Planning trip to Italy - any ideas?

noviceatsaving

Hi all, I have been trying to plan a historic trip to Italy (specifically, Rome) and would like to go for about a week in October. The trouble is I am having a real problem finding any advice online about going there without spending a fortune! Every package holiday seems to be about all the beaches or skiing - even the 'city break' packages don't seem to cover much of Italy at all.

So what I'm wondering is does anyone know of any companies that do cheap package deals to the more historic parts of Italy? Rome, Florence, etc? Even just a hotel and flight would be excellent. If not, has anyone been there and has suggestions of great things to do that are also cheap / free?

apt

Rome in October is a great idea, but don't expect it to be cheap. The least expensive option is probably to book the flight and hotel separately.

kittykarate

I went to Rome in October, was lovely but not cheap. Booked it separately, got a flight from low cost airline and looked around for a cheapish hotel. Stayed here http://www.lancelothotel.com/ which was good for historic locations, really helpful staff but some of the rooms were pretty worn and there were loads of nuns and priests there. Ate in a local pizza/pasta place where the waitresses glowered at you and served limoncello in school water glasses. We also caught the train to Florence and had a couple of days there, italian trains are fast and clean, and cheap compared to the UK.

noviceatsaving

Thanks both - you've largely confirmed what my own research did. I'll just have to save a bit more than I'd hoped.

xfive71

Hi, it is possible to do Rome on the cheap - Fly into Rome Ciampino via budget airlines, get the Terravision to town and stay at a cheapish hotel. We stayed at Hotel Grifo, which is relatively central and near to the ancient ruins

http://www.hotelgrifo.com/inglese/home.html

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g187791-d237193-r10964795-Hotel_Grifo-Rome_Lazio.html

britbok

We went to Rome last September for 4 days and I managed to get flights and 4 nights in an apartment for 3 people for about £260 each. I booked the flights when BA had a sale and stayed at Alex's House apartment, which I can highly recommend. Google Alex's House 2009 rome.

Counting_Pennies_2

I definitely wouldn't do a package tour to Rome.

Get yourself a flight and a hotel separately. You really won't be spending much time in the room, there is so much to do, so get somewhere close to travel links that is reasonably priced and rated on trip advisor and go for it.

I would suggest a hop on hop off tour, the bus stops are everywhere. I think from memory you can buy a two day ticket (if so very worth while). Vatican, get there early the queues are long, and the audio tour worth doing.

It was a fantastic holiday, we tagged it on to one of our three legs of Italy for our honeymoon. Highly recommend.

tarkytarks

We flew with BA (booked at the start of sept when there was a "sale" on - cheaper than Easyjet too) october half term, stayed at EcoHotel Roma (http://www.ecohotelroma.com/) and just did our own thing. We did one of the hop on hop off buses for one day, did the Vatican and Colloseum on our own (had no probs getting in either, but we did turn up before 10am). We did do a tour with http://www.darkrome.com/ though - to see the crypts. One thing we did cotton onto very early on is you can easily "tag on" to some of the tours going on and listen to what the guides are saying quite easily. I don't remember exactly but I'm certain that the flights and hotel (with breakfast) for 2 of us came in at under £500 for 5 days/4 nights during an October half term. One thing to mention is that although it was lovely, 4 days was definately enough in Rome!!!

Ponkle22

You mention Rome and Florence.

I always travel on a tight budget. Rome was the most expensive for us. However, I made the mistake of booking a cheaper hotel further out - I really disliked this hotel. The upside was food was cheaper to purchase in the evenings near my hotel but I didn't want to be there (nothing exciting or inspiring to see) I wanted to be in the centre of Rome. I should have paid more for a hotel or flat rental nearer the centre. I did research cheaper places to eat but I had a child with me and when they are tired of walking (There was a lot of walking) they need to eat 'now'. Obviously the cheaper places to eat are further away from the tourist attractions - though I do remember visiting Vatican city, then walking over the bridge and being offered a money off coupon on the other side for a cheaper meal - it was where the locals ate, so it was much better value.

Pop into Trip Advisor forums and do a search in the Rome section - there is tons of info on the latest and cheapest ways to get into 'attractions', travel etc - things have changed in the past year so make sure you are reading current info.

Regarding Florence - I found it cheaper than Rome. I also preferred it to Rome (its a personal preference thing - so many people will prefer one over the other). Look up reviews for Hotel Elite in Florence - great prices out of season and great for walking to places. Great cheap restaurant about 2 doors along (the only one in that stretch) so long as you eat indoors ** - there is air con - just ask for it to be turned on IF October is warm (you never know).

In Florence catch the No. 13 bus for a scenic bus ride (have a look on Trip advisor about this bus and locations to stop off at) and the no. 12 will take you back, but I prefer to walk back. Choose places to eat where the locals seem to eat and not the tourists - just walk around corners and down several smaller streets etc.

There are hostels in and around Rome and Florence etc - some run by nuns - again look on TA or other review sites for info on them.

You can catch the slower cheaper trains between Rome and Florence - so long as time is not a problem for you.

Hope this helps.

** (eating indoors is cheaper than eating outdoors. Also its cheaper to stand at a bar and drink/eat than to sit down at all, but after tons of walking, I always need a sit down).