I've been to Italy before (Florence twice, Venice, and Milan), but never to Rome. Would it be worthwhile for a first time trip to Rome over Christmas? If so, what's the best place for a first time vistor to stay at Christmas for about five nights? I'd be willling to spend anywhere from $250 to $300 a night.

At Christmas time the prices can be high almost anywhere you choose - we stayed at the Eden for christmas a few years ago as family - moving on to Venice for New Year's which I would recommend highly as a follow up - the Eden was lovely but would most likely run over $300 for that time of year as would other popular standby's such as the Hassler. go to Luxurylink.com for better suggestions - they run several xmas and new year options for europe with exceptional hotels. If you do make it for the holiday I would suggest taking your christmas dinner at the White Elephant - their holiday selections and the atmosphere were truly memorable. Good luck, you are bound to create wonderful memories wherever you end up - Rome is wonderful that time of year.

Hi DiGiuseppe, can you give us a bit more information? Where is the White Elephant, is it a restaurant or a hotel? And what are your recommendations for New Year's Eve in Venice? (as that is exactly where we will be). Unfortunately we are on a tight budget, so activities in the lower price range would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Rome around Christmas is fascinating. Just the sight of St Peter's basilica with the huge xmas tree in the centre of the square is worth staying there during that period. There is the xmas mass in the basilica too, though I guess you must have an entrance ticket to go inside (I am not sure about that).
And then there is the shopping area around Via del Corso and Piazza di Spagna all decorated with xmas ornaments, and people selling roasted chestnuts along the streets, the cso called CALDARROSTE (the smell of roasted chestnuts is typical of this period of the year), and you can sometimes find some ZAMPOGNARI, men clad in typical clothes playing with some sort of bagpipe some xmas music. If the weather is fine and sunny, walking in the Forum around xmas time gives a weird sensation: sometimes it can be such a fine sunny day that it seems spring and indeed you are at xmas time!
You can enjoy a wonderful afternoon (around 3 or 4) in Piazza Navona, sitting out of one of the cafés and drinking a hot cappuccino or a hot chocolate and enjoying the view of the beautiful piazza.
Or you can buy one of the typical italian cakes called PANETTONE and the other version PANDORO (delicious to be eaten like that, as they are or dipped in warm milk and coffee...yum yummmmm!).
These are just few ideas of how to spend christmas in Rome. I am sure you will enjoy it a great deal.

Ozgal - Venice for New Year's is truly magic. We have spent quite a bit of time there as a family, married there recently in fact and it was wonderful. We have stayed at several places for New Year's - but it has to be said that most places are really at a premium that time. Over the years we have been lucky to enjoy the gritti, danieli, as my father was footing the bill. I would suggest in a more reasonable price range the Londra, the Ala, and the Metropole which is lovely and recently redone in the last few years, Cavaletto I believe is a place my brother recently stayed. In terms of activities for the new year itself we have done a range of things - there are several masquerade balls set up at each hotel for the guests and a few residents - generally though it my be worth the effort to secure entrance to some of the large balls that take place around the city. Most of the palaces host such elaborate parties - Ca Zanardi is one that I remember off of the top of my head - go to veniceby.com or veniceword.com or search on the web for information. There is one ball in particular thrown in a palace now owned by the armenian culutral society which is lovely. Aside from huge events like that we have enjoyed several private family dinners in a variety of restaurants - while many people on this site may disagree - it has to be said that Antico Martni (do a search for their site) is truly a memorable place. Do not be put off by their website which does look terribly frightening (pink tablecloths and cupid statues) - that is one of their private rooms. The restaurant itself is lovely. Hope this helps.

oh - and the White Elephant is a restaurant in Rome where we have had christmas dinner several times (DiGiuseppe is my relative) - it is within walking distance of the Eden hotel if I remember correctly - I was just a kid when we ate there last - it is realtively well known, they have an amazing white truffle sauce......you should be able to find a listing for it in zagats or time out rome