My mother (61) and I will be returning to Rome with my 2 sisters, their first time. I'd like to book us at the hotel VillaParco, but it is out beyond the train station. Per Karen Brown, the bus stops at the entrance, and it's a 15 min walk into the ctr of town. Have any of you frequent fliers used the bus/metro system regularly? We are good walkers, and country girls, so being in the outskirts for sleeping has its appeal.

I'm not sure exactly where this hotel is but if it's the Hotel Villa del Parco then it appears to be about a half mile beyond Porta Pia which itself is quite a distance from popular sites like Piazza Navona and the Vatican, certainly well beyond a 15 minute walk. I recommend that you obtain a good map of Rome and find out exactly where this hotel is and then measure the distances from those sites that you want to see. Although Rome has an excellent transportation system, I would recommend that you stay somewhere closer to the center of town (if in fact I'm right about the location of your hotel). There are good hotel recommendations on this site. Good luck.

The transport system is really pretty good. <BR> <BR>The problem with that area is that you require (at least) two forms of transport to get anywhere; bus connecting to bus, or bus connecting to subway. (You can also cab, of course.) <BR> <BR>That means two waits and two sets of traffic. While you won't spend "all" your time in Rome in transit, it may seem like it at times. And you will waste time that could otherwise be spent seeing sights, enjoying people watching, a cool drink at a sidewalk table, etc. And, you'll miss the opportunity easily to slip back to your hotel for quick catnap mid-afternoon if cobblestone-foot catches up with you. <BR> <BR>Make the most of your time in Rome ... lodge in the historic center of the city. <BR> <BR>Ed

I never caught a bus anywhere in Rome on 3 stays there (Via Veneto, Spanish Steps, north of Termini) - managed to get around with a combination of metro and legs!

Laurie, <BR>If staying at a Karen Brown recommendation is the criteria - stay at the Due Torri. It's in the historical center by Piazza Navona and <BR>you can read about it in Karen's book. <BR>Lots of positive comments about DT on this site.

I'm not sure about the area of your hotel, but we used public transportation as well as our feet a lot this week. <BR>We got a settimanale (weekly) pass good on the Metro, buses and trams, and used them all. Very good. Learn about the express buses also. <BR> <BR>Doug

I was in Rome (on business) last weekend and did some research for my upcoming vacation there. I had planned on staying in a "green area" outside of the city and taking the train and bus or tram into the city each day. I saw immediately how tiring that can be. We walked many miles per day, and getting on a tram afterward for the 30 minute ride back was a real bummer. I'll be staying in the Campo del Fiori area as a result.

Being a New Yorker, once I get out of the city, I never use a subway if I can help it. I always use the buses in Rome when I'm not walking, and I find them plentiful and the signage at the bus stops completely comprehensible and useful. Buy your tickets at any tabacchi or newsstand.