Who's been to Rome?

Thomask

I'm taking a friend to Rome next week for a few days.

Can anyone provide details of factory outlet stores or malls? We don't mind travelling a little out of rome.

How about cheap places to eat? Any suggestions?

What transport can you take from the airport? Do they have a bus or shuttle? A train? How much does it cost? Is it 24/7?

Any other tips/suggestions would be great!

Voyager2002

If you want to go shopping and buy cheap tat, go to New York! If you are going to Rome, spend the time on appreciating the sheer beauty of what it has to offer.

If you want a tip, then stop allowing yourself to be blinded by money.

GlennTheBaker

Voyager2002, you have PM(T).

inkie

Keep a very tight hold on your wallet - DH had £500 taken out of his wallet by some professional pickpockets who were children.

Sa1sysoo

Rome is a fabulous city, and very pretty to look at, with many of things you can do for free, such as the churches, although some of the larger attractions can be expensive (like to Coloseum).

I have to admit, I can't comment on the shopping, but I did find it expensive, I guess similar to any major city.
There are absolutely loads of cafes and resturants all over the place, so you won't go hungry, although I have to admit we found that expensive aswell, but we did have 'take away' pizza from a local pizzaria and snuck it back to the B&B, and it was glorious!! We also had Chinese... that was fun, with lots of jabbing at the menu because, of course, they spoke Chinese and Italian but not English!:rotfl:

With regards to travel from the airport, there is an overland shuttle train that you can get a reasonably cheap ticket to take you directly into the centre of Rome, a bit like the Heathrow/Gatwicks shuttles that go directly into London.

I hope you and your friend have a great time, and inbetween trying to find bargains you get an opportunity to soak up the beauty and atmosphere.:cool:

tooting_jane

There is the Castel Romano outlet just outside of Rome
http://castelromano.mcarthurglen.it/index.php?lang=en

Also
Diffusione Tessile (outside of Rome)

Telephone: +39 06 9105673
Website: www.diffusionetessile.it

Open Monday 3:30pm-7:30pm, Tuesday through Saturday. 10am-7:30pm Closed Sunday.
Features: All the brands that the Max Mara group make (Weekend, Sport, Max & Co, Marina Rinaldi etc)

Driving Directions:take Via Pontina from Rome; a mile and a quarter before Pomezia take Via Naro exit.

Public Transport: Public Transport: take Metropolitana to Laurentina, from there any Cotral bus for Pomezia or Latina (tickets: 1€), ask driver to drop you off under pedestrian overpass a mile and a quarter before Pomezia, Diffusione Tessile is 200 yards towards Pomezia in fron of Hotel Antonella. Return by waiting underneath pedestrian overpass and flag down any blue bus.

BLUroma

Hello, My husband & I travel to Rome quite a lot each year & use "venere.com" to find a hotel. We usually stay at the "Madison" right across from the train station. It isn't central, however it has easy bus or metro access to the centre. You can take a tube for 1 Euro right to the Spanish steps. Madison is a 3 star hotel & we've stayed there 3 times already, nice people, clean hotel, good breakfast...all for a real good price. The other reason we stay close to the train station is because, if you take a bus from the airport into Rome it drops you off at the train station (Termini). Taxis are expensive for tourists in Rome + they charge you extra for your luggage even if you speak Italian like my husband does. So we use the bus system, metro & walk a lot there. We use a variety of Rome travel guide books - AA; DNK Eyewitness Travel Guide; Rome Where To Find...(has various artists attractions in it if you're into art) & Style City - Rome. RE: what the other person said about over-land shuttle train from airport that depends on which airport you’re flying in to, that might be from the Fiumincino. If you fly in to Ciampino (pronounced Champ-ino) you can take a Terravision bus for 8-9 Euros per person & takes about 45 minutes to the Termini bus station. Then depending on where your hotel is take a taxi, local bus or metro. You buy the Terravision bus tickets right at the airport when you get in, but we buy them online with Terravision. City bus tickets are bought at the Tabachi (tobacco stops) & the same tickets can be used for the Metro & cost 1 Euro each, & are good for about 90 minutes I think. Metro tickets can also be bought at the Metro station which in machines. The Metro only runs until around 10pm if I remember correctly. Shops close for a siesta from 12:30-3:30 (some till 4pm) Mon-Fri, most stay open on Sat. Everywhere in Rome is great for shopping – along Via Condotti, Via Corsa. Another huge mall is Parco Leonardo, it isn’t right in Rome, sorry I don’t know if there’s a bus you can take or not. We took the Metro to our friend’s house & than he drove us. Maybe check online. RE: food, I think it depends on what you think is expensive, we didn’t find it too bad actually for a major city. You can get lots of pasta/pizza for 7-8 Euros (£5). Wine is cheap. We always get a half-litre of red house wine for around 6 Euros. We use the guide books to find other restaurants that are in different areas that come out at good prices compared to the centre, but some of our favourite restaurants are around the Pantheon. Restaurants also charge a ‘table service’ charge per person 1.50-2.50 Euros per person to cover bread, table cloths, etc. Most everyone speaks English there so that makes it easier. The coffee/cappuccino are the best you’ll get anywhere for 1-1.30 Euro (£.70). The best gelato is at Giolitti, 3 flavours for a small (piccalo) 2 Euro. I could go on & on, basically ROME IS FANTASTICO...WE LOVE IT!!! CIAO!!! ~ BLUroma

Fizog

All the shops are expensive in Rome but the quality superb. Outlet stores - https://www.made-in-italy.com/shopping/stores/stores.htm#rome.
The metro is cheap, easy to use if memory serves me only has two lines. The buses are plentiful and cheap. We use the express from the airport to the centre of Rome again Cheap.
We found it cheaper to buy some bread, cheese, ham, water and fruit in the local markets and pop into one of the many parks and gardens to eat lunch al fresco.
Rome is beautiful - enjoy

Thomask

A huge thank you to everyone!

Your posts have been very helpful. I've forwarded a copy to my friend and printed them off to take with me!

Thanks so much