Hi everyone. I will be travelign with a party of 5 on end Jan x 2 weeks in Rome. Plan on going to vatican city and rome "only". Are wrokign on the agenda.

Mainly lookign for advise on palces to stay hotel vs. apartment? Should we plan on goign to other cities as long as we are here?

Thank You
Bon Vogagae

Here's another hotel suggestion. Very reasonable considering its central location.

http://www.residenzafarneserome.com/hotel.html

You also have others threads going - just click on your name to bring them all up.

Try Hotel Columbus on the Via della Conciliazione (i.e. the street that leads directly to St. Peter's) It has a very nice courtyard and is set in a building with antique frescos, etc. Used to house visiting cardinals. The staff is very helpful and the breakfast is great.

AnneMD,

Definitely visit some other cities outside Rome. Try reading the "destinations" portion of this Fodor's Site for Italy to get an idea of what things interest your group most.

Also give us some clues as to what you and your friends enjoy, and people can help you more.

As to an apartment, also visit the slowtrav.com website for tips on that. IF you mean this January your trip is very soon so hurry.

Hi, Anne - not sure of your price range, but Hotel Regno is very centrally located and reasonable. It's on Via di Corso, minutes from Piazza Venezia, Forum, Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona...

Well, for one week or more I'd look into a centrally located apartment. More space, more congenial for 5 people traveling together. The web site www.slowtrav.com has lots of information about renting self-catering acommodations in Italy (and elsewhere in Europe). That site also has reviews of specific rentals as well as rental agencies.

I'd spend a week in Rome then maybe the other week in a couple of different areas. Depends on what you're interested in. But since it's January, the countryside doesn't offer as much as cities.

Thanks for all the beautiful advise, we truely appreciate it.
We will probably be staying in this apartment PIAZZA DEL PARADISO- Campo dei Fiori.. in the process of booking.
Have plans to go to Ostia Antica, vatican city.. but I belive each one of these will take only 2 days.

AnneMD:

Ostia Antica will take one day, maxiumum.

The Vatican Museums and St. Peter's Basilica can be done in one day, but it is less tiring to spread it over two days. Neither the Museums nor St. Peter's will take a full day.

What other palces shoudl we plan on seeing. We have changed our trip fro 7 days in rome and 7 days in FLorence thanks to you all advise.

Do you guys think we should rent a car to go to the "Country" in rome? othe rthan ostia do you think we need a car at all?
Since I will be with 2 senior (65y/0) am a little cocnern... they are very active but don't want to puch it.

Any other places we shoudl definitely see in Rome.?

Thank You

My friends and I stayed at a wonderful bed and breakfast in the Trastevere part of Rome...called Hotel Santa Maria. It is very secure, quite charming and has a very helpful staff. We stayed five nights and walked and taxied wherever we needed to go with no problems. Have fun!

http://www.htlsantamaria.com/english/index.htm

Though I see you have already made your plans, I have to second the Hotel Santa Maria recommendation. It is a great place and is located right in Trastevere, which is a great neighborhood to explore. Full of little shops and some good restaurants it makes a nice base, away from the more touristy centro area.

Hi AnneMD,

If I understand your last question, I would not rent a car the time you are in Rome. Your location by Campo dei Fiori will be very central and active seniors will not need a car to get around. Some days you might consider a cab in one direction (such as a trip to the Borghese Gallery, which could be a push to walk both ways).

Much of the fun is walking in the central historic area of Rome and stopping frequently for a coffee or food break, or a little shopping.

You are probably already looking at "clumping" your visits into similar areas - for example, do the Colleseum and San Clemente together. Most guidebooks and web travel sites have a "Rome walks" section, which will give you some suggestions on how to arrange your days and how much time to walk from one site to another.

I like the AAA Rome spiral guidebook for its suggested walks, each divided by half day, with suggestions along the way about where to eat or shop. Fits in your purse or pack, has all the operating hours of the major sites, very accurate and great street maps. I have about 20 guidebooks on Rome, and this was the best I found for walking guidance.

Have fun! SusanEva

Thank you all so much...makes this trip so much better!!!

Question I am planning on getting a trian ticket "eurial" to go from Rome to Florence and then to Venice.

Does that sound like a good deal? should I consider other laternatives routes?
Also, should I buy the tickets now or should I wait.. is their any difference?

We are a party of six but I am afraid to be payign for eveything and then have someone "laid back" and not want to pay. Hopefully not... but you never know.. so if there's no difference I guess I would wait and pay over there??

Is the Ostia Antica worth seeing? only will be here 4-5 days.

Anne,

Ostia Antica is a very nice day trip from Rome. It is a nice break from the hustle and bustle. It is an easy subway/train trip of about an hour from central Rome. It is a terrific, *large* area of historical significance. You can wander there for a couple hours or a whole day. My wife and I found it to be a very nice change from the fast pace of the big city.

- Dave