Rome?

[nat]

I have a vacation in may and was thinking about heading to rome. Just curious if anyone has been there lately and how americans are accepted. Or if anyone has anything to add on where to stay, how to get around or any other comments please let me know. PM me if you want.

Thank you for your help

 

[Draginass]

Don't drive in Rome. It's VERY confusing and parking is non-existent. Stay downtown and take taxis or the train. If you stay outside the city be sure it's close to a train, but I'd stay downtown just for convenience. Lots of the hotels have web sites now so you can make reservations. Don't go without reservations. And make sure the hotel is airconditioned if in the summer. Even a cheap hotel will cost you $150 per night for 4, and about $100 for 2. Eat in the backstreet tratorrias. They're cheap and good. No problem being American.

 

[80/20]

Many Americans that have been in Europe lately or that are there now are saying the same as Draginass "No problem being American".

 

[B190Captain]

Rome is an awesome place to go. I have been there several times and if you check out the ruins and so forth, you will enjoy it.

Also stop by the famous Alfredo's restaurant. That is where Fetuccini Alfredo was born. If you order that, you will get a massive bowl with a golden spork. The food is unbelievable and yes, don't drive. Use public transportation or taxi. I never had a problem with the people there.

If you have the time or the means you can also visit a town called San Felice, Circeo. Awesome beach town.

 

[typhoonpilot]

May is a great time of year to go to Rome. My wife and I went in 1998 and had a fabulous vacation. Four days to see Rome is just barely enough. You can easily spend three in the city seeing all the sights and then take a day trip to somwhere like Tivoli.

I would disagree with Draginass on making reservations. Pick-up the Lonely Planet guide to Italy in Barnes and Noble or via the Lonely Planet website. It will tell you exactly how to get around town. I recommend taking the train from the airport to Termini and then finding a nice little Pensioni near Termini. That way you are within walking distance of the Coloseum and the major transportation hub. Buses and the Subway are easy to navigate and get around on, walking works well also.

If you arrive off a red-eye flight and get into town early in the morning it is usually easy to walk around Termini and find a decent place with availablity. My wife and I have a set way of doing that. I leave her at the train station with the bags and I go check out the places on foot. That way I can see the rooms and the facilities and then negotiate the price without the owner/manager thinking he has me because I'm tired of lugging a bag around. In Italy we averaged about $45.00 per night for one to three star Pensioni. Rome was the most expensive at over $65.00 for a pretty small but clean room.

If you have more than four days plan on taking the train to wherever you want to go, it is both easier and cheaper than driving or flying. Most of the cities don't allow cars into the cental portion of town or if they do parking is difficult. The train is perfect because the train stations are almost always right in the heart of town and a lot of good Pensioni are nearby. In Venice the exit to the Train station is right on the Grand Canal.

Typical train fares from 1998 were: Rome - Florence one way $23 in second class, Rome - Naples $16 in second class. Florence - Pisa $8.70 round trip. Florence-Venice $20 second class. You get the idea.

I would recommend Florence and Sienna as well as a short afternoon trip to Pisa while in Florence. If you want to go south then Sorrento is a good base of operations for seeing Pompeii, the Amalfi coast, and going out to Capri. If you have longer then three days in Venice is well worth it. I would skip Milan unless your wife is a fashion maven but north of there in the Lakes region is quite nice, especially Lake Como and the real Bellagio.

Have fun,

Typhoonpilot

 

[nat]

Thanks for all the quick replys. I have learned alot and appreciate all the help.

 

[ACWild]

If you stay at the airport Hilton, there's a free bus into town. I just got back from there. Great town with lots to see. If you wear contacts, beware. There seems to be alot of dust in the air. Messes with the sinuses too.
Food in the touristy areas is expensive. Averages are about 8 to 12 Euros for a small slice and a drink.
There's alot of free tours. You just have to look around. I went through the first time not knowing what anything is. It's a heck of alot more interesting when you know what you're looking at. Some of the guide books that you can pick up there are good too. They cost about 6-7 euros. Have fun.
I noticed that most of the women there wear thongs and those new plumbers-butt pants. Yep, very scenic.

 

[jtf]

I went there at the end of March. Rome can be done cheap. I spent $26.90 for the foreign landing fees/ taxes (USAir Travel card). My hotel was 30 Euros per night- single room with bath. You can get pieces of pizza and or good sandwitches for 4 to 5 euros per meal around the termini station downtown. My most expensive expense was a good seat from a ticket scalper to watch AS Roma beat up on about the worst team in Serie A at the Olympic stadium (Soccer there every Sunday afternoon). Look on the internet for Hotel Scott House. Its owned by a company that also has 2 or 3 other cheap hotels/ hostels in the area. I think I found it on the internet at www.enjoyrome.com. I also highly suggest the walking tours they offer on the site. I think they were 20 euros and the guide I had was an American with an incredible amount of info about almost anything in Rome. Rome is an incredible place to visit- I highly suggest it. Stay somewhere around the termini station since there is so much right around there or easily reached on the subway or busses that originate from the termini. They are easy to figure out and you can get an all day unlimited ride pass for about 4 euros.