Leonora

This trip is a year or more away, but I like to plan ahead. From the looks of airfares, we will have to go on Easter break or Christmas (I'm a teacher), which means a 7 day trip.
Given that time frame, should we attempt to do more than Rome on a first trip and if so, what other city?
Should we use Gate 1 or Go-today or try to book separately?
We are a family of 3--one 12 year old.

nytraveler

Book youself - esp when you need a triple and will want to see actual rooms.

If it's a total of 7 days, including travel I would stay in one place. If it's 7 days on the ground (8 nights in hotels) you might add a second city - Florence or Venice for choice - and do an open-jaws ticket to avoid backtracking.

nessundorma

I think staying in Rome the full 7 days is a great idea. You can rent an apartment. Check out the rental reviews for Rome on the Slow Travel website. It may sound daunting to rent an apartment for your first trip, but it is actually easy. Many people do it -- and it will be a lot cheaper.

If the weather is nice, you can do a few day trips from Roma, but I think you will find that Rome is filled with interesting things, which are more enjoyable if you take them at a slower pace.

ira

Hi L,

With only 7 days, I also suggest staying in Rome.

You can visit Orvieto (1 hr by train), Hadrian's Villa, Ostia Antica if Rome palls.

You can easily book the visit yourself.

See www.mobissimo.com and www.kayak.com for air fare.

See www.venere.com for hotels.

Also enter <Rome and hotel> in the search this forum box.

See Helpful Information: Italy 2
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34568596

Enjoy your visit.

jgg

I agree with the other posters about planning the trip yourself and staying in Rome the whole time if it is a total of 7 days, We spend six nights in Rome March 2005 with our kids ages 9 and 12 at the time and found plenty to do without any daytrips. We have been to Orvieto on another trip and would strongly recommend that as an option. Haven't been to Ostia Antica yet, but gets high marks from people here.

Here is the link to my trip report, you may find the Rome part helpful: http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34599242.

I would suggest Easter break over Christmas as the weather should be better. That is when we do most of our travelling as well.

Lexma90

It sounds like you've already decided on Rome. If the 7 days includes travel time, then I agree, stay there, or stay there with some day trips.

If you have 7 nights in Italy, or just want to do something different, consider somewhere outside Rome but in the countryside, to give you a feel for a different part of Italy. For example, you could spend one night in Orvieto, or in the area of Pitigliano (cute little village; I was told by some Italians that the area is a popular one for Romans to have weekend homes). Usually a one-night trip is rushed, but if you want a change of pace, the "rush" might be worth it.

daveesl

Hi, 2 teachers here.

We're doing a 10 day thing over the Christmas break. 5 in Rome, 5 in Sicily.

Priceline had the best ticket prices and here is the weird part, the multi-city tickets Orlando-Rome-Palermo-Orlando were cheaper than straight r/t to Rome ($800 v $820)

Hotels.com got us a great price on a decent hotel in Ostia Antica ($57 per night--no kidding--and we know the hotel is ok as our friends stayed there last year).

We're renting a 3 bedroom apartment on the beach west of Palermo for about $300 for a week.

http://www.rent-holiday-homes.com/se...d79000d28ea234

Dave

tuscanlifeedit

Leonora

I would not recommend staying,as is Daveesl, in Ostia. Ostia is Ostia, and Roma is Roma. They aren't the same place.

If you have 7 full nights in Italy, you could do two destinations. I think Florence would be my choice for a second destination, as it is easy to reach by train, the fast trains will take you about 2 hours, and it is a fascinating city.

How about 3 nights Florence and 4 nights Rome? Or even 2 nights Florence and 5 nights Rome? But I think 3 and 4 would be more relaxing.

If you can get a very good deal on Gate1 or Go-today, I don't think it would be so awful. But remember that the more central your hotel, the more you will pay from their base price. Their cheapest hotels are usually inconveniently, or even unpleasantly, located.

Try pricing it out for yourself. I find that with 2 or 3 in your party, you can get a better located hotel for your money by booking on your own.

The air fare may seem higher, but when you split the room cost by three people, you can probably do better on your own.

I hope this is clear; I'm not feeling well and the old brain is cloudy.

Check all the airfare sellers suggested here, and even look into consolidators. Then check here for well located budget hotels in Rome that have triple rooms.

Buona Fortuna

brewlew

Well, I'd break with the opinions of the others and say that you definitely ought to go somewhere besides just Rome. Florence is only an hour and a half train ride from Rome. We just returned from Rome - Lake Como and Venice and I had not been to Venice beore. I LOVED it. We flew into Rome and out of Venice. Rome will be packed at Easter and you might tire of the crowds.

JandaO

Leonora,

If it is 7 nights in Italy. I would do Venice or Florence for 3 nights and Rome for 4 nights.

If it is 7 nights including travel,
stay in Rome and do a day trip or 2.

You dont need a tour company. It is easy to do on your own. Book apartments instead of hotels. Alot more space and very reasonable prices.

Leonora

Thanks so much. Many more questions to come!