Rome on a Budget

ashbtvs

Hi guys, thanks in advance for any advice

Myself and the OH would love to go to Rome for 7-10 days in June, but it's looking quite expensive at the minute for the flights from Glasgow and the hotel. I'm a student and although I work part time, most of my monies go straight out in bills and university fees, so I'm struggling to afford it.

So, has anybody managed a holiday to Rome on a (tight) budget and have any tips on where to look? Or any alternative ideas for destinations? We're not very creative lol

Thanks!
Ash

Kazipoo

Well, first of all, Rome isn't cheap by any standards. Hubby and I went for a long weekend June 2008, which incidentally was enough time to see all of the sights, so that may cut your costs a little.

We stayed in a lovely aparthotel at the Piazza Barberini, which was fabulous because it is very central to everything, but the prices are around £100 a night! I think thats about average for a decent standard in Rome though.

Don't bother with restaurants, especially those without prices advertised or a menu because they will rip you off.... we were charged 40 euros for a salad from one place... I kid you not!! Stick to the cafe's and mini supermarkets for food.

Don't bother with tour buses either, you can get around the whole place on foot perfectly well as long as you are reasonably able bodied... I was not very fit and managed quite well!

Just checked out Ryanair, they fly into Ciampino, you want the other one if possible, Fiumicino, it has better links to Rome itself! Is it possible to go from another airport? Perhaps you could figure in the costs for trainfares to other airports. A flight from Manchester for example, will cost around £60 less, so it might be worth looking into that.

Also, check out this website, they specialise in cheap rooms and hostels, although you can specify private rooms, many of them are located outside the city by a fair distance, so it could be counter productive with regard to cost, but definitely worth a look. I would reckon you are talking between £300 and £500 for a hotel for a week in the centre.

http://www.hostelworld.com/hostels/Rome

Kazipoo

Also, I don't know whether you are aware, but on the last Sunday of every month, the Vatican is free entry. We went to coincide with this, however, unfortunately my birthday falls on the feast of St Peter and St Paul, which just happened to be the last Sunday of the month, so the Vatican was closed!! But if you plan your journey toward the end of June, this year the feast is on a Tuesday, so you should gain free entry to the Vatican on 27th June, just make sure you go early.

Also don't forget to check out Santa Maria Maggiore, we ended up visiting here on the feast, so were privvy to a very special service.... it was a very humbling experience and one I will never forget.

Also remember, the temperatures are very high at that time of the year, we were averaging over 40 degrees every day that we were there. There are many street sellers that specialise in bottled water and the like, and don't take shoes that are likely to melt (mine did), I ended up wearing flip-flops, much more comfortable for plodding around in.

BritRael

Yup, I agree with above. 'Rome' and 'budget' are not two words that go together. Having said that, any capital city(especially one that has the Euro) is not going to be a 'budget' choice.

fifeken

If youy do go to Ciampino a Terravision bus transfer will currently cost 4 Euro and should take about 40 minutes. It'll take you to the train station (Termini) in Rome. Local bus and train is cheaper I believe but I've never done it. The Metro in Rome centre itself is very simple to use (just two main lines) and goes near most of the big tourist attractions.

Nigbob

If youy do go to Ciampino a Terravision bus transfer will currently cost 4 Euro and should take about 40 minutes. It'll take you to the train station (Termini) in Rome. Local bus and train is cheaper I believe but I've never done it. The Metro in Rome centre itself is very simple to use (just two main lines) and goes near most of the big tourist attractions.

---

If done this trip twice in the last year or so. Once it took the scheduled 40 minutes, the second time 2hrs 40 mins. It is the easiest wat to get to the centre of Rome though. The alternative is to take a local but to the outermost Metro station (Anangina I think), then take the metro in. total cost about 2.50Euro I guess.

Most of the cheap hotels are around Termini (the railway station). I stayed in Hotel Sallecchia which was fine itself. However, the area around the station is not the nicest (is it ever?)

You can save money by buying a Roma Card. If I remember rightly it offers the first two attractions free, the rest at a discount and free transport. Of course to make the best use of it, you need to visit the more expensive attractions first (e.g the Colosseum and the Capitoline museum). It also enables you to be able to walk past the long queues of tourists at the Colosseum and straight in!

Nigbob

Just to add, you won't find anywhere in Italy particularly cheap. If you are looking for cheap, you need to be looking outside of the Eurozone, paricularly in Eastern Europe-Croatia, Czech Republic, Poland etc. Having said that I love Italy so I'd encourage anyone to go (though personally I would choose Florence as my first choice)

TravellingAbuela

Agree, it's almost impossible to do Italy cheaply (apart from the train fares!) We stayed in Rome and to save costs stayed outside the city centre and took the tram in to see the sights. Another advantage of staying in the suburbs is the restaurants, cafes, etc are considerably cheaper. Suss out where the local people eat. For accomodation throughout Italy have a look at www.bbplanet.it - English version available. We have stayed in accomodation booked through them at various locations in Italy and never been disappointed.

Kazipoo

Must admit, as expensive as it was, it is a truly beautiful place to stay, and the hubby and I are eager to travel back there as soon as funds permit!!

trrk

Other than staying out of the centre there are a lot of cheap hotels near Termini Station (not the nicest area but convenient for transport)

For cheap and VERY basic try Albergo Lucia (rooms from 50 euro).
www.hotel-lucia.com/eng/iprezzi_en.htm

Could look into hostels as well.

Eating doesn't need to be expensive if you are happy to eat pizza and pasta and look for where locals are eating. We had the best and worst meal of our Italy trip in different restaurants on the same street in the city centre. At lunch time you can look look out for takeway bagettes or pizza al taglio (pizza sold by the slice to take away).

Little_Vics

It's years since I was there as a student, but I stayed at a very cute tiny hostel called The Beehive which wasn't too far from the main railway station - it suited us fine. Hope that helps.