Escorted tours are highly regimented and expensive averaging $300-$500 per person per day excluding airfare. Bob Kaufman knows. For over 30 years he ran National Travel Vacations, Inc. a tour operator who offered escorted tours on contract to travel agents. If you don't want to be told that you must be on the bus at 8 AM, and that you have only one hour to shop in Venice, this book is for you. If you don't want to feel stressed out driving in a strange country, where everyone drives exceptionally fast, this book is for you. If you like waking up when you want, eating when you want and spending as much time as you want on each sight, this book will show you how to do it. Bob Kaufman's "Italy The Best Places to See by Rail" is the essential book you need to plan an in-expensive rail tour of Italy travelling on the newest state-of-the-art ultra-modern high-speed trains. The book is made for seniors and the younger generations, who are not comfortable or care not to take escorted tours or drive in a foreign country. For seniors, the book is easier to read because it is printed in a larger and bold type than normal travel books. The author outlines five major itineraries which include: Rome, Florence, Venice, the Lakes District (Como, Maggiore and Lugano), and an over the Alps option on the world famous Bernina Express, the Amalfi Coast and Sicily. Kaufman describes each itinerary and just how to plan it. Sicily is further broken down into day trips from Palermo and the Taormina areas. Day trips from Florence to Pisa, Lucca, Siena, San Gimignano and the Cinque Terre are described in detail. The author has a full chapter devoted to hotels near the train stations so you don't have to walk more than 10-15 minutes to your hotel. He even explains how to evaluate and choose each hotel along the way. The book is easy to read (it's Kaufman's second book) and chuck full of information needed to plan your in-expensive rail trip including websites on how to obtain your rail and attraction tickets for the Coliseum and Sistine Chapel and more. This will save you hours of time and money on the internet. Kaufman includes: tables, maps an index of section headings, places of interest, hotels and recommended restaurants from almost thirty trips to this beautiful country. His second book on travel, "SPAIN The Best Places to See by Rail is due out in 2020." Use this book for planning, and take it along with you and a good tour book of Italy and you will not be disappointed with your vacation. Do take a look at the reviews on the rear cover of this book.

The bestselling author of "Italian Neighbors" returns with a wry and revealing portrait of Italian life--by riding its trains.

What are the world’s greatest destinations? Where are the best places to travel solo? From airport fashion to road trip rules, professional traveller Brooke Saward shows us where to go, what to do and how to get that holiday feeling without even leaving home. Full of beautiful photographs that will ignite the imagination and featuring enduring favourites like Paris, New York, and London, this is the book that will inspire you to make every day an adventure.

Swim in the sparkling Mediterranean, marvel at the peak of Mount Etna, and get to know this region's timeless charm: with Rick Steves on your side, Sicily can be yours! Inside Rick Steves Sicily you'll find: Comprehensive coverage for spending a week or more exploring Sicily Rick's strategic advice on how to get the most out of your time and money, with rankings of his must-see favorites Top sights and hidden gems, from Mount Etna and the Byzantine mosaics of Monreale to the Ballarò street market and Siracusa's puppet museum How to connect with culture: Savor seafood-centric cuisine made from ancient recipes, catch an opera performance at the Teatro Massimo, or sample authentic Marsala wine Beat the crowds, skip the lines, and avoid tourist traps with Rick's candid, humorous insight The best places to eat, sleep, and relax with a glass of local Nero d'Avola Self-guided walking tours of lively neighborhoods and incredible museums Detailed maps for exploring on the go Useful resources including a packing list, a historical overview, and useful Italian phrases Over 350 bible-thin pages include everything worth seeing without weighing you down Complete, up-to-date information on Palermo, Cefalù, Trapani and the West Coast, Agrigento and the Valley of the Temples, Ragusa and the Southeast, Catania, Taormina, and more Make the most of every day and every dollar with Rick Steves Sicily.

Change the world one trip at a time. In this illuminating collection of stories and lessons from the road, acclaimed travel writer Rick Steves shares a powerful message that resonates now more than ever. With the world facing divisive and often frightening events, from Trump, Brexit, and Erdogan, to climate change, nativism, and populism, there's never been a more important time to travel. Rick believes the risks of travel are widely exaggerated, and that fear is for people who don't get out much. After years of living out of a suitcase, he still marvels at how different cultures find different truths to be self-evident. By sharing his experiences from Europe, Central America, Asia, and the Middle East, Rick shows how we can learn more about own country by viewing it from afar. With gripping stories from Rick's decades of exploration, this fully revised edition of Travel as a Political Act is an antidote to the current climate of xenophobia. When we travel thoughtfully, we bring back the most beautiful souvenir of all: a broader perspective on the world that we all call home. All royalties from the sale of Travel as a Political Act are donated to support the work of Bread for the World, a non-partisan organization working to end hunger at home and abroad.

From the Mediterranean to the Alps, from fine art to fine pasta, experience Italy with the most up-to-date 2021 guide from Rick Steves! Inside Rick Steves Italy you'll find: Comprehensive coverage for planning a multi-week trip to Italy Rick's strategic advice on how to get the most out of your time and money, with rankings of his must-see favorites Top sights and hidden gems, from the Colosseum and Michelangelo's David to corner trattorias and that perfect scoop of gelato How to connect with local culture: Walk in Caesar's footsteps through the ruins of the Forum, discover the relaxed rhythms of sunny Cinque Terre, or chat with fans about the latest soccer match (calcio, to locals) Beat the crowds, skip the lines, and avoid tourist traps with Rick's candid, humorous insight The best places to eat, sleep, and experience la dolce far niente Self-guided walking tours of lively neighborhoods and museums Vital trip-planning tools, like how to link destinations, build your itinerary, and get from place to place Detailed maps, including a fold-out map for exploring on the go Useful resources including a packing list, Italian phrase book, historical overview, and recommended reading Updated to reflect changes that occurred during the Covid-19 pandemic up to the date of publication Over 1,000 bible-thin pages include everything worth seeing without weighing you down Coverage of Venice, Padua, the Dolomites, Lake Country, Milan, the Italian Riviera, Florence, Pisa, Lucca, Hill Towns of Central Italy, Siena, Tuscany, Rome, Naples, Pompeii, Capri, the Amalfi Coast, and much more Make the most of every day and every dollar with Rick Steves Italy. Planning a one- to two-week trip? Check out Rick Steves Best of Italy.

From the most trusted name in travel, Frommer's Italy is a comprehensive, opinionated guide that was completely re-researched after the pandemic lockdowns. With helpful advice and honest recommendations from Frommer's expert authors, you'll walk among the ancient ruins of Pompeii, float along the canals of Venice, appreciate Renaissance masterworks in Florence, explore off-the-beaten-path Puglia and live la dolce vita in Rome--as well as discover timeless wonders such as the vineyards of Tuscany and cliff-top towns perched along the Amalfi Coast.Inside the guide: Full-color photos and helpful maps, including a detachable foldout map Detailed itineraries for planning your trip to suit your schedule and interests (and help you avoid lines and crowds) Compelling cultural information so that you'll better understand the history, cuisine, and traditions of Italy Candid reviews of the best restaurants, historic sights, museums, tours, shops, and experiences--and no-punches-pulled info on the ones not worth your time and money. We also include star ratings, so you can scan the text quickly and see which options are most appealing. Accurate, up-to-date info on transportation, useful websites, telephone numbers, health care options and more Budget-planning help with exact pricing listed, so there's never any guessing, along with ways to save money, whether you're traveling on a shoestring or in the lap of luxuryAbout Frommer's: There's a reason Frommer's has been the most trusted name in travel for more than 60 years. Arthur Frommer created the best-selling guide series in 1957 to help American servicemen fulfill their dreams of travel in Europe, and since then, we have published thousands of titles, become a household name, and helped millions upon millions of people realize their own dreams of seeing our planet. Travel is easy with Frommer's.

The textbook, Conversational Italian for Travelers, is a fun, friendly book, not formal like most language books, and teaches everything one needs to know to travel to Italy. If you want to really understand the Italian of today, you need this book! We learn language and culture as we follow the character Caterina in dialogues that detail her travels through Italy. As she boards planes, trains, and finally takes a ride in her cousin's car, we learn how to do these things in Italian. When she meets up with her Italian family, we learn the phrases of communicating with others, including what to say if you meet someone special, how to go shopping and how to use the telephone. Finally, Caterina goes on a trip to Lago Maggiore with her Italian family, and we learn phrases needed to stay at a hotel, go sight-seeing, and of course, go to the restaurant and order wonderful Italian food! Many Italian dishes commonly ordered in Italian restaurants are listed in the last three chapters of the boo