Hi! I'm a first-time everything: traveler, Rome-goer, Fodor's Forum user. I could use a little advice. I currently study in Spain (Alicante). At the beginning of December, my boyfriend is coming to visit and we plan to visit Switzerland (for the first weekend) and Rome (Monday afternoon to Thursday evening).

I've looked through some guidebooks on Rome, and am feeling a little overwhelmed. I would LOVE a little help on the following:

1. Lodging. As of now, I wouldn't even know what "neighborhood" to start looking for hostels in. We are young, but don't neccessarily need a big party scene - we're looking for an area or place that's a little more romantic. We also want to spend our money on activities, not lodging, so budget places are a high priority.

2. Best way to get from Ciampino Airport to Rome - taxis are apparently super expensive. Is there a bus or metro that runs?

3. Recommended sights to see (we'll be there for three days and change). He enjoys historic sites, I really love art. We would also love to see an opera there - not sure if that will be possible. Any thoughts?

I'm looking forward to the trip immensely and not sweating the details too much...but this forum seemed friendly and helpful, so I thought I'd throw myself out there Thanks a ton!

Dear Okie:
Do a search on this board for Italy. Go to the top of the page and highlite Italy & search. You will get posts and trip reports on Italy. I have been to Rome twice. The first time was near the Vatican. It was good for seeing the Vatican, but more in a residential type area. We stayed near the Piazza Navona last time, which was more handy to the historical sites and for strolling.

I am not sure about hostals, but there are also convents and religious guest houses to stay in. I would also recommend getting the Rick Steves books. They have more budget alternatives and are user friendly. These will also help you choose the sites you would like to visit. IMO, the major sites to see: Vatican Museum/St.Peter's, Forum/Colliseum, and the historical center(Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona). If you have time, try to see the Borghese Gallery.

Good luck planning.

MY

Hi
this is the first Italy Superthread
Helpful Information: Italy
A lot of the links it provides are about Rome.
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34443340

also, if you click at the top of this screen on Destinations, you will find a lot of great basic Fodors information about Rome, including itineraries for short stays. Frommers.com has those too.

Finally, I have a long file on Rome. If you'd like to see it, email me at
[email protected]

So far as I can tell, all the hostels in Rome are either near Termini, near the Vatican, or way far out. There just isn't super-budget accommodation in the most desirable areas. But you can get pretty good deals otherwise, at a B&B or cheap hotel. For example, Pensione Panda has gotten pretty good reviews: http://www.hotelpanda.it
The Beehive is one highly recommended hostel near Termini, but may be booked up already.

Convents typically have curfews, which may or may not be a problem. Some may also object to unmarried couples.

Ciampino Airport to Rome - take the Terravision bus for about 8 Euros (there are even cheaper public transit options).

Hi BBTOK,

If you like art, put the Borghese Galleria at the TOP of your list, followed closely by the Vatican museums.

For your hubby, my personal pick for historical would be the Forum and Coliseum.

If you have time for a day trip out from Rome, Orvieto or Tivoli are wonderful. I visited Tivoli (Villa d'Este) in Sept and it was a real surprise and a highlight! Fountains, fountains, everywhere.

Buon viaggio!

I would highly recommend buying at least one guidebook, especially Rick Steves Room 2005/2006 book (whichever is available now).

It not only will give you a great overview for the first-timer (or second-timer) but will also give you some travel tips that any seasoned traveler can appreciate.

I've used his guidance to find hotels and have yet to be disappointed. In fact, when I went it alone in Rome, I had rather disastrous hotel results.

You can also find information about his travel stuff on ricksteves.com.

I found that reading his guidebook and at least one other (Fodors, Frommers, etc.) gave me a good round view of how I want to travel, sights to see, etc...Rick's I think is best only because he's very specific about hours, prices, and the value of seeing certain things while not just hitting the "big stuff."

Happy travels,

Jules

Another good source for cheap rooms in the Hello Italy book. The full title is Hello Italy! The Best Budget Hotels in Itay by Margo Classe.

I agree with the Galleria Borghese suggestion; but be sure you are aware that you're going to see great sculpture and not great paintings.

Churches in Rome are generally free and many of them have amazing art works. Just a little research will help you find the great ones. Fodors and Frommers books both have great listings for art in Rome, and list all the churches and their opening hours. I know you are in Spain, so I don't think you can get these in a local library. But you say you have some guidebooks on Rome; start by looking up churches and art works in them.

For historic sites, well, your boyfriend will trip over them.

Here is a link to the bus and train site for Ciampino airport:

http://www.adr.it/content.asp?Subc=2...&idMen=204

actually, if I can dig up the Hello Italy book, I'll send it to you. I think there is a copy around here somewhere. If you'd like it, email me at [email protected]

Debbie

Also don't forget the "Let's Go: Italy."

as they say, published by college students for college students. Very blunt about safety and so on of an area.

I think Rick Steves has a website with some of his info.

Hi

My wife and I went to Rome in July and we loved it. We stayed at a hotel near Termini. They say that this is not the best area but we didn't have any problems there and it was easy to get around from there by bus or metro.

There is so much to see and do in Rome so it is hard to recommend anything specific. But places like St. Peter's, the Vatican museums, Collosseum, Forum etc are also places that deserves to be visited.

I have posted a trip report with lots of pictures from our trip to Rome on my personal homepage http://gardkarlsen.com Maybe you can find some useful info there. Have a great trip

Regards
Gard
Stavanger, Norway

Wow, thank you so much! I feel so much better about planning it all. I´d never heard of Rick Steve before, but I imagine his books will be helpful in planning this trip (and others)! I appreciate all your help, and I´ll keep you updated

Hi there,

the first thing I would do is head straight for the FNAC in Alicante :
Fnac Bulevar
Avenida de la Estación, 5-7 03003 ALICANTE
Tfno: 96-601 01 00
e-mail: [email protected]
Lunes a sábado de 10 a 22 h., domingos y festivos de 12 a 22 h.

It might be not so big as the ones in Madrid, but their travel book section is usually pretty good, and you can get english ones there. I cannot promise you that you will be able to find the Hello Italy book recommended by Debbie (hi there ), but in Madrid they have the Rick Steves one.

Another place I would check is the Casa del Libro in Valencia :
PASSEIG RUSSAFA, 11
46002 VALENCIA - Telf. 96 353 00 20 - Fax: 96 352 84 12
[email protected]
Horario 9:30 - 21:30

Regarding the opera in Roma, you can check the program at :
http://www.opera.roma.it/
It´s a pity, because La Sonnambula finishes on the 30th of November, and it is a beautiful opera. Il Barbiere di Siviglia plays from the 10th of December onwards.
Another good site to find what´s going on (and download plenty of broschures and info) is http://www.romaturismo.com . If you go to EVENTS, you will find a lot of exhibitions, concerts ...

Even if you are not really into classical music, a visit to the Auditorium is a must for the lovers of modern architecture. If you combine it with the Accademia de Santa Cecilia, it can be really good. They are playing Beethoven and Tchaikovsky at the beginning of december, and you can buy your tickets online. I did it for a Mozart concert in September and it was great (including a presentation by film director Ferzan Ozpetek ).

Kind regards,
Cova

Re lodging, my 18-year old daughter and three friends stayed at the Alessandro Palace Youth Hostel this summer and thought it was great. Cost for adouble with bath is 70 euro. It's just a 5 minute safe walk from Termini. http://www.hostelalessandropalace.com/