You've looked at all those books. They tell you everything about Italy and show you beautiful color pictures of the sites, villages, and hotel lobbies. Five pounds of information on Italy, but you haven't the foggiest idea where to start and how to plan a 7, 10, or 14-day vacation to the most visited country in Western Europe. This book takes all the guesswork out of planning your trip, and it's easy to use!

The author, Bob Kaufman, a seasoned tour operator with 30 years of experience, meticulously lays out almost a dozen different itineraries. He discusses each in detail, from the classic Rome-Florence-Venice to the Amalfi-Positano-Pompeii itinerary. He even includes an entire chapter on Sicily, around the island.

The guide offers practical options for transportation, whether you prefer the freedom of a rented car (complete with detailed directions) or the convenience of a comfortable high-speed train. It even suggests combining these modes of transport into one itinerary, a concept Kaufman refers to as a "hopoff."

By following the guide's well-structured itineraries and practical tips, you can eliminate the stress of planning and potentially save thousands of dollars on your trip to Italy. Kaufman targets a 10-14 day vacation in Italy to be $3500-4000 for hotels, meals, and local transportation (for a couple) plus airfare.

There are many itineraries included. In addition to city visits, itineraries include the two most popular: Rome-Florence-Venice and the Amalfi-Positano area. Other major itineraries include Milan, The Lakes, The "Heel of Italy" (Apulia and Salento), and Sicily. A special itinerary featuring the Hilltop Towns of Tuscany and Umbria is also included.

In addition to details on Rome, Florence, Venice, Naples, etc., other towns on the itineraries and affordable best hotels to stay in are included: Perugia, Assisi, Cortona, Gubbio, Naples (Ercolano), Pompeii, The Amalfi Drive, Orvieto, Siena, San Gimignano, Montecatini Terme, Pisa, Lucca, The Cinque Terre and it's five towns, Lake Como, Lake Maggiore, Capri, Pompeii, Paestum, Bari, Lecce, Taranto, Erice/Trapani, Valley of the Temples, Syracuse, Taormina, Cefalu, Palermo and many more.

If you are into wine, the author even includes some wine-tasting sites and a trip up the "wine road" to Florence.
Also describes policies on renting a car and driving between sites on the itineraries.

Detailed maps of the most popular itineraries are included with travel times.

The book takes all the stress away in the planning and then the "doing" stage, making it easy and enjoyable for your visit to Italy for a week or two. It is a "must" have.