50 Places in Rome, Florence and Venice Every Woman Should Go

Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this book, free of charge, from Travelers' Tales, via Edelweiss,  for review purposes on this blog. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it

And now we're off to Italy!

The land of sunshine, wine and art!

Synopsis

Following the critically acclaimed 100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should Go, Susan Van Allen adds new gems to her selection of the best spots for female travelers in Italy's most popular cities, (Rome, Florence, and Venice), along with enticing Golden Day itineraries to make vacation dreams come true. Like a savvy traveler girlfriend whispering in your ear, she guides readers to masterpieces where women are glorified — from Rome's Pieta to Florence's Birth of Venus, best spots for wine tasting, chocolate, and gelato, artisan shopping experiences to meet leather craftsmen or glass blowers, and places for adventures — from rolling pasta to rowing like a gondolier. Plus, there are fresh, practical tips, giving readers insider's secrets for what to pack, the best places to get their hair styled, and how to bargain for souvenirs.

Whatever your mood or budget, whether it's your first or 21st visit to Italy, 50 Places in Rome, Florence, and Venice Every Woman Should Go opens the door to extraordinary experiences that fully immerse travelers in the beautiful, fascinating, and delicious pleasures of the Bel Paese.

Courtesy of Susan Van Allen 

Review:

Subtitled Budget Tips, Online Resources, & Golden Days, this book adds in additional items, to equal really more like 100 places. There were so many things that mind sorta started spinning with ideas! Obviously a cooking class is a given, but lace making in Venice? Hadn't thought about that before, but now I want to see it and try it! Susan knows what we want- wine, chocolate, shopping, gondolier training, and she gives you the best spots for each, and offers the best choices for adventurous memories and lovely tales! Coming from NOLA, the idea of learning mask making in Venice went to the top of my wish list, and it was another things I had not thought about! I loved that she included the little things- like best place to get your hair styled and cut- what better memento than to come back home with an Italian hair style? The choices are perfect for solo travel, or going with your bestie, or daughter, and enjoying not only the time together, but the great culture and art of Italy! Kudos for Susan for making us want to get on the next flight to Italy!

Be sure to check out the Pinterest board for the book, for more tips and photos!

This book would be a great Christmas gift, tied in with some Italian music and food treats!

Courtesy of Susan Van Allen 

About the Author:

Susan Van Allen's love for Italy stems from her maternal grandparents, who emigrated from Southern Italy. She was born in Newark, New Jersey, and grew up on the Jersey shore amidst wonderful food and drama. When she first stepped off the train into Roma Termini in 1976, she got hooked on Italian travel. Since then she's explored the country up and down the boot--visiting relatives, immersing herself in the country's masterpieces and culture, taking language and cooking classes, and going on boating, biking, and hiking adventures. She's written about Italian travel for over twenty-five media outlets, including National Public Radio, Town & Country, Student Traveler, Tastes of Italia, Chicago Daily Herald, several Travelers' Tales anthologies (including Best Travel Writing 2009), and CNN.com. Van Allen also writes for television, and was on staff of the Emmy winning sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond. When she's not in Italy, she is based in Los Angeles, where she lives with her husband and makes scrumptious lasagnas. Check out her website for more tips!