Rome advice required please

robbiecaratiger

Looking for help/advice/hints and tips please

Just booked a 4 night trip away for myself and my wife in March 2010 to Rome. Really pleased with the flight price (£40 all in - that'll do for me).

I'm now seeking advice regarding accommodation and things to do, places to go, excursions, public transport advice etc..

Having not been before I thought I'd lean on some good people here for advice before I go in with my size 12's making mistakes all over the place!

Any help is much appreciated

Thanks

RoxieW

Hi there - oh lucky you going to Rome

We stayed here in 2007
http://www.hotelmellini.com/Default.asp?cat=&lingua=2
and I would recommend it. It's on the other side of the river (the Vatican side) to most tourist attractions so was cheaper then other comparable 4 stars. However, everywhere was walkable. We found it to be clean with helpful staff and a lovely little breakfast room.
TBH we just used our legs and walked around looking at the sights - the spanish steps, trevvi fountain, coliseum etc. There wasnt much to spend money on in that respect. one thing we did enjoy was the outdoor opera at the Baths of Caracalla. Not sure if that will be on in march though??
hope you enjoy your trip - we did - I loved rome and cant wait to go back. Just be wary of pickpockets and people wanting you to take your photo with them then charging you. also, dont bother with food on the main squares. We found an amazing restaurant just down one of the street off of the trevvi fountain - the second restauraunt up on the left opposite a big icecream shop. Cant remember the name so doesnt help you much I guess - sorry!

phatbear

Already a few posts about this subject this is the most recent one:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/search.html?searchid=67914463

RichyRich

If you want to visit the Colosseum, firstly don't have your photo taken with any "Romans" (unless you want to pay five euros for the privilege) and secondly, the ticket also allows you entry to the Panatyne Hill and Forum.

The upshot to this is that you should buy your ticket from either the Panatyne Hill or Forum, which similarly lets you into the Colosseum - whether you want to visit the other attractions or not. You can then happily waltz right past the horrendous queue for the Colosseum and in through the gates.

Pee

I would get a guidebook, maybe from the library, and have a look at what interests you. 4 days is a good period of time to be there, I was there five and any longer I would recommend getting out to see the Amalfi coast and coming back as there is only so much great stuff you can look at before it's overkill.

Wear good shoes, you will walk miles.

My highlights were the Sistine Chapel and MichelAngelo's Pieta... but I am a big MA fan. We didn't have to queue for the Vatican, some people have said there were awful queues. There was a queue for St Peter's, as there was a service going on, but it moved quite quickly.

There was a queue at the Colosseum so the tip above is good!

There are lots of cheap hotels and cheap and reasonable places to eat around the station. I have a friend who worked in Rome who recommended the area. I stayed in pensione paradise, which was nearer the vatican. It was quite small and basic and E90 a night. I'd def stay there again. there was a great restaurant just down the road, didn't look much but was fantastic.

If you can bear Dan Brown, I read Angels and Demons on the plane over/ whilst I was there and there is a lot to enhance your visit - the setting is Rome. Maybe watching the film, which i haven't yet, would also work. If you don't like him, then avoid.

The Pantheon is impressive. We were there in October and sat around the fountain outside with small bottles of fizzy wine from a nearby Spar.

jacqhale

Hi, we went about 5 years ago and took the train (and a bus if I remember correctly) up to Tivoli and went into the Villa d'Este. It was a brilliant day and very beautiful with great views. Very relaxing after a few days pounding the streets of Rome!
Don't forget to remind your wife to take something to cover her shoulders when going round St Peter's etc, when we were there it was really hot and saw a few women in the queue in front of us get turned away as they only had strappy vest tops on etc...
Have fun.

robbiecaratiger

Thanks very much for this so far - much appreciated

Learning lots - and have read Angels & Demons & watched it too.

Quite inspiring, but I'm a Dan Brown fan.

I take it I have to buy Sistine Chapel tickets? Do I book trhese tickets online in advance ? Or best to do it over there??

Pee

Don't suppose she'll be wearing strappy tops at all in March... it'll be warmer than here, but I think it'll be two layers of clothes weather.

There is a metro, which we didn't use much, as it's such a nice place to wander around, but it is handy when you have wandered too far.

Pee

The Sistine Chapel is part of the Vatican. Booking ahead is a good idea. As I say, for some reason we managed to miss the queues, but other people have complained.

RichyRich

We didn't have to queue at the Vatican either. Are you sure there's a fountain outside the Pantheon? I don't remember it! Just a square with pavement restaurants.

Be prepared to be hastled non-stop. Waiting to get into the Vatican, be hastled by tourist guides offering you a tour. Same at the Colosseum. Be hastled by people wanting to take your picture (Colosseum and Trevi Fountain), sell you roses, sell you postcards, and play you music.

Just be polite but firm, although they can be persistent.

PS - are there any shops in Rome? Not that we particularly wanted to, but we never ever came across a shopping centre/district all the time we were there

robbiecaratiger

What's the best way to get from the airport (Ciampino) to our hotel (If we're based in the Spanish Steps area) ??