Rome Italy

Phoolgrrrl

We are just back we stayed at this hotel http://www.iqhotelroma.it/en/ very good location near republica. We don't have kids, but it does have a kids play area on the roof terrace.

I would not drive in Rome, the driving is crazy! Metro is frequent and cheap. Busses seemed to turn up when they felt like it and were a bit mad. We walked most places.

Think kids under 16 get in most sights free. Roma pass is quite good for adults. 25 euro, 2 free entrances to museums and 3 days public transport. If you go for expensive places, eg Colloseum for 12 euro it's good value.

We didn't do any tours, just used the Lonely Planet book which was good, it has a walking tours section so you can do your own. We also downloaded free podcasts about different sights. The Rick Steves ones were good esp for cistine chapel,st peters and forum, as were romepod. Also there is a free walking tour from the bottom of the spanish steps at 5:30pm, although the guide does ask for tips.

A lot of restaurants in the Trevi/Pantheon area have tourist menus, 12 euro ish for bruschetta pizza/pasta and water. Eating around the vatican is very expensive, the canteen in the vatican is actually reasonable.

For the best ice cream we go to the Piazza Navona, we shop few doors up from the Kinights of Malta building. If getting ice cream get it to take out, it's a lot more expensive to sit in. Like wise with coffee it is cheaper to drink standing at the counter than sit down.

We went to either the supermarket near the hotel or in Termini for big bottles of water and sandwhiches to take out with us during the day which was cheaper than buying lunch. We didn't have breakfast in the hotel but at a wee coffee shop, 4.10 euros for 2 coffes and pastries. Yum!

jaymac_2

We stayed in a two bedroomed apartment we found through https://www.sleepinitaly.com It was 100 yards from a metro, next to an ice cream shop and close to the Colisseum and it wasn't expensive

Loobysaver

I'm just back from Rome and would highly recommend the Roma pass. We bought it at the tourist info desk at Termini for 25 euros each and it gave 3 days metro use and free entry to 2 museums. We used it to gain combined entry to the colloseum, palitino and roman forom. It was great as we bypassed the queues!

We stayed at Hotel Morgana in the termini area in one of there annex rooms in an apartment block down the road. The actual area is not that great to look at but it was ideal for transport as we got up had brekkie then headed straight for the metro.