2344 Andiamo a Roma!!!

Rome!
how lovely!

I bought the Time Out eating and drinking guide 4 Rome, that works well.

check [url]www.ilglicine.net[/url] for flats in rome!

Paola

there is a wealth of information about hotels, restaurants and what to see both in guide books (Michelin/Dorling Kindersley depending on your interests) and on the web - my advice would be to stay somewhere very central (some hotels are on the outskirts of Rome. (Holiday Inn etc)However the Termini area (though full of value hotels) can seem a bit dodgy after 10 pm, We have stayed in the area near Campo di Fiori and the Pantheon -both ideal for late nights out and early starts. Trastevere is great if you like late nights, have no kids and you don't mind the mess on the streets in the morning. The Vatican area is quieter but a longer walk from the main activity at night - hey but the whole of central Rome is within walking distance and all the sights on your doorstep if you're reasonably mobile.

We got a very good deal once via either the Ryanair or EasyJet website hotel links. The hotel (Castellino Palio Bianco) was more or less across the street from the Victor Emanuelle monument in the Piazza Venezia. Couldn't have been more central and not as gritty an area as around the railway station. The hotel has been made quite funky by having the walls of the corridors decorated with paintings but our room was relatively snug. If you can get a good rate (I think we paid about £60 -£70 per night for the 2 of us) then I'd recommend it.

Thanks alot to all of you for your input! Will bear those areas mentioned in mind when choosing a hotel.

Luckily we both like exploring on foot - so we might not look fashionable with our comfy hiking boots but at least we shouldn't get sore feet! Will keep the posh boots for dinner methinks... ;)

Thanks, Paola, for mentioning Time Out! Will look out for it.

Cheers,
Stephanie

is great.Just off Piazza Navona in v del Parione

We have stayed a couple of times in hotels in the Termini area and had no problems at all and did feel safe walking around late at night, certainly much safe than in most cities in the U.K. The area is handy for airport transfers especially when you are arriving late at night as most Ryan Air flights seem to do. As for eating you are spoilt for choice, try to avoid the more touristy areas as they can be pricy and the food is average for the most part. There is so much to see in Rome , obviously everyone wants to see the big ones, San Pietro,Colosseum etc but take a trip over the river into Trastavere there are some nice quiet spots, lovely places to eat and beautiful churches. We found the Dorling Kindersley guide really useful and would recommend it to anyone visiting Roma for the first time. Enjoy your trip.

Thank you, Robert & Robur Inglese for your suggestions.

Just had my time off ok'd at work & can't wait to start booking flights & hotel. Must brush up on my Italian before then though.... ;)

Stephanie

We stayed at the Planet 29, on Via Gaeta near the Termini. An extremely basic hotel but we found the location ideal as the bus terminus was right there - we only used two buses - the 175 for central Rome and the Colosseum and the 40 for the Vatican, St. Peters.

Thanks alot, Sano! Will check it out...

By the way, Dublin was an alternative for our trip but Rome won out!! ;)

Cheers,
Steph

Hi Steph.
I have stayed at Residence Frattina when in rome, 100 yards from spanish steps, a stunning place and not your usual style hotel, they can also arrange for a Mercedes to pick you up at airport which is not much more than the cost of a taxi.
regards.
Gary

[QUOTE=Iona]Thanks alot, Sano! Will check it out...

By the way, Dublin was an alternative for our trip but Rome won out!! ;)

Cheers,
Steph[/QUOTE]

Good save - Dublin at that time of year would be miserable and very wet!

Ciao tutti!

Yippee!!! Last night we booked our flights (Prestwick-Ciampino) and our hotel. Decided to stay at the Hotel des Artistes, a 3* hotel-cum-hostel. They had good deals on their website (for the hotel!) and reviews on various travel sites were mostly positive. As long as there's a decent bed & shower ....

Looking at places to visit now - apart from the usual suspects.... and of course various types of eateries.

Can't wait....

Cheers,
Stephanie

[QUOTE=Iona]Ciao tutti!

Yippee!!! Last night we booked our flights (Prestwick-Ciampino) and our hotel. Decided to stay at the Hotel des Artistes, a 3* hotel-cum-hostel. They had good deals on their website (for the hotel!) and reviews on various travel sites were mostly positive. As long as there's a decent bed & shower ....

Looking at places to visit now - apart from the usual suspects.... and of course various types of eateries.

Can't wait....

Cheers,
Stephanie[/QUOTE]

Once you are in Rome see if you can find details from the tourist info booth on the 'hidden Rome' tours. They can be very interesting. Also, if you hop the 175 bus at Termini and stay on it to the end of the route (it turns around and heads back into town) you will see a very interesting cross section of Rome.

Have a great time Stephanie. Rome is the greatest city in the world in my opinion and i could never tire of it. I have never been at this time of year we always seem to be there in the baking heat of summer :cool: , i hope it lives up to all your expectations, i am sure it will :) .

Thank you again, guys!!

Have been busy browsing websites & even locating our hotel on Google Earth!! :D

Counting down the days...

Cheers,
Stephanie

Arrivederci, mi amici!!! ;)

We're off to Prestwick (Glasgow, not London!) in a couple of hours... bags are packed, yes one case each, got the passports, Rome guide books, flight schedule, coach transfer confirmation, hotel booking confirmation - oh and car park details too!! Even got a wee brolly just in case (rain forecast for Thursday)!

Oh, and will leave my diamonds and pearls at home... :D

A la prossima fine settimana!!

Stephanie

venere.com have a look at this site......