi and Florence) We generally don't eat at restaurants from guide books but would like one that has good touring ideas and places to see that will be useful to us over there. Any recommendations?

If you aren't concerned with restaurants and hotels...perhaps the Eyewitness Italy guide would be best. <BR> <BR>Of course, I end up packing Fodor's, Rick Steves, and Rough Guides too... everytime! &lt;grin&gt; <BR> <BR>Anastasia <BR>http://www.greatbritaintravelguide.com <BR> <BR>

The Green Guide Michelin.

DEFINITELY the Eyewitness book on Italy! Debbie

Iagree with Debbie. Definitely the Eyewitness Travel Guides. Their guide leaves little to be desired especially if you are doing your own thing. I have just come back from Eastern Europe and usedLonely Planet and was disappointed

Eyewitness definitely for good pictures and maps, also prioritising your time. Lonely Planet for maps and details, esp on restaurants, eg. pinpoints them on map! and has a good range Rough Guide for opinion but poor on maps and working out what to see first. Fodors on a par with LP, except tends to be more upmarket.

I love the Eyewitness Italy guide but it's so heavy and bulky, I wouldn't make it my "take-along" book--particularly since its best feature is all the gorgeous photographs. I'd use EW to study and get myself thoroughly drooling ahead of time, and then take a lighter guide along, probably Lonely Planet. <BR> <BR>This may not suit your itinerary, but I *loved* my Fodor's pocket guides. Fodor's pocket Venice was the only actual "guidebook" I brought along on a recent trip and it was a lifesaver--compact, handy, with just the right amount of detail. I don't know how many other areas & cities have 'pocket' guides but it may be worth investigating.

Dawn, <BR>The Michelin Green Guide is probably the best to suit your needs. One suggestion you might consider rather than hauling a guide book all over Italy is to photocopy pages of a guide you're comfortable with take the pages with you and dump them once you've seen what they address. Saves on packing space and weight.

Thank you for all of your suggestions. I will have to check out both the eyewitness guide and the michelin guide at the book store this weekend. Wes, I have already copied many pages from the fodors book that I got from the library, I think was a good idea!!

Dawn, it's me again. I second the Eyewitness but they are heavy. What I did was read it and made a schedule of places to visit with my Frommer's Italy book. They were perfect together. Your best bet if you do not want to refer to guides for restaurant is to just ask the hotel, taxi driver or a local person on the best trattoria. It never fails!

Another plug for the Green Michelin book.

Celeste, That is so funny! I have been practicing all night on how to say "can you recommend a good 'trattoria'?"

Beyong a doubt, Eyewitness is the best book for touring. We used it last summer in Italy and it was definately worth purchasing and bringing along. In order to reduce the weight in our bags, we photocopied select pages (only those we thought we might need) from the other guides (Fodors, Frommers, and Rick <BR><BR>Steves). As we left each destination, we <BR><BR> simply tossed the photocopied pages, further reducing our load.

May I offer another suggestion? My favorite, well-thumbed guidebook for this area is Cadogan Guides' Tuscany, Umbria and the Marches by Dana Faracos. You can get it through Amazon.com if it is not in your bookstore. It's a comprehensive guide that takes you along the not-so-well traveled paths. The writing is witty and the coverage is comprehensive. I like Eyewitness for the photos, but I don't think it is as intellectually satisfying as the Cadogan guides.

If you only want to take one book, I suggest you visit the library or book store. Spend about an hour glancing and reading sections of each book. See which one has a philosopy of travel that agrees with your perspective on travel (tastes in hotels, restaurants, whats important to see etc. that agree with your ideas). <BR>I found Rick Steves to be the most helpful with good walking tours and price ranges we felt comfortable with.

Leaving tomorrow and taking the Michelin Green guide and two Kemwells' road maps of Tuscany and Umbria as recommended here by others!

have fun! we expect a full report... <BR> <BR>;-)

ttt