Basic Italian?

I decided that since I'm going to Italy in May next year, I should probably learn some simple Italian. It'll be my first time going to a country where the first language isn't English. And any native there would at least appreciate the effort. So I'm wondering... what's the best way to go about this? Pick up an audio CD and/or workbook? Enroll in a community college course? I found one at my school on Thursday nights for $60, but I'm also taking another class-- accounting, blah--on Monday nights and don't want to take up all my free nights with classes...but it could be well worth it. Anyone have any luck learning the basics of another language through some self-teaching program? If so, point me towards the series you used. Grazi! (Did I spell that right?? AUGH!)