Florence & Tuscany 2012 Guidebook
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Please, please, please consider adding Villa Ferraia information to your book. This is a marvelous place with the most beautiful local Italian owners that provide a true "back door" experience of Tuscany, and desperately need clientele. Please see my additional comments on the Graffiti wall. www.villaferraia.com
Larry and Angela Traubel in Cedaredge, CO USA 12/14/2011
I thought the book was great, don't get me wrong. But I would suggest a few things in addition to the maps being made more precise and detailed. The 'traffic limito' notes really worried me and I could not figure out from the maps where those sections were; I would put on the maps where they are so travellers don't accidentally go there. Next, more info on the international signs would help. There was a blue circle with a red X in it everywhere I went; this was not in the guide that I could find and since the guide is not in color, it is hard to figure out which sign is which in the few that are identified. Finally, and most importantly, I was rarely approaching cities from the direction described in the book, so I had trouble finding the parking areas described. I would add "if you approach from the south, do this" or "if you come in to town from the superstrada, go this way." I came into Pisa from the south, and parking was a nightmare. The map was too small for me to figure out where I was, and parking was very tough.
Cooper Woodard in Providence, RI USA 10/18/2011
Write more of them?
Marie Canada 10/09/2011
Write more of them?
Marie Canada 10/09/2011
Remove the recommendation for the Annie Adair tour. Also, ZaZa (Florence) is over-rated.
Roland Klassen in Oakville, ON Canada 09/25/2011
I realize there are a lot of gelaterias in Florence, but I believe this one truly warrants a special mention:
Gelateria della Passera Via Toscanella, 15r 005/291882 cinotri@alice.it
Nicole Lavallee in Milton, VT USA 09/22/2011
Send us back to be personal contributors and offer testimonials to your book! ;-)
Todd & Mary in Hastings, MN USA 08/14/2011
Add Trattoria Katti to the list of recommended restaurants.
Arlene Brumm in Mukilteo, WA USA 07/26/2011
you should include TRATTORIA KATTI, via Faenza, Florence. Great food !
Romina M. in Roma, Italy 06/29/2011
This was the first time we have used a Rick Steves' guide. It was informative, entertaining, and above all, small enough to fit in my tote without breaking my back. We also downloaded a version on our iPad which worked very well. I only wish that we had downloaded some of the tours on our iTouchs.
Ann Kressin in Overland Park, KS USA 06/14/2011
Maps need more detail. Still love your books! :)
Jim Deppen in Louisville, KY USA 05/27/2011
Non! I love reading your books and dreaming about where we'll go next! Thank you!
Shannon Fonferko in Schaumburg, IL USA 03/20/2011
You say to send an e-mail to the hotel to request the best rate. When the return e-mail is in Italian and says to send credit card info in an e-mail, do you recommend we do that? Isn't that unsafe? Thanks!
Celeste Rubanick in Alachua, FL USA 02/21/2011
More restaurants!
Mark Pruett in Dallas, TX USA 12/30/2010
Inspect places for bedbugs!
Dotti Cichon in Mountain View, Ca USA 11/22/2010
The restaurant information seems a bit out of date and many of the restaurants that know they are listed in Steves' book are taking advantage of the tourists big time. We found it best to ask the hotel for suggestions and to look for busy places where the locals were eating. We used the book restaurant suggestions as a general reference only.
Jim Gray in Novato, CA USA 10/24/2010
I think something ought to be mentioned about how many Europeans (or at least Italians) prefer their beds be more firm than your average American mattress. I was specifically told this by the girl who manages the Gulliver's House B & B.
Had I known this, I probably would have stayed at a nicer hotel/B & B in Venice and Florence where the beds were both hard as a rock with springs right under your back and ribs.
Cindy May in Hilliard, OH USA 09/28/2010
Its a great book. I bought the 2008 and just bought the newly released 2011 edition. Its has save me lots of time and money by following the book's recommendations
Norman Barker in Medford, OR USA 09/24/2010
Can't think of any, really! Absolutely great information, tips. I traveled alone for the first time in my life and felt absolutely in charge thanks to your book!
Alicia C. in Tampico, Ta Mexico 07/29/2010
If we hadn't found Guido,,,the trip would have been a bust
Dennis Imwalle in Cincinnati, Oh USA 07/15/2010
you cannot fix what is not broken. Ricks books are perfect
fred webster ma USA 06/23/2010
Question: Going to Ireland from Florence on June 29th. Can I buy your book in Dublin Airport?
Diane Reitmyer in Spring, TX USA, USA 06/21/2010
Just add Agriturismo Le Caggiole under accommodations & suggest Autonoleggio as a local source for car rental in the Hill Towns, especially Montepulciano.
Barbara Jennings in Munds Park, az USA 06/10/2010
Really put an emphasis on getting a TI map in every location. Rick's maps are helpful but, particularly in Lucca, we and other Rick Steves book users we saw could not find some of the eateries with the maps in the book. Past Trattoria da Leo, the streets are a maze we could not find Osteria Via San Giorgio, etc. Neither could the other folks we saw.
Michael Chevalier in New Hope, PA USA 06/02/2010
I don't know. This part of the trip might have been a disappointment without your book. With it, we'll always remember it!
Alan in Crestwood, KY USA 05/15/2010
For both novice and experienced travelers to Europe, no changes needed. Better maps are at the TI, comprehensive descriptions of sites, if wanted, are in Blue Guides, more hotels/B&Bs are online (we now tend to avoid Rick's hotels and restaurants only because they are too popular and often filled with his loyal readers). We like the coverage for the places covered just as presented, and find other guides for the many great places not covered by Rick.
Ron and Natalie Wickham in Foster City, CA USA 05/02/2010
You could add information on renting a car in the town of Chiusi in southern Tuscany. It is an easy one & one-half hour train ride to Rome. Hertz is on Via M Buonarroti across the street from the train station. A convenient place to pick up or return a car. Your books are great - wished I had had the Rome guide!
Chris in Cedar Point, NC USA 12/04/2009
Uffizi museum offers free wheelchairs
Marianne Kurtz in Union, KY USA 11/11/2009
Have to tell you--your statement that Medici-Riccardi palace and chapel require a reservation is incorrect. We made a res, went there and were told they don't take reservations and that it must be for Medici Chapels. And it was. Also, neither of those is so crowded that reservations are needed. We walked right in to both places. I'd suggest that you add to info about Medici-Riccardi palace chapel that people can go to the room off the courtyard downstairs to see an interactive display which tells who people in the fresco are--many are portraits of the Medici and their friends/enemies. And let a kid 10 or so and up stand on the interactor's pad and you have made the visit interesting for him/her. Also adds to adults' enjoyment. And since our last visit in 2006, they have opened several rooms that are decorated in "how they lived" style.
Ken and Peggy Williams in Marietta, GA USA 09/19/2009
Add FYI about local synagogues. They are interesting to see along side of all the churches...I suspect there are other houses of worship as well..it is always fascinating to see other religions that existed while Catholocism bloomed.
Trena Rauner in Englewood, NJ USA 07/13/2009
None. The book proved to be nearly flawless!!!!! Thank you.
Tom Robertsen in St. Louis, MO USA 07/12/2009
Consider adding DeiMori La Massa to your guidebook, and check it out. Words cannot tell how wonderful it is.
JoAnne Cruson/Norma Foster in Nampa/Eagle , Id USA 07/02/2009
Continue on just as you are. As I stated in the wrong area above under Guidebook corrections, my sister and I just were in Italy for 2 weeks, and lived totally by the Rick Steves books. I wouldn't do it any other way. The accomodations, food, helpful hints, self-guided tours, led us exactly where we wanted to go. We explored, got lost, but always found our way, and in the interim saw such beautiful scenery, delightful Italian people, and created memories we will never forget. Would add one accomodation you didn't list in Eastern Tuscany, near the small village of Poppi. Dei Mori LaMassa, a countryside villa, B&B, is the most beautiful, scenic, and relaxing place anyone could imagine. Owners also run Dei Mori in Florence, which is listed in your book. There are many small villages around to visit, and it is definitely not a tourist-infused area. The Castle of Poppi is enchanting, and all the nearby villages have beautiful churches, castles, and monestaries. Just a 10 minute drive from Dei Mori La Massa
JoAnne Cruson in Nampa, Id USA 06/30/2009
When visiting Florence, we followed the directions park at Michaelangelo Plaza, however, in the book, it suggested taking the public bus into town. The bus runs every 20 minutes, per the sign at the bus stop, but after 45 minutes we gave up and bought tickets for the hop-on-hop-off bus. At the end of the day, we found a stairway, across the river, leading up to Michaelangelo Plaza. We could have walked down the stairs and into Florence! We had a lovely day there, nonetheless, and are heading to Rome next, with guidebook in hand.
Melissa L. Willome in Nashua, NH USA 06/18/2009
Only a bit more detail about the train situation.
Cecilia in Dallas, Te USA 06/15/2009
Only a bit more detail about the train situation.
Cecilia in Dallas, Te USA 06/15/2009
Remind folks that the street names change every few blocks. I can't tell you how many times we got lost. My two favorite Italian words were dove and grazie!
Suzy Pare in Cleveland, Oh USA 04/04/2009
Can't think of anything....it was a very helpful resource. Couldn't have enjoyed our stay as much without it...thank you!
Malissa Lakin-Watson in Savannah, Ga USA 03/25/2009
Impossible! We have often used your guidebooks--always wonderfully helpful. Just used Florence & Rome books. Next trip will be one of yours!! We were present at your Iran presentation in Edmonds last June--what a thrill to meet you, Rick!
Mary Ann Bernauer in Plymouth, WI USA 01/23/2009