A handy little book, Victoria’s Travel Tipz – Italian Style was written by Victoria De Maio. I met Victoria for the first time in Venice a few weeks ago, when she was on a visit to Italy from her home in California, and we immediately hit it off.
Over lunch in a back-alley Venetian bacara, frequented by Casanova back in the day, where we ate delicious cicchetti and had an ombra or two, she presented me with a copy of her book to review. Taking it home and settling down to read, I found it highly practical and written in a light-hearted style; much like the charming Victoria herself! On reading it, I felt that Travel Tipz actually covers most of the information required by first time tourists visiting, not just Italy, but other Mediterranean countries too.
Small and light, this book is easy to slip into your backpack or handbag. It is crammed with most of the details you will require to simplify your first trip to Italy and give you more time to enjoy the experience without too much stress.
The back cover tells us that this little book will help you to “Enjoy la dolce vita, the sweet life, not frustration, disappointment or culture shock. Short, sweet and to the point, this is your essential and perfect companion for your next trip to bella Italia.”
Victoria has a lively travel blog called Postcards from Victoria which covers her own experiences of travel, mainly in Italy.
Travel Tipz covers such subjects as eating; where to stay; shopping; communicating; sight-seeing and personal safety.
Victoria also covers getting around and recommends the use of public transport over renting a car. Personally, prior to moving to Italy when I visited as a solo tourist, I also espoused the use of the excellent rail and bus networks which are highly efficient, most of the time. However, now that I actually live here, I realise that there is a great deal one misses when not enjoying the freedom of the open road. It really depends on how you feel about driving in Italy – the cities can be tricky – but I personally think that, unless you are on a simple city break, it is impossible to experience the country at its best without a car.
Victoria rounds off her chapters of practical advice with a reminder of why one travels to Italy in the first place, and that is to experience La Dolce Vita, enjoying the wonderful food, wine, climate, culture and – of course – the wonderful Italian people who make us all feel so welcome in their beautiful country.
This handy 78 page book is available on Amazon.com Travel Tipz at a price of US$7.99
I would highly recommend this little book for all first time travellers to Italy.
Orna O’Reilly, Veneto, Italy
Orna O'Reilly: Travelling Italy 
What a nice review.
Thanks Tom. Glad you like it. 🙂
Having been on a plane that got struck by lightening today, your blog took me from the “what it’s?” to Paradise and I didn’t have to get killed to go there. A wonderful ending to my day, and as usual beautifully written. Brava Orna.
My goodness Linette! That must have been scary. Glad to have brightened your day a little. Stay safe. 🙂
A lovely review Orna and good luck with the book to Victoria!
Thanks Liz. And I agree: Victoria deserves lots of success with her very clever book.
I have used public transport in Italy many many times in particular the trains. I recommend them however I agree with you in regards to driving your own car in Italy. I enjoy it, particularly in the regional areas and on roads without lines
I use public transport all the time here too, in particular the excellent train service. But I couldn’t get to half the places I want to see without a car. I’m thinking of remote Palladian villas, vineyards, villages and so on. Impossible to experience the fabulous countryside without your own wheels. Orna
Great review Orna! I have also read this wonderful book and I especially enjoyed Victoria’s sense of humor interspersed with all the travel tips!
Victoria is a lively character indeed! Her sense of humour comes across very well in this helpful little book.
Excellent book review Orna. I, too, love Victoria’s book and her entertaining way of sharing her great list of travel tips.
Thank you Susan. It’s truly a must-have for first-time travellers to Italy.
Grazie mille, Orna! I loved meeting you and am very grateful that you took the time to read and review my book! And a grazie to everyone who commented :D. I’m glad that I could be entertaining and informative.
I would like to add that I’ve even had 2nd & 3rd time travelers comment that they learned something new from my book. I’m not sure I’m ready to drive in Italy yet and have managed to find other ways to explore…maybe, someday! (And maybe that will be another book! ;D
Victoria,there are definitely another few books that you have to write. Just keep coming back to Italy for new material! See you soon. Orna
The book sounds great. I’m with you on the driving. I used to go everywhere on public transport, but we bought a car a few years ago and it enables us to get to lots of out of the way places that would be almost impossible to get to on public transport. It is some of these little villages that offer wonderful things.