Spend less and see more in Italy. Are you ready to travel smart? If you'd like to get the most out of your dollar and your trip, this is the guide for you. I put a fresh spin on budget travel, showing you how to see the best for less and how to see it in a more authentic way the way the locals do. Instead of spending $300 a night for a chain hotel, why not stay in a light filled apartment in Rome s historical Trastevere neighborhood from just $125 or in one of Italy s monasteries for as little as $35? Or how about enjoying a plate of hearty appetizers at Venice's Cantino do Mori, so you can splurge on Paolo Senni's tagliata di fesa di vitella at Cane & Gato in Sienna? Let me show you the 'other' Italy the one only insiders know about. Take a one day paper marbling class in Venice or learn to cook the perfect rag in Bologna. These are only a few of the great ways to get closer to the culture of Italy. Read on for more! This title is the winner of Best Guidebook for 2006 from the North American Travel Journalists Association ('Pauline Frommer's New York City').