Are Extra Guidebooks Necessary???

Don't buy any more guide books. If you find anything else helpfu, print out little bits from the internet and pick up small maps of cities once you are there. The last thing you need is to be shlepping heavy guidebooks all over Italy.

You must understand that Rick concentrates his guidebooks on a few, well researched locations. If you stick to his guidebooks, you'll be on a well trod path with other public TV watchers and their tote bags. Lonely Planet and Rough Guide guidebooks are great companions to get more places and diversity into your tour.

I don't think it is necessary to buy extra guidebooks unless you plan on staying in one particular place for an extended period of time. If you plan on being in a city for no more than a week, the country guidebook is fine. If you are staying longer, then you may want one that is specific to a city or region.

"The last thing you need is to be shlepping heavy guidebooks all over Italy."

Very true. A lot of people cut out of the guide book just the pages they want to take on their trip.

I never would do that...hate to ruin a book, even a book I'll probably never use again.

I don't understand why guide book publishers don't put them out in ring binder form, so you can remove the pages you need for your trip and put them back in the book when you return.

It's about money, no doubt. Ring binders probably cost more, and people wouldn't be buying new books as often because they haven't cut up their old books.

Still, it would sure be nice! Maybe they could offer binder form as a higher cost option.

Andrea,

I think that depends on what you plan on seeing in Italy. If you're going to be doing "in depth" touring in Rome or Florence, then one of the city Guidebooks would probably be useful.

However, if you're only planning to see the "usual" sights in each place and want something that covers a broader view, then the Italy book should be fine. I've managed just fine with only the country Guidebooks so far.

Cheers!

Just photocopy the pp. you want and you can throw them out as you travel. In some cases, I do cutt up the books,,,you can alwyas buy a new one....Much better than carrying the weight of books with you, as you do tend to accumulate books, brochures, etc. as you travel.

Thanks for all the replies. I have used his guidebooks for other countries and have bought the city books (London,Paris,Amsterdam/Bruges) when those were the only places I was going in the country. This will be our first trip to a country that has both the country and also multiple city/region books. I don't tend to follow his agenda to the letter, because I do want to experience things without being surrounded by other "Ricknics". I already own the French/German/Italian Phrase book so I don't see the need to buy just an Italian one. We won't be traveling to Italy until September 2010, so I will have plenty of time to research, which is one of my favorite things about traveling! All advice is welcome - thanks again.

If you look at Rick's chapters on a city (for example, Florence) they are not the same. In his all-Italy book it is about 60 pages, and then the same chapter in the Florence Tuscany book its roughly 250 pages. Clearly they don't contain the all the same material. Whether you want the additional information, or to learn about areas that RS doesn't cover but are in other books, is a decision you'll have to make.

I will say that some of my favorite times in Italy have been in both places he omits (such as Bologna & Parma) and in places you'll find in his guidebook.

Rick hits some great highlights in Italy but his book is far from exhaustive.

Rather than carry a lot of books, check a bunch out of the library and research in and around your route. Put together the best information from the different books and pack that.

Bring only the information that applies to your trip. If you aren't going to Sicily, you don't need 100 (or even ten) pages on lodging and restaurants in Sicily.