Keith Bain has moved around his home country of South Africa all of his life-so the travel bug is in his blood. Nevertheless, he managed to sit still long enough to get a doctoral degree in drama, and for a few years even amused himself writing and performing for the stage. He's also served his time teaching future thespians and filmmakers, but now he's quit academia to more rigorously pursue his passion for exploring the world. His assignments for Frommer's, besides recently allowing him to travel extensively in Italy, have sent him to India, Romania, Slovenia, Botswana's Okavango Delta, and even out onto the streets of Johannesburg. He's currently working on the first edition of Pauline Frommer's Ireland. Reid Bramblett is the author of 10 guidebooks--7 of them to Italy, where he has lived on and off since the age of 11. He writes the weekly "The Intrepid Traveler" adventure column and is a contributing editor to Budget Travel magazine and Concierge.com.

A Philadelphia native, he now lives in Brooklyn, New York, where he maintains the award-winning Reidsguides.com, recommended by CNN, USA TODAY, and National Geographic Traveler. Pippa de Bruyn is an award-winning journalist, seasoned travel writer (author of Frommer's South Africa and Frommer's India ), and oenophile (contributor to John Platter's South African Wine Guide ). Her toughest assignment? Trying to fit the sybaritic pleasures of the Italian Riviera into 41 pages. Native Californian Sylvie Hogg moved to Rome after graduating from Dartmouth and spent 5 fabulous years working as a tour guide and travel writer. She now lives in New York City and writes about Italy for several publications in the U.S. and the U.

K. She loves rock 'n' roll, and is always planning her next trip. She is the author of Frommer's Irreverent Guide to Rome and Frommer's Rome Day by Day .