Paq

Hey, i'm thinknig of spending some time (month or so, probably) in Rome...just wondering if anyone here has any suggestions on places to stay, how to get around, places to avoid, food, etc...

I'm kinda excited and i just started planning, so i have a bit of time to get things in order and i'd appreciate any input.

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Chris

aliali

Make sure to take a guided tour of the ruins. You will find individual guides near the coliseum that give walking tours every couple of hours or so. Cabs are cheap and are the best way to get around. Don't miss the vatican museum--you can spend several days there. Our favorite food there was the fungi pizza.

PayUp

When in Rome...do as the Romans do.

Sorry Paq had to say it.
All I can say is have a good time and I'm jealous I'm not going.

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amonkie

http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthread.php?t=70680


This thread may help give you some ideas as well

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Cynthetiq

damn paq.. so jealous of your travels...

on the verge of being crass, i hope you sample the women as one does the foods...

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acostello

If you are going to spend a month, take a pass. Depending on your budget find a pensiones near the Spansih Steps or better still near the Rly Station. Don't drive those Romans are crazy drivers.

Food - Avoid turistic menu; other than that most places serve good fresh pasta. In one month you will probably cover most places. Just spend a day or two looking at the vatican collection of the artwork -

Paq

cynthetiq...I intend to, but seeing as how little italian i speak and how unsmooth i am with the ladies, I'll probably be lucky with a couple of dates, who knows...at any rate, it should be great either way...

acostello..not to sound totally ignorant, but what is a "pass"? Also, i don't intend to drive unless it is to go elsewhere...I've heard of roman drivers...not what i want to do...

in 'most' cities, i can normally find decent, cheaper than average food...I don't know how this will pan out in other countries...

and yes, this is my first trip out of the US, but, as they say, if i don't do it now, i never will.

Oh, Cyn, don't be jealous, just remember, I normally just travel alone and at my own expense....

amonkie, great thread link, I never considered some of the more outlying areas that seem to be very appealing and not so much $$$....lots to think about..

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Chris

onodrim

I've never been to Rome, but I would imagine that the Vatican would be kinda nifty to check out.

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Glory's Sun

just one bit of advice..


pick me up something cool while your there

tellumFS

I think the pass being referred to was a public transportation pass. Cabs can be cheap, but they add up quickly. If you're looking for the transport pass, they call them an "Abbonamento Mensile", IIRC. The passes work on the Metro, bus, and trains to Ostia, (which is a nice side trip from Rome). They sell the month passes at tabacconists, or at the ATAC office near the Termini rail station. Keep in mind that they aren't good for 30 days, but for the month of November, for example. You can also get passes for 7 days, 3 days, or about an hour.

Personally, I'd skip the guided tours. Check out a Fodor's travel guide instead. There is a ton of good information in there, and that way you can spend as much or as little time at a monument as you want.

If you have access to a kitchen, that's a pretty good way to save on food. Otherwise try to stay out of the center for dinner, as it can get expensive. The Trastevere area is touristy, but has some good restaurants that are on the cheaper side.

Rome is an amazing city...especially if you have a month there. Generally the people are friendly, but keep an eye out in areas where there are a lot of tourists, as well as on the bus and Metro. It wouldn't be a bad idea to keep your wallet/passport in your front pocket to avoid pickpockets.

dy156

I loved Italy!
The one thing I really wanted to do there that I did not have time to do was to take a tour of the catacombs. Yes, the Vatican city was pretty cool, but ask someone when there are any festivals or events, and go when the crowds are smaller, unless you're Catholic and being in a crowd blessed by the Pope would be important. Don't know your budget, but try to get tickets to the Sistine chapel in advance from the concierge, if you can. That line was really long.

I was very surprised how many people spoke English. You shouldn't have a problem in any major city. The people are extremely friendly, especially compared to other touristy places in Europe.
Don't know how the exchange rate there is now, but about three years ago, you could go into a restaurant, see the most expensive expensive steak on the menu, and the price was about L26,000. You think, Holy crap! I'll have to get just a side order of the spagetti, or maybe just a single slice of Pizza. No, No. Handy rule of thumb for Italian conversion when we were there- take off the zero's and it was a little less than half. So the most expensive thing on the menu was about $12! You could eat like a king. My wife's favorite brand of Pinot grigio (white wine) which here sell for about $20 in the grocery store - $8. Hope the transfer to the Euro hasn't screwed all that up for you, because the food really was wonderful, especially coming from London, where you spent $20 for a crappy sandwich. Even breakfast was great, and it's all so damn healthy too. (maybe higher in fat, but fresh with fewer preservatives) It does take forever to get your check, though. It's like they want you to sit awhile and savor the great meal they just provided you.

Also think about taking a day to go to Florence by train. You could spend several days there, in fact. Rome is more of a big city than Florence, but Florence has some amazing history, beautiful things to see, and is all pretty much in walking distance.

The one place to avoid is anywhere near the airport. WE stayed at some hotel, maybe a Hilton there, our last night before an early morning flight out. We were tired, and went to the hotel restaurant, where they had a buffet complete with chicken fingers, hamburgers, and spagetti. It was terrible, but we were tired, and took great amusement in another family we overheard (obviously just arrived) talking about how "the pasta tastes so different here!"

Have fun! I'm jealous!

acostello

A simple meal - Pasta with sausage in small enotecas will cost you a few euros. Remember, EUR is very strong hence everything will seem tad expensive.

Paq

i saw that...makes me wish i went when the Lire was still used...

i also read about how a lot of the places are pretty much ripoffs...

seems this one won't be as easy to plan out as manhattan..hmm..

thanks for all the advice so far

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irateplatypus

i backpacked some of the continent a couple years back... rome was far and away my favorite city. while you're there you must...

-visit the colosseum. it's kind of shell now, but you can't go to rome and not see it.

-eat lots of gelato, my favorite is strawberry

-throw a coin in the trevi fountain

-visit St. Peters and the Vatican Museum... can't stress this enough.

-very discreetly ogle the beautiful italian women. gosh...

and for my most sagely piece of wisdom...
-walk the city, rome is the finest city for a walking tour that i've yet encountered. there is history in ever brick, on every streetcorner, under every footstep. maybe a quick subway ride between the vatican city and the central sites is ok... but my appreciation for rome was tripled by the hours i spent meandering through the back streets.

get a good pair of shoes, a few euro to get a good meal, and a decent guide... you're going to have a great time.

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tommylee02

Of course, I was an art history minor with an emphasis on Rome! Anyway, avoid the train stations and surrounding area if you want the easiest way to avoid hassles (although they can, and probably will happen at other spots, too) I walked all around, day and night, and never felt in danger. Just always keep an eye out, and don't flash your valuables. Don't let the dirtiness get to you, IT'S THE BEST CITY IN THE WORLD if you let it be. While you're wandering, imagine how it once must have been. Make sure to see the old Roman Forum, IT'S AMAZING! Soak up the history, I'm SO jealous! Have a great time.