Well, 10 days away. I have my Euros, passports, tickets,etc.and now need your help.

DH and I are 60ish, have been to Ireland and Caribbean, never to other foreign destinations.

Took advantage of a college alumni assoc. tour to Rome and Florence. All the things that I worried about are taken care of: transfers airport to hotel, city to city travel, a travel host with us for trouble-shooting. The price was the deciding factor in this tour. And as much or as little escorted side trips as you please.

Now the downsides. I don't like the flight schedule. We leave Detroit 4PM, to Amsterdam 7AM, to Rome 9:30AM. We are EST folks. What can you suggest that we do on this time schedule. How much sleep on the plane? What if our hotel in Rome cannot give us our room at that time. When can we nap?

I have eyemasks for the plane, sleeping pills. I think I will be fine, but DH not so sure.

In Rome: have left the day of arrival loose, jet lagging it, nothing scheduled. Have a full day tour Monday, 1/2day tour of Vatican Tuesday. Our hotel is (looks not so good to me) the Londra and Cargill, piazza Sallusitio.

Question: first jet lagged day here: are there any restaurants you could recommend easily found from here. Nothing fancy, but more than pizza.

Our Vatican tour folks recommend us using taxi to meet them at 9AM. Is it hard to get a cab; does the hotel have a concierge to assist. This is scary to me.

Florence seems much easier. Hotel is Hotel Roma, which seems in the middle of things. Plan here is to see the "David", Uffizi if DH can be persuaded, and then just wander and be immersed in Italy.

So:: any recommendations.
Arrividerci!

If your hotel room is not ready (which it probably will not be at 9:30am), you can drop by and leave your luggage at the hotel front desk. Then go out walking the immediate neighborhood, until you can check-in and take a nap (likely 3pm or so).

Sleep as much as you can on the plane ride over, is my opinion. I can't sleep a wink, never have. So IF you can do so, do so!

One thing you could try is to send an e-mail to the hotel and request an early check in. It can't hurt.

In every case that I have requested early check-in the hotel has accommodated me. The longest I have ever had to wait was about 30 minutes and during that time I was invited to the hotel breakfast.

Definitely try to sleep on the plane if possible. If you can do it, it's better to try to stay awake the first day anyway, to get on Italy time more quickly. Have you used sleeping pills before? They affect different people in different ways. I wouldn't want to be trying them for the first time on my way to Italy, just my opinion.

I'm afraid you're right, that Rome hotel isn't in the best location, although you should be able to walk over to Via 20 Settembre if you're interested in finding a bus. Surely the hotel or your travel company could tell you if there is a concierge? You can't just go out and flag a taxi down, you would have to go to a taxi stand to get one. If there's no concierge, I would think a desk clerk could also call you a taxi.

I'm not familiar with restaurants near your hotel, but restaurants have their menu posted outside, so you will be able to look at the choices before deciding to go in.

Thanking you so much so far: yes,would never try a sleeping pill first time on a big trip like this!.

Will try with the hotel re: early check in.,what can it hurt, right.
I cannot tell you how exciting this is, it is like my dreams come true.

Hey Cheryl, We'll be in Rome on the same days doing the same things, I believe....Mon 3/31 the Roman Forum, etc. and Tues 4/1 the Vatican! Maybe we'll bump into each other! Hope the weather forecast gets better. The next few days look miserable.

Some people say not to take naps, but I can't help it... I really need to the first couple days in the afternoon or otherwise I feel horrible (truly can't function).

I don't know your hotel but in the most general way encourage you to ask for their help as needed (early check in, where to eat nearby, arranging a taxi, etc.).

My comments are general from a few trips on my own to Europe but I've never been to Rome... here's wishing you a wonderful trip!

mcheryl,
Looks like we are on the same schedule. We also leave for Rome in 10 days. Then we go by train to Florence.(We're also 60-ish!)

We always take sleeping pills on the plane....always works for DH, only sometimes for me.

This routine has finally saved me from jet lag:

1. Try to sleep if at all possible on the plane. Eye shades, ear plugs, pills, whatever it takes.

2. Spend as much time as you can outside the first day. Sunlight helps reset your clock.

3. Take a short nap in the afternoon, no more than an hour or hour & a half, wash up and go out for a light dinner.

4. Go to bed (I take another pill, but that's a personal choice) at whatever time will give you a good 8 or 9 hours sleep before you have to get up to sightsee.

After that, you should be good to go. Maybe we'll pass each other on the streets in Rome.

RN, plan some relaxing time after vacation, you will be more jetlagged coming home.

Assuming you have a personal physician, a telephone call could yield two minutes of medical advice, and a prescription for a limited number of sleeping pills. I agree that you should try them in the next night or two.

And your flight leaves at <b>10</b> pm (Europe time) - - not 4 pm. I recommend that you get up by 10 am (Europe time) or earlier, on the dqay you leave. The day before departure, perhaps no later than 11 am (Europe time) to rise... and go to bed by 1 or 2 am (Europe time).

You CAN give your body a head start at adjusting to the time zone change... or not. The choice is up to you.

Best wishes,

Rex

Hey ocnancy: We'll be the ones at the Vatican with jet lag but smiles from here to there. Putting a couple of little umbrellas in just in case. Have a great trip!

I don't think you will have much trouble finding places to eat that first night.

You can put restaurant addresses, as well as your hotel address, into mappy.com for walking directions.

I was thinking that Il Giardino, a rec we got from the Santa Susanna website, and liked a lot, might be a good fit for your first night.

http://www.santasusanna.org/visitorInfo/dining.html

Everyone has a different strategy for coping with jet lag. We usually try to sleep on the plane then stay up as late as possible on the day of arrival to adjust to the new time zone. I am so excited about being in Europe that I find it quite easy to do this.
On our first day in Rome last year (flying Boston to Milan to Rome arriving in Rome around 10) we got settled in our apartment, had lunch, and did a lot of walking in the central part of the city, including Piazza della Rotunda (Pantheon), Piazza Navonna, Campo de Fiori and the neighborhood where we were staying (Jewish ghetto). I don't really know the area where your hotel is located, but it is not near many major tourist sites. I think you would get a better feel for the city by taking a cab or bus to the center and wandering around there after you leave your luggage at the hotel.

I'll try to answer a few randomly.

First, just because you land @ 9:30 doesn't mean you'll be at your hotel early. By the time you clear customs, get luggage, get transportaton and ride into the city, it could well be noon. You might be able to check in then or, as others have suggested, leave your bags and wander for a while. The general advice is to avoid napping when you get there. Tough it out till about 9pm local time, and go to bed.

The 9 a.m. taxi: The night before, have the hotel arrange for a taxi at the appropriate time. Should be no problem. (Actually, I think it's no problem to just call a taxi that morning, but if arranging it the night before makes you sleep better, go ahead.)

You're right. Florence is easier. After the hustle and bustle of Rome, you'll feel like you're in slow motion. Don't forget to take a bus up to Piazzale Michelangelo, have a drink and watch the sun set on the city.

I would echo a couple of suggestions already made. Relax. Expect to take wrong turns as you walk. Take a good map. If you don't have a laminated, published map, go to a map web site and make your own of the areas you intend to walk.

Go to a central area the first day and enjoy the feel of Rome, which is busy and loud. I love Rome, but I do think it is one of the most intense of the European cities we have visited. There will be sirens blaring and vespas whining all around you. Traffic is wild. Crossing the street is wild. All this is said just to tell you to be realistic with your expectations.

Love every single minute, even the ones when you are frustrated about something or tired. Soon enough you will be back to the routine of your life and longing to be back in Italy. Happy travels. PJK

I like to use maps that are not laminated. I make notes on them with various places I want to remember. Writing on street maps is one of the single best travel tips I have learned.

Thanks to you all for your help. I love Fodors!

Especially thanks Tuscan for the web site with restaurant recommendations.

Now if you could all think good thoughts about sunshine.