Beating the Euro in Italy
Apr 8th, 2008, 09:19 PM
#81
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What do you think about Roman Holidays? www.romanholidays.org .. nice B&B near Vatican City! Small price...but it is like a 3 stars Hotel!
Apr 9th, 2008, 07:40 PM
#82
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Well, we found a great bargain for dinner in Milan...there is an area that is popular with students near the university. The streets are lined with bar/cafes where you can sit down, order a drink and have access to a full buffet of food..for no additional cost. Essentially, we were stufffed for less than 18e (2 glasses of wine each). We also like to buy some proscuitto, cheese, bread etc and have a quiet picnic in the room on occasion, stay in an agritourismo when in Tuscany and really scour a lot of guide books (Fodors is always one of them) for a selection of restaurants where ever we go. Italy is our fav - but we just can't swing it again this year so maybe in 2009???
Apr 9th, 2008, 10:26 PM
#84
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Hi!
I have found the European versions of our Dollar Stores to be quite helpful..
Inexpensive bottled water, sodas, snacks and potential souveniers...
TUTTO 1 EURO!
I've posted them on our personal travel journal website if you are interested in them with a link to find the exact locations!
In Florence one store location I used daily is around the corner from the Hotel Centrale....and there are 2 locations in Rome
Our site is....
http://when.do.we.leave.googlepages.com/
then go into the journal section and then money!
Enjoy wandering through other areas too..
I have found the European versions of our Dollar Stores to be quite helpful..
Inexpensive bottled water, sodas, snacks and potential souveniers...
TUTTO 1 EURO!
I've posted them on our personal travel journal website if you are interested in them with a link to find the exact locations!
In Florence one store location I used daily is around the corner from the Hotel Centrale....and there are 2 locations in Rome
Our site is....
http://when.do.we.leave.googlepages.com/
then go into the journal section and then money!
Enjoy wandering through other areas too..
Apr 12th, 2008, 01:53 PM
#85
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RE: recommendation on sound guides: the website recommended by Monica (http://www.sound-guides.com/) has not worked for quite a while now, so don't bother...
As far as savings in lodging, renting a place is definitely at the top. It branches out to savings in so many other areas.
As far as savings in lodging, renting a place is definitely at the top. It branches out to savings in so many other areas.
Apr 13th, 2008, 07:26 PM
#86
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On another thread, there's mention that some hotels are giving special discounted rates to Americans. One hotel in Paris, in particular. I don't have its name, though there are others.
Also in Florence, Italy, there's a special rate being made available to guests whose home currency is the dollar.
Anyone know how to find out which hotels are giving reduced rates because of the dollar:Euro situation?
>-
Also in Florence, Italy, there's a special rate being made available to guests whose home currency is the dollar.
Anyone know how to find out which hotels are giving reduced rates because of the dollar:Euro situation?
>-
Apr 14th, 2008, 07:54 AM
#88
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I found the other thread:
"In Paris the St. James allows Americans to pay at a 1:1 dollar/Euro exchange rate" Not sure if this is correct, but you can check it out:
http://saint-james-paris.com/
This article names places in other cities:
http://nymag.com/travel/2008/spring/45583/index1.html
>-
"In Paris the St. James allows Americans to pay at a 1:1 dollar/Euro exchange rate" Not sure if this is correct, but you can check it out:
http://saint-james-paris.com/
This article names places in other cities:
http://nymag.com/travel/2008/spring/45583/index1.html
>-
Apr 14th, 2008, 08:52 AM
#90
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The venezuelan currency (where I live) has always been weaker than the Euro and even though I'm far from being a rich guy, I've always managed to travel to expensive countries for 3 weeks every year.
When looking up lodging, I mostly check the official websites of the cities I want to visit or italian websites aimed for italians tourists. I've been able to find very good deals on inexpensive and wonderful B&B's or hotels that I've haven't been able to find on regular foreign-tourist-oriented websites or bookguides.
When it comes to eating, specially in expensive cities, I usually go to these kind of italian fast-food restaurants where you only see locals (this is the best sign about the quality and price of the food) and where the meals are excellent (My family is from Apulia and I sure know about good italian food). The food is usually inexpensive and of home-made quality. Of course, these places lack of that italian atmosphere we're all looking for, but they're always packed with locals and I think they're good places to see local life and eating habits in modern cities. I speacially like "Brek" in Venice (Cannaregio) and Turin (Via Roma) and "Spizzico" in Milan (Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II) and Rome (Via del Corso).
I always use public transportation (trains, buses or ferries), I always book my plane ticket as early as I can and, when poissible and infact inexpensive, I always fly with an airline from a different country to the one I'm visiting.
I always buy bookguides of the places I'd like to visit and "study" them way in advance and use this forum as much as I can to get great tips and advice from the people who have already been to such places.
This is how I've been able to travel during 3 weeks for the last 10 years with the money I earn in a country whose currency has always been at the bottom.
I'm not the kind of guy who's happy staying anywhere as long as it has a roof and a bed and eating whatever as long as it's edible. I consider myself picky when it comes to lodging and eating, but I'm also concerned about how much money I spend without becoming obsessed or keeping myself from enjoying a trip.
I'm not saying I'm the best budget traveler that has ever existed, but I consider I do a good job planning great and inexpensive trips.
Castellanese.
When looking up lodging, I mostly check the official websites of the cities I want to visit or italian websites aimed for italians tourists. I've been able to find very good deals on inexpensive and wonderful B&B's or hotels that I've haven't been able to find on regular foreign-tourist-oriented websites or bookguides.
When it comes to eating, specially in expensive cities, I usually go to these kind of italian fast-food restaurants where you only see locals (this is the best sign about the quality and price of the food) and where the meals are excellent (My family is from Apulia and I sure know about good italian food). The food is usually inexpensive and of home-made quality. Of course, these places lack of that italian atmosphere we're all looking for, but they're always packed with locals and I think they're good places to see local life and eating habits in modern cities. I speacially like "Brek" in Venice (Cannaregio) and Turin (Via Roma) and "Spizzico" in Milan (Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II) and Rome (Via del Corso).
I always use public transportation (trains, buses or ferries), I always book my plane ticket as early as I can and, when poissible and infact inexpensive, I always fly with an airline from a different country to the one I'm visiting.
I always buy bookguides of the places I'd like to visit and "study" them way in advance and use this forum as much as I can to get great tips and advice from the people who have already been to such places.
This is how I've been able to travel during 3 weeks for the last 10 years with the money I earn in a country whose currency has always been at the bottom.
I'm not the kind of guy who's happy staying anywhere as long as it has a roof and a bed and eating whatever as long as it's edible. I consider myself picky when it comes to lodging and eating, but I'm also concerned about how much money I spend without becoming obsessed or keeping myself from enjoying a trip.
I'm not saying I'm the best budget traveler that has ever existed, but I consider I do a good job planning great and inexpensive trips.
Castellanese.
Apr 14th, 2008, 10:39 AM
#91
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A simple answer. Budget, plan, save. Start now: How much are you going to spend? How nuch time before you go? 10 weeks? put aside 1/10 of that amount in a money market account every week. Scrimp today, splurge tomorrow. I know folks who do an annual 'garage sale' and then use its proceeds to travel.
Apr 14th, 2008, 11:18 AM
#92
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For Rome: a visit to St Paul-Within-the-Wall (Via Napoli/Via Nazionale)will almost always locate an inexpensive (even free) and excellent concert.
Because the church (American Episcopal connections) has ties to the opera school located just down the street, that is what is sometimes on offer (particularly in the summer).
In other seasons, the congregation's musical director arranges to have a visiting musician perform: the Sunday afternoon/early evening, candle-lit Luminaria series are especially charming.
The other good reason to visit this church is that it is one of the few in Italy to have a really effective outreach programme that assists the local community of refugees. (While in Italy, don't curse the pick-pocketing kids: do something to cure the source of the problem!)
Because the church (American Episcopal connections) has ties to the opera school located just down the street, that is what is sometimes on offer (particularly in the summer).
In other seasons, the congregation's musical director arranges to have a visiting musician perform: the Sunday afternoon/early evening, candle-lit Luminaria series are especially charming.
The other good reason to visit this church is that it is one of the few in Italy to have a really effective outreach programme that assists the local community of refugees. (While in Italy, don't curse the pick-pocketing kids: do something to cure the source of the problem!)
Apr 16th, 2008, 04:56 AM
#93
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We just got back from Rome, where we stayed in an apartment (through Sleep in Italy). Not only was it cheaper than a hotel, but we were able to eat a lot of meals much more cheaply than eating out. Italian food is so good, even when you cook yourself its wonderful. You can get fresh pesto at a supermarcti that's better than anything I've had in this country. The cheeses, salamis, ham, fruit & veg are also great. Also we could make our own coffee, which we seem to need more of than Italians.
Check at the tourist info offices for free things too. At the end of March there was a week when all national museums were free. Also you can get a Roma pass there, with booklets of what to do.
There's 3 days free transportation with the Rome pass & then we got a one week metro card.
And then a lot of things are free like most churches.
Check at the tourist info offices for free things too. At the end of March there was a week when all national museums were free. Also you can get a Roma pass there, with booklets of what to do.
There's 3 days free transportation with the Rome pass & then we got a one week metro card.
And then a lot of things are free like most churches.
Apr 29th, 2008, 03:19 PM
#97
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another great place for free concerts in Rome is San Ignazio, one block off the Piazza Rotundo (the piazza in front of the Pantheon.) It's a fabulous church - check out the tromp d' oeil (sp?) dome - too cool!!. A group called Peter's Way arranges choir tours for churches in the US, and uses this venue quite a bit. Have never been to Rome yet that there wasn't at least one concert there per week (not counting the times I got to sing there!!)
May 4th, 2008, 05:59 AM
#98
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This is FREE. If you are Catholic and have been married within the last 8 weeks apply for Newlywed Tickets (Sposi Novelli) if you plan on attending the Wed Papal Audience.
This is from Santa Susanna, the American Catholic Church in Rome.
"If you are planning to attend a papal audience following your wedding you may qualify for Newlywed or Sposi Novelli tickets. This is only available for couples who have been married in the Catholic Church within two months of the papal audience. There is a special seating section for newlyweds. Please know, however, that Pope Benedict XVI has not continued the tradition of blessing newlywed couples individually. Still you must request these tickets IN ADVANCE.
Newlywed (Sposi Novelli) Tickets: Newlyweds (within 8 weeks of your wedding) can sit in a special section. THOUGH IT IS PREFERABLY THAT YOU WEAR YOUR WEDDING ATTIRE, those without the attire can still sit up front but in a different section, but YOU MUST HAVE their Wedding Certificate with them. This does not mean that the Pope Benedict XVI will individually bless each couple as Pope John Paul II did. We have been told that this practice has been discontinued permanently."
My husband and I came to Rome on our honeymoon 5 years ago and DID NOT KNOW THIS! I wish we had.
If you are no longer "newly" wed you could look into attending Santa Susanna and having your vows renewed while visiting Rome. This is what their website has to say about that, "You are welcome to renew your vows at Santa Susanna at our weekday evening mass at 6 PM. It means that a congregation will be present to celebrate with you, and you can then go out for a romantic dinner afterwards." (look on the FAQ page for more info)
web site link, http://www.santasusanna.org/index.html.
This is from Santa Susanna, the American Catholic Church in Rome.
"If you are planning to attend a papal audience following your wedding you may qualify for Newlywed or Sposi Novelli tickets. This is only available for couples who have been married in the Catholic Church within two months of the papal audience. There is a special seating section for newlyweds. Please know, however, that Pope Benedict XVI has not continued the tradition of blessing newlywed couples individually. Still you must request these tickets IN ADVANCE.
Newlywed (Sposi Novelli) Tickets: Newlyweds (within 8 weeks of your wedding) can sit in a special section. THOUGH IT IS PREFERABLY THAT YOU WEAR YOUR WEDDING ATTIRE, those without the attire can still sit up front but in a different section, but YOU MUST HAVE their Wedding Certificate with them. This does not mean that the Pope Benedict XVI will individually bless each couple as Pope John Paul II did. We have been told that this practice has been discontinued permanently."
My husband and I came to Rome on our honeymoon 5 years ago and DID NOT KNOW THIS! I wish we had.
If you are no longer "newly" wed you could look into attending Santa Susanna and having your vows renewed while visiting Rome. This is what their website has to say about that, "You are welcome to renew your vows at Santa Susanna at our weekday evening mass at 6 PM. It means that a congregation will be present to celebrate with you, and you can then go out for a romantic dinner afterwards." (look on the FAQ page for more info)
web site link, http://www.santasusanna.org/index.html.
May 4th, 2008, 06:08 AM
#99
If we take the idea of the main meal being at lunchtime then during the working week you can eat "meal of the day" which is served inside bars at the back (yes they often have hidden away restaurants designed to feed the locals) so at 12:00 look for any workers and trail them to these gold mines. No choice, freee cheep wine and only bottled water is extra.
Does not work at the weekend but if you need the calories at mid day a real winner
Does not work at the weekend but if you need the calories at mid day a real winner
May 4th, 2008, 06:33 AM
#100
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Always visit the tourist offices and get the free guides for what is going on.
Here is a list of FREE stuff in Rome.
http://www.enjoyrome.com/tourist/cit....for.free.html
Here is a list of FREE stuff in Rome.
http://www.enjoyrome.com/tourist/cit....for.free.html
