Help me! My friend and I are flying to Italy, specifically Rome. This will be our first trip out of the country. Could anyone tell me how the flight is? Where should I fly out of? Any other advice?

Where do you live?

Please repost this qiestion with a message header that tells what you want to know. Like "Seeking advice on how to prepare for our flight from xxxxx to Rome".

Every question here is seeking "Advice, please".

Just imagine if everyone used that header.

Best wishes,

Rex

sorry...lol... I live in Pittsburgh...however, I've heard that its best to fly out of NY... then someone told me it's best to fly out of BWI... I just don't know.

1) The flight is fine, longer than you are used to.
2) The airport near where you live.
3) I advise that both of you get passports.

I reposted my message Rex... thanks...

alrcmk, I'm "topping" this post for you because your new one is still useless, as it doesn't tell where you're flying out of, and now this thread does.

Since you live in the Pittsburgh area, fly out of Pittsburgh!

Thanks anonymous... we're planning to fly out of Pittsburgh... I've had other people tell me to fly out of New York... I thought I'd get more input... thanks for your time

I would stay home unless you do a little more homework. Not trying to be nasty. You just need to get a few books, talk to a travel expert and plan a little better.

thanks bob... I've done a lot of work so far... I just started... I'm not leaving for months... I will purchase more books though... thanks...

alrcmk2500, you need to start planning your trip yourself. What this board is absolutely invaluable for is the following:

1. Hotel advice when you need a recommendation for a specific city, location, and within a specific price range, OR, when you can't decide between a couple of different hotels. People will post their experience and it is very helpful.

2. Restaurant recommendations. This forum beats any other source you can find.

3. Tweaking your itinerary. Post it and people will give you helpful suggestions.

4. Travel info, very specific, like "What's the best way to get from the airport to my hotel in Rome?"

Try to be specific in your questions. What exactly are your concerns when you ask "how the flight is?" Are you concerned about how to pass the time during the flight, going through security, food, sleeping on the plane, carry on luggage? You will get more useful help if you ask more specific questions. Good luck!

Ah, jeez. Not much advice, is it? The airport you choose will probably be related to where you live, how much it costs, how long it takes (around 8 hours from anywhere on the east coast). US Air flies out of Pittsburg, but doesn't go direct to Rome - or to Rome at all, so if you flew them, you'd have to do a connection from Pittsburg, and flying two separate airlines is not cheapest. New York has almost all airlines flying overseas and the flights are inexpensive compared to other departure cities. When you get an idea of what it costs from your city vs another, say New York, figure in what it would cost you to get to that other city. If a family member would drive you, leaving from New York may be best - that is, cheapest, most flights, and direct flights. Getting an understanding of what to do and how to do it involves meandering about guidebooks, web sites, in your own mind, talking to yourself and your friend about expectations, likes, dislikes, wants, needs, taking notes and making comparisons; eventually you will notice that some things are coming into focus, that is, you'll get a sense of what you're doing. From there, you will build your trip. You should already have an idea of how much time you have and how much money. Those are great starting points to narrow down the details. Rome is a good first European city; such variety - history, art, jewelry, food!! Have a great time planning and try not to let the pros here discourage your efforts. Rome is one of those places that pretty much transcends planning errors.

alrcmk,

Last month I flew out of Newark on Continental. The flight lasts aprox. 8 1/2 hours. I will be flying out of Atlanta on Delta in January and I believe that the flight time is about the same. I take Xanax and melatonin when I fly. This helps me relax and sleep through the flight and arrive awake and ready for a full day.

If you have other questions, feel free to email me:

[email protected]

You might investigate USAirways. They do have a daily direct flight to Rome from Philadelphia. I would think that you could find convenient connections between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia on USAirways.

Enjoy planning your trip!

Since we fly out of Newark, I can't say about NY. But it is 8-9 hours from Newark, non-stop to Rome. The flights are overnight.
You might have a hard time sleeping , some people take sleeping pills, but I am always afraid the pill will work, just as we are landing. So I doze and watch lame tv on the little screens on the back of the seat in front of me.
If you can read on the plane, bring a good book about Italy.
Go to Barnes and Noble and stock up on good Guide Books. And get a map. We like Access Rome, and Streetwise maps.
Go to a library and go through the travel books, find some big coffee table books with lots of pictures, that will get you excited about the trip!
Read as much about the city as you can so you will know what you want to see and do. Learn a tiny bit of Italian to get you by, thank you, please, hello, that sort of thing.
Keep asking questions on here as you think of things, after all, that is what it is for.
You will have such a good time, planning a trip is at least half the fun!

We flew on USAirways out of Philadelphia. They have a direct flight to Rome at about 6pm. It should be easy to book a connecting flight from Pittsburgh, but leave yourself about an 1 1/2 leeway in Phila. because you have to go to the International side of the Airport to board. The planes are new Aerobuses with individual entertainment screens on the seat in front of you. Much more legroom than I expected and adjustable lumbar support in the seats. The plane is configured 2-4-2 so book at least three to four months in advance so you can get a window and aisle seat. You will arrive in Rome at about 8:45 am. Good Luck!

Sorry meant - Airbus 330

JMPhilly - Wow - USAir is going to Rome from Philly? I've received their e-notices for three years and have never seen Rome - is it new service or have I just not done my homework?

Shanna, they've been going to Rome. I don't think they include any specials to Rome, however, that is why Rome is never included on the emails. Usually Amsterdam, Paris and London, maybe Frankfurt, are the most frequently discounted entry points.

I have seen Rome on some early spring promotions, I am pretty sure. Used PHL-MUC in 2000, and thought it was great service. Only cost about $325 roundtrip (from Columbus, Ohio) - - pre-9/11/01 of course, and all the new taxes.