Florence & Tuscany 2010Best ways to improve this book: 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 Keep up the good work! Patrick in Cupertino, CA USA 10/31/2008 Try not to put cities back to back, or even the tours. Although I hated to do it, I separated the book into cities, and tours within cities (e.g., Uffizzi tour). It meant I didn't have to carry the whole book around and could get away with only several pages at a time. The tours were very helpful -- we were a group of nine, and I had your tours and would read to the rest of the group -- sometimes other tourists would stop and listen as if I were a real tour guide! But I hated it when the first page of one thing was on the back of the last page of another. Celia Strickler in Palmetto, FL USA 09/24/2008 Love, love, love the books! Nothing to improve. Jennifer in Chicago, IL USA 07/22/2008 The summary ratings page (number of triangles indicating rating) of great places to go were all terrific- but PLEASE- add page numbers next to each of them. Leib Lurie in Troy, OH USA 07/19/2008 We find his book to be extremely relpful. We met him the the Cinque Terre region and he is so delightful Michael de la Pena in Shingle Springs, CA USA 06/22/2008 My friend feels that you are too negative, scary negative. Too much mentioning of the pickpockets and theives in several areas in the book. Maybe just to a small chapter on your experience and that's it. Ana Miner in Novato, CZ USA 06/04/2008 I would have loved a bus map--- an actual map of Firenze and Siena with the bus numbers and routes. Maggie Flynn in Florissant, MO USA 05/29/2008 I think it would be helpful to include more information regarding the SITA bus trip from Florence to Siena. I know you mention it… but it would be nice if it were a clearer picture – especially since so many of your readers utilize this route. Perhaps a time-table, or link, or at least more info regarding how frequently the bus comes (including Sunday’s). This is something I worried quite a bit about, and is frequently asked on the helpline. Thanks for making such a great guidebook! Jenny in Camas, WA USA 04/30/2008 Re taking a side trip from Florence to Fiesole... you mention the great view of Florence. It is a great view -- but in the afternoon that view is straight into the sun. You might suggest to people that they take the Fiesole trip in the AM. I tried to take a photo from the lookout point the book mentioned, but I got nothing but glare. In the morning, that would be an amazing view (and photo).
Andy Garlikov in Los Angeles, CA USA 01/02/2008 Be a bit more upbeat about Siena - the town is amazing but the book does not do it justice. Tracey Mantrone in Queens, NYC, NY USA 11/28/2007 Add some more suggested places for gelato. Certaldo has a great one - Bazzini's, on the town square. Margaret Volpe in Clifton, , VA USA 11/13/2007 Making phone calls is amazingly absurd. In a world of email and bank accounts that I can log onto exactly the same way I do at home, instantly, spending only a Euro or so, the phones are still impossible. My husband had his iPhone set up to work internationally and I tried to call it using a phone card from a pay phone, and from hotel rooms, while we were in Italy. Very frustrating, even with the guide in the back of the Florence and Tuscany book. Finally got it to work, sort of. But it's confusing, calling from country to country vs. to and from US, vs. to a normally US cell phone that is activated for use in Europe -- is that still a US call???? If there is a way to explain all that better it would help. Since he had his cell phone and I didn't bring mine, it was also impossible for him to call me back -- how on earth could he call a pay phone back? Is that possible? I found that even when I made the call go through to his cell number, and got his normal voice mail greeting, it had not made his phone actually ring, he only got a signal that he had a new voice mail. So he never got my calls, only my voice mails, and had no way to call me back. What do you think about the two-way radios hikers use? We considered taking those next time to avoid high cell phone costs but allow us to talk about where to meet or whatnot when we are in the same city but split up. Most valuable piece of info in the book: Hotel takes your passport for a day or few hours, do not panic. Internet cafes need to see your passport and scan it. Knowing those two facts in advance helped me avoid the anxiety I surely would have had about both of those situations otherwise. I was taught early on that in foreign travel NEVER let your pport out of your sight! But if the R Steves guide say it's OK, it's OK. Thanks. Barbara Powell in Lakewood, CO USA 10/21/2007 Editors: Now I see the explanation of 'red' addresses in the Orientation section. It would have helped to have this explanation in the restaurant section of the book. We arrived before the restaurant was opened and it was a bit difficult to find. Readers shouldn't have to flip back and forth looking for what a 'red' address means when it's dinnertime and they're hungry. ha. Make it easy on us, Rick. Kathy in West Hills, CA USA 10/19/2007 Just returned from five weeks in Florence - Just to let you know you are RIGHT ON in every area. You would be pleased to hear all the positive feedback I heard from others about your accuracy and recommendations. Best guide book ever! Would love to have your job! Ann Ringstad in Fairbanks, AK USA 09/07/2007 Rick's Florence & Tuscany is first-rate. Indeed, it's a highly informative, inavaluable travel guide. But something's missing in the the San Gimignano section - the Hotel L'Antico Pozzo. It's a centrally located, tidy, and most comfortable three-star accommodation. My wife and I were quite pleased with our two-night stay at this hotel during peak season, as we enjoyed a cozy, attractive room with all the amenities you'd expect in this price range. (standard doubles will set you back 110-130 USD) Breakfasts were fresh and ample; service was friendly and helpful; and the hotel's peaceful courtyard was a plus. Do consider the L'Antico Pozzo. It'll make a nice complement to the next Florence & Tuscany guide. David Dillon in Westford, MA USA 08/31/2007 This book was so helpful!!! Ellen Shields in Winchester, Ma USA 08/06/2007 Rick: You need to include a warning about the hordes of sidewalk vendors, primarily Africans, selling counterfeit purses. They set up in front of the Duomo and the Accademia and the Uffizi. One will be a lookout and as soon as the police come near, they pick up the four corners of their blankets, sling the merchandise over their shoulders and run! Our guide told us that not only is selling the counterfeit merchandise illegal but any tourist caught buying from these vendors is given a hefty fine. I think he said 250 Euros. Buyer beware. kath in los angeles, ca USA 07/16/2007 Explain what the 'red' means on the addresses. This is #25 red. We had to walk up and down Via Porcellana to find this restaurant. [Editor's Note: Actually, we do include this information under "Helpful Hints" in our Orientation chapter. In the 2007 Florence book, it appears on page 26.] Kathryn Grogman in West Hills, CA USA 07/16/2007 One thing that would improve all the books, I think, would be more detailed maps. We tried to use the map in the book to find the Florence Dream Domus from the Florence train station, but the name of the street directly across from the station had a different name near the station than it did one or two blocks later. Unfortunately, the one in the guidebook was the one that started two blocks from the station. That bit of uncertainty cost us 15-20 minutes of searching and of trying to ask natives for directions--and you know how that goes when there's a language barrier. Joe Gawel in Saint Augustine, FL USA 07/11/2007 More detailed information about Fiesole. This town is only 30 minutes from Florence city center. More hotels and eating places than mentioned in the guidebook. Craig in Salt Lake City, Ut USA 07/11/2007 There is no way to improve these books. I have always hated guidebooks- until R.S. His books are amazing. Every thing they said was right on, we are regular travellers, and pretty savy, and we still had our trip improved by his advice and ideas! Dan in Boise, ID USA 06/27/2007 As with Rick's Rome book, we found that an exclusive focus on highlights wasn't enough in Florence. Eyewitness Guides don't tell a lot about a particular site, but they include many more options and have generally good maps far superior to anything in Rick's books. Also, Rick sometimes stumbles into some howlers in his commentary about history, especially when related to the Catholic Church, that we found silly and in some cases just plain wrong. John K. in Berkeley, CA USA 06/08/2007 The transportation section on Florence needs to cover the other train stations in more detail, at least the Firenze Campo di Marte station. This is only 3 kilometers from the Firenze S.M.N. station and provides direct connections to more international destinations than the S.M.N. station. For example, you can board a night train to Paris-Bercy directly at this station. Because of the guidebooks admonishment not to use Campo di Marte, I ended up getting too many days on my daughters rail pass. Tad Taylor in Chapel Hill, NC USA 05/15/2007 Loved the funny, personal reflections. We spent lots of time laughing at the dry humor in all the books. (Paris, Rome, Florence/Tuscany) Linda Woodall in Gainesville, Ga USA 05/12/2007 The Forence section was dead on and we enjoyed all five days there. The Siena section was not of the same caliber and needs to be reviewed for accuracy. Two other restaurant comments: Locanda Garibaldi: Unreliable. Supposed to be open Friday but after waiting outside for awhile one of the workers finally noticed us standing there and told us it wasn't going to be open. Ristorante Guidoriccio: Then tried this place. They might have eventually opened as the door was part way open. But no one was to be found. We eventually just gave up and went to Spadaforte. Since a lot of people do Siena as a bus trip getting timely food is a big issue here. Mike Harry in San Jose, CA USA 04/28/2007 Remove Nello La Taverna from the Siena restaurant listings. We have 7 of your books and love them all, but I will be very wary of trying any restaurant suggestions in the future. Eva in Brussels, Belgium 04/21/2007 I think restaurants and hotels that have been tried/used/screened for this book and didn't make the cut should be included. There are many restaurants and hotels besides the ones in your book and if we knew the ones that were very bad/touristy it would make our trips more enjoyable. Many times my family and I will be in an area where you don't have restuarants listed and so just try one. Or we may find one that looks good and decide to try it. A list of the verboten hotels and restaurants would be extremely helpful. Emma in Jerez, Spain 04/03/2007 I wish the numbered map lists of restaurants had corresponding numbers at the description section that followed- it makes for less flipping back & forth if you can just go to the number to read about the place. Catherine Harper in Littleton, CO USA 04/01/2007 Last summer when we stayed at the Hotel Medici in Florence, we had to drive into the city's center. Having read your guidebook, I knew that it was very important to furnish the hotel with the rental car's identification, etc. I did that, yet several months later, I received a charge of $180 on my Visa statement from the car rental company which was for a traffic infraction. I traced it back to a street on which we traveled to enter the city where the car was "captured" on camera. It's too late for me...I am telling you this so you can really stress to your readers the importance of making sure all the information is reported to the proper authorities by the hotel. I just made the assumption that the hotel would take care of it as the desk clerk had promised. Helen Sablan in Anderson, SC USA 02/12/2007 Maps are sometimes confusing - a little too general sometimes. Kathy Mooney in Ashland, OR USA 02/07/2007 we buy your new editions every year Dr. Michael Banks in New York, NY USA 01/24/2007 |
