WWK

I agree with Jean, post above. Hard to help you without knowing your hotel budget.

Hodie

We're trying to stay under 200 Euro/night for the hotel but would also like to be able to walk to as much as possible (realizing that will not be possible in some instances).

annhig

Hodie - if you want to be able to walk to most places, you need to be looking at the pantheon/ piazza navona/campo dei fiori area. you'll probably still need to get the odd bus, but not often. trouble is, €200/night isn't not going to get you much in that area. the way I do it is by going to Trip advisor [apologies if I'm teaching my granny to suck eggs] and putting in my dates, then seeing what comes up on the map.

for example, I put in July [which I when I believe you are going to be in Rome] 9-10, and then looked to see what was available in your price range and in the area you might like - and came up with the Albergo del Senato - which is by the Pantheon and is very well regarded here. it was €188/night on Expedia, which looked like a pretty good price.

WWK

If Expedia has Albergo Del Senato for E188, grab it! We have stayed there several times, and it's one of my favorite hotels in Italy- unbeatable location, great AC, wonderful staff.

Hodie

Thanks for the idea annhig. I did check out Albergo Del Senato but we're actually in Rome in Oct. and unfortunately the price is bit more than E188 for my dates. I'm looking at Relais Maddelena now, but I can't find anything on the forums about it.

Lexma90

I will add my personal opinion about guided tours. Yes, you will learn quite a bit from the guide, if he/she is good.

But you will lose flexibility, both on the date and time you have booked the tour in advance, and in terms of sights that may interest you more than others. If the weather is warmer or rainy on the day you booked your tour, you won't have the option of switching to an indoor activity.

WWK

Hodie,

Check out Albergo Santa Chiara and Hotel Campo dei Fiori, too. Both have excellent central locations. And if you don't mind staying in Trastevere, check out Residenza Santa Maria. Trastsevere is a very cool place to stay with lots of trattorias, boutiques, still easy to access most of the sites, but not as central as the area near The Pantheon. Good luck!

WWK

One more suggestion... Hotel Mozart. Very good friends of ours have stayed there many times. Good location near Via del Corso, beautiful rooftop garden. Seems to get good reviews online. I think it's closer to your budget.

dwdvagamundo

Concur in your wanting to make Pompeii a must. It is a long day, but there's only one Pompeii.

DebitNM

We did Herculaneum [much smaller ] and Ostia Antica in addition to Pompeii. They were all amazing and different enough to make them all worth while.

Caliban

The Borghese is not to be missed, but do be careful with their strict time rules. You must show up at least 30 minutes before your reservation or risk losing it. You must check your possesions. Since the museum is inside a park (a very nice one), you should allow sufficient time to reach the park and then walk to the museum.

Indogirl1

bookmarking

Hodie

Great tip on Borghese, thank you, I hadn't thought about that.

WWK - Albergo Santa Chiara and Hotel Campo dei Fiori both look just about perfect, but unfortunately still out of my price range.

Hotel Nazionale and Relais Maddelena have good pre-paid deals I could swing, anyone have any experience with either of these?

DebitNM

Tips about the Borghese.

Take the escalators from the Spanish Steps [just as you enter Metro station, on the left]. Makes it easy to get to the park and then a short walk.

fYI - non-flash photography is now allowed in Gallery Borghese.

We took a tour led by a docent on a Sunday, 2 weeks ago. Her English was very good; she was very knowledgeable and she knew how to zig and zag around the museum if there were too many people in a spot. She did this without missing a beat! You don't sign up ahead of time; simply pay for the tour after you pass ticket taker. (Next to where you rent audio guides.) It now costs 6 or 6.5 euros,well worth it. It lasted about 90 minutes, so you still had time to go upstairs or revisit works of art before you have to exit.

We had a tour at 9;10 and a 9 am entrance time; the doors didn't open til 8:30. We went in through the downstairs door where you first get your tickets and then enter.

When we left at 11, we saw people entering through the upper door.

I have read to be there at least 30 minutes to 1 hour if you need to pick up your tickets first.

We were the first in line and yes, they were sold out. A few people waited online, in case of no shows and they got lucky but I wouldn't count on that happening.

DebitNM

http://www.galleriaborghese.it/borghese/en/einfo.htm

Hodie

DebitNM - nice, thank you so much. It really is knowing details like these that help tremendously.

annhig

Hodie - shame about the Albergo del Senato, and those other hotels.

if you are prepared [after all we've said!] to stay a little further out, then the hotel Gravina that we stayed in last year round the back of St Peter's may suit:

http://www.hotelgravinasanpietro.it/

I've checked and they have rooms with a view of the Dome of St Peter's for about €150 including quite a reasonable breakfast. it's very convenient for the buses, including some that go all the way to the Colosseum] and the San Pietro overground train station, and about a 10 minute walk from St Peter's. lots of nice neighbourhood restaurants, a market, shops, bars and cafes, but reasonably easy access to the sights too.

it's not ideal of course, but then holidays are always about compromise, aren't they?

Jean

In Rome, try the Hotel Parlamento. Some bathrooms and showers are extremely small, but I think their rates will provide enough comfort for you to request the largest/best room in the house. But it's popular, so book ASAP.

http://www.hotelparlamento.it/

Jean

Just noticed upthread that you've booked the Due Torri in Rome. You might be able to get a larger room at the Parlamento.

Hodie

Hi all and thanks for all the input! I have reworked my itinerary and am hoping it's a little more relaxed Comments/suggestions still welcome!

Florence:
Davanzati Hotel

Saturday: Arrive 4:45 PM

Sunday:
Morning:
David/Academia
Museum San Marco
Leonardo Museum

Afternoon:
Piazzale Michelangelo
San Miniato Church

Monday:
Morning:
Duomo
Duomo Museum
Campanile
Baptistery (inside)
Palazzo Vechio

Afternoon:
Santa Croce
Oltrarno

Tuesday:
Uffizi Gallery
Galileo Science Museum

Afternoon:
Bargello Museum
Medici Chapel

Wednesday:
Chianti tour & transfer to Rome with Hills & Roads:
Drive through Chianti Classico, wine and olive oil tasting and cellar visit at two wineries
Visit of Radda
Lunch
Train in Chiusi station to Roma termini

Rome
Hotel Nazionale

Thursday:

Afternoon:
Walks Of Italy “Colosseum & Underground Ancient Rome” (3.5 hours)
Colosseum
Forum
Palatine Hill
Via Sacra
Arch of Constantine

Following Tour:
Capitaline Museum

Friday:
Morning
Through Eternity “Early Access Vatican Tour” (5 hours)
Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s

Afternoon:
Scavi Tour

Saturday:
Morning:
Campo de Fiori
Piazza Navona
Four Rivers Fountain
Pantheon
Trevi Fountain
Spanish Steps

Afternoon:
Rome Walks “Peter & Paul – Patron Saints of Rome” (3.5 hours)
St. Paul Outside the Walls
Basilica of St. Clement
Scala Santa
St. John in Latern
Santa Croce in Gerusalemme

Sunday
Morning/Afternoon
Appian Way
Tomb of Cecilia Metella
Circus and Villa of Maxentius
Catacombs of San Callisto
Domine Quo Vadis Church
San Sebastiano Gate

Evening
Rick Steves “Dolce Vita Stroll”
Flamino down Via del Corso to the Spanish Steps

Monday
Pompeii Tour with “Visit Pompeii”

Tuesday
Borghese Gallery (with tour offered there)
St. Peter In Chains
Santa Maria In Cosmedin
Mamertime prison