Cheap Eats in Italy

the appetizer:

Though there are many individual regional cuisines in Italy, northern and southern Italian cuisines are primarily differentiated by the cooking fat and style of pasta commonly used. Northern Italian cuisine (other than on the coast) favors butter, cream, polenta, Mascarpone, Grana Padano, and Parmigiano cheeses, risotto and fresh egg pasta. Southern Italian cuisine tends toward Mozzarella, Caciocavallo and Pecorino cheeses, olive oil and dried pasta. Southern Italian cuisine also makes greater use of the ubiquitous tomato.

Cheap Eats in Italy

Sandra Gustafson's Cheap Eats and Cheap Sleeps series are the famed, standard budget-saving guides to the world's most popular tourist destinations, faithfully consulted by thousands of travelers each year. Playboy magazine referred to them as "the most discerning budget guides" ever found, and Booklist said the descriptions in these "excellent travel books" are "both thorough and accurate." In keeping with the format of this popular series, each book includes selections that are personally inspected by the author and give travelers maximum value for their money without sacrificing cleanliness or quality.

Turning her discerning eye upon Italy's favorite cities—Rome, Venice, and Florence—Sandra Gustafson makes Cheap Eats in Italy and Cheap Sleeps in Italy the clear choices for budget minded travelers to the land of amore. The completely revised and expanded second editions of both books include original maps that show the restaurants, accommodations, landmarks and major attractions.

Cheap Eats in Italy includes more than 150 ristorantes, trattorias, and caffes that provide the best food and service in their price ranges. Conveniently listed according to location, they include such information as the hours of operation, which credit cards are accepted, the range in lire between ordering from the menu turistico (fixed price) or a la carte, if English is spoken, and service charge, if included. The book also features an alphabetical index, a helpful glossary to aid in menu-reading, and a list of handy tips on how to avoid paying more than necessary.

Cheap Sleeps in Italy describes more than 100 charming and comfortable hotels and pensiones (as well as alternative accommodations such as campsites and youth hostels) of varying degrees of lavishness, from deluxe to no-frills. The nearest tourist attractions and sites are listed, as well as service facilities, rates, and phone and fax numbers for making reservations in advance. A comprehensive guidebook, it includes pragmatic instructions that will prove especially helpful to first-time visitors, such as a tipping guide and a list of emergency phone numbers. An extra bonus is the Cheap Chic section, which features great shopping strategies and locations for maximum economization.

With Cheap Eats in Italy and Cheap Sleeps in Italy, travelers will experience the magnificence of Italy without having to worry about breaking the bank.

Sandra A. Gustafson has lived all over the world and currently resides in San Diego.

Also in the series are Cheap Eats in Paris, Cheap Sleeps in Paris, Cheap Eats in London, Cheap Sleeps in London, and Cheap Eats in Hawaii.

Cheap Eats in Italy
by Sandra A. Gustafson
Paperback, 206 pp, $10.95
Chronicle Books, 1996
ISBN: 0-8118-1070-4
Reprinted with permission