Am surprising my husband with a week in Rome for his 50th birthday in mid-October. Would love help from anyone in helping me plan - I haven't been to Rome in 28 years.

Any suggestions for hotels? Is it better to go with price and quality, or location of hotel? (Is it worth paying more for a centrally located hotel?)

Is Rome easy enough to figure out with a good map and guide book? Would you consider hiring a guide for the day (or half day) to help you through the massive Vatican City or to see places off-the-beaten-path?

Are there certain things Romans are known for producing of good quality that would make good choices for gifts to take home, or as a reminder of a wonderful trip?

Have found a tremendous amount of websites to help, but it 's almost too overwhelming in deciding which direction to go! Want this to be educational, restful, romantic and memorable for him.

Thank you in advance for anything you can contribute.

1 suggestion.
Rent an apartment instead of staying in hotel. It is so much roomer,private, and you will feel more apart of your surrounding.

happy researching..

go for the good location (Pantheon/Navona/Fiore). there are many, many options in both apartmetns and hotels.

Hi M,

I agree to go for the central location hotel/apt for many reasons.

Special product to try/bring home: chocolate covered expresso beans from St. Eustachio (SP??!) near the Pantheon. My personal joy was finding a wonderful shop "Chocolat" nearby! Fabulous!

Buon viaggio!

Hi mlboyer1,

I think a centrally located hotel/apt in Italy is much more fun. I have done it both ways and enjoyed my "in-city" stay much more.

My only suggestion is to spend a wise $49 at Sharper Image and purchase their travel sound machine, it was wonderful and WELL worth it. I never travel without it now. Hotels, and the streets outside can be very noisy and this little guy drowns out all the unwanted noise.

At the Vatican there are many little religious medals and rosaries that I took home as gifts for my family and they loved them, much sentimental value (we are Catholic). Also any original art is a lovely gift, both are easy to pack.

There is so much good information here, just do a text search and/or ask a question, Fodors is a great source!

How exciting, have a wonderful trip, and Happy Five-O to your DH! Tiff

Here's my "two-pen'oth" towards solving your rather pleasant dilemmas:

Go for a hotel rather than an apartment- there's just two of you so you can splash out on a nice one, where they will be able to help you with restaurant reservations, tickets, tours, etc.

Stay in a central location as possible - you'll do enough walking without having to trek back to your accommodation all the time.

Book ahead for the Scavi tour and the Galleria Borghese - we didn't do either as i hadn't found this board in time, but from all the reports, I wish we had!

SEriously consider a private tour of the Vatican - one that by-passes the queue - and/or one of the specialist history tours often praised by OPs. Again, we didn't do this, but I wish we had.

Other than that, you will soon find you way around and probably won't need more than a good guide book and map. [opinions are divided but Rick Steves is good for 1st timers] plus the michelein Green guide or the Blue book.

Take two pairs of very comfortable shoes - you'll need them! good luck.

<< (Is it worth paying more for a centrally located hotel?)>>

Yes, especially for Rome. Unlike Paris, London, and the like where the subway actually goes everywhere.

Specifically, pay the few extra Euro to stay in the Campo dei Fiori/Piazza Navona/Pantheon areas. Here's a list of Centro hotels I pulled from another thread. Good luck!

http://www.residenzafarneseroma.it

http://www.hotelcampodefiori.com/

http://www.solealbiscione.it/

http://www.hotelrinascimento.com/

www.hotelteatrodipompeo.it

http://www.residenzacanali.com/

http://pantheonview.hotel-roma.net/

http://www.hotelnavona.com/ (either hotel on this website)

http://www.albergodelsenato.it/home.html (slightly more upscale option)

http://www.hotelpontesisto.it/web/ (another somewhat upscale option)

http://www.romeby.com/pomezia/ (budget option)

A male friend of mine swears that the most fabulous slippers he ever bought he bought in Roma near the Pantheon. I'll try to get the name of the shop for you, but your husband might like them for a birthday gift (if Roma is not enough!)

A good hotel is surprisingly restful in a city as stressful as Rome. My choice would by the Senato.

What a wonderful gift idea. I just returned from Rome and loved it. The time frame is good as there is so much to see. I stayed at a B&B (City's House B&B) very close to the Pantheon. The location cannot be beaten but I would not recommend it. I think renting an apartment is a great idea but you do need to book early. The lodging situation is very tight in Rome. I believe there are many websites mentioned in this board to check out. Also, slowtrav.com is very helpful. Start the process now as it takes a lot of time.

Once you have rented an apartment, you can start thinking about your itinerary. Perhaps a good place to start is to borrow a few guidebooks from the library to have an idea.

Rome is definitely a place you can "figure out" with a book and a map. I would, however, line up a tour, as suggested by another poster, for the Vatican museums, as well as the Forum (if you go there). I had a hard time putting everything there into perspective.

We used Context Rome for our Vatican tour and enjoyed them very much!

Have fun!

I am just back from Rome and we stayed at the Albergo del Senato, recommended on this forum. I cannot speak highly enough of this hotel. Ask for a room with a view of the Pantheon. It is so beautiful, it is almost surreal. The hotel was fantastic, the staff wonderful, and the location cannot be beat. You can email me if you have any questions at [email protected]. Good luck!

We are going to Rome around the same time. I'd offer two simple bits of advice:
1. Look into bardo1's hotel suggestions. I did and booked the Residenza Calali ai Coronari and am very happy with the choice.
2. Book your hotel now. October is a busy season in Rome. Some of the hotels we looked into were already filled up.

Stay at a hotel in the historic center. You’ll benefit from the perks and services provided by the staff. Apartments are for people with big families or visitors who know the city intimately.

Dress up. Romans are chic and elegant.

Having a cell phone with you in Rome is invaluable.

Contrary to myth everyone in Rome does NOT speak English. Learn a few phrases of Italian.

Prepare to be shocked at the filth, graffiti, noise and air pollution.

Avoid all forms of public transportation. It’s rife with thieves and pickpockets.

Rome is horrendously confusing. It is very easy to get lost--another reason to learn some Italian. You’ll do okay with a map from a kiosk. Don’t use Rick’s--they’re lousy.

Get Borghese Gallery reservations online from home at least 2 weeks before you go. The museum is way to heck and gone; the cab ride there from the historic center will cost 20 Euro, one-way.

Take a cab to St. Peter’s at 7:30 a.m. Plan to spend the whole day. Wednesday is Papal audience day. Avoid all Rick Steves recommended restaurants near the Vatican.

The Vatican gift shop sells gaudy, overpriced trinkets, but where else will you find a card blessed by John Paul II or a holy medal for some obscure saint? Plus, the elderly nuns who run it are fun to watch.

If you have time, visit Pope John Paul II’s tomb.

I know it’s not de rigueur to be so frank, sweetness and light being the rule of the day on these forums, it’s just that after 28 years you will find many things changed. Still, Rome is fabulous, the shopping and the food sensational, the Italians as colorful, annoying and wonderful as always, and the sights aren’t too shabby either! Have a fun and romantic visit.

Though I don't agree with all the princess says] she's got a lot correct from my experience of one stay. My main disagreements would be about the public transport [just crowded when we used it at easter, so Nov' should be better] and Rick - the info in the book is pretty good [eg the tip about the door at the back of the sistine chapel and buying tickets for the colosseum at the aplatine]; though the hand-drawn plans are a bit difficult to follow, they do make snese when you are there. You still need a map though.
Se's dead right about staying centrally, using your hotel concierge services, and definietly about learning italian. WE were really surprised how many locals did not have much english, and they were really happy to chat in italian [to our accompanying nods and smiles as we struggled to keep up].
I can thoroughly recommend the Michel Thomas course [though there's been a thread about this recently where others got very strong recommendations]; but as this is a surprise, your husband might wonder why your sudden interest!
good luck!

I've just returned from Rome. I visited Rome many times before, and only once I stayed in an apartment. For two people it sure is not a good deal. This time, I stayed in Hotel dei Borgognoni, just a great location with breakfast. Another wonderful location, in fact the two hotels are close to each other, is Hotel dei Condotti. It is very close to Piazza di Spagna (Spanish Steps), and to very nice restaurants.
I am sure you won't be wrong being in a hotel close to Piazza di Spagna.
Rome is a "walking around "city. You can go anywhere without a car, you can easily go to one place to another with a good map. I wouldn't hire a guide. What I did this time was taking a sightseeing bus, those double deck buses. You can have a wonderful general idea of Rome before starting stopping at specific points of interest. I hope you enjoy this wopnderful city!! Rome is for me one of the most beautiful cities in the world!!! Have a marvellous 50th birthday in Rome!!
www.hotelborgognoni.it

Go with guides as much as you can afford it--your trip will be more fun-believe me-especially since he won't have a chance to do any upfront reading. My choices: Vatican Tours and Beyond for their 5 hour Vatican tour (see if they can get you Scavi tickets) or Context Rome tours. These will be worth every penny. Also, spend a day at Pompeii/Naples Arc. museum if you can--hire guides for that also.

As you prepare for your trip be sure to do some background reading and see some films set in Rome (besides The Gladiator)to help you appreciate the huge amount of history and art you will be enjoying. You might start with the off beat articles about Rome (fruit of my 40 years here writing guidebooks ...also for Fodors) available to peruse on www.elegantetruria.com . (sorry there is no direct link) .
Mid October is a wonderful time for the city. Enjoy!

I went to Rome last year and stayed at the Residenza Cellini and would highly recommend. It's run by a very nice family. It wasn't terribly expensive and we had a jacuzzi tub in our bathroom.

We took two walking tours with Through Eternity and loved both of them.

OK, here's my 2 cents worth, although I have only been to Rome once. However, I fell in love with it. The city is amazing! The people are generally the friendliest you will find anywhere.

We stayed a little further from the historic center than I would prefer(about 8 blocks from the Villa Borghese). It was only 10-12 Euros by taxi to the Colosseum, which was not bad since there were 3-4 of us sharing the taxi. However, I would definitely stay closer next time - in fact the Albergo del Senato is on my list because of all the raves on this forum. It is not inexpensive, but you are paying for so much more than just the room!

Whether or not to use guides is entirely depending on your ability/desire to do lots of research. ParadiseLost (Walter) has written many wonderful walking tours and additional information about Rome's history and I found his posts greatly added to my enjoyment of Rome. However, if you do not have the time to do lots of research, I would definitely recommend a guide or two (especially for the Colosseum/Forum/Vatican). The information/background they can provide will make the city come alive for you and your entire experience will be more positive. Again, there are many recommendations for 2-4 hours tours on this forum.

As with any place we visit, there are negatives in Rome (grafitti being one of them). However, as long as you follow the advice of those with more experience (eg about pickpockets) and watch for on-coming traffic, you will have a wonderful time!

And be sure to take time to just wander the streets (Streetwise Rome is a great map, BTW) and sit in a cafe and people watch. Just the feel of Rome is intoxicating!

Enviously,
Linda

Sorry, I forgot to mention two more things that greatly added to my enjoyment of Rome:

1. I read some fiction (notably the Falco series of murder mysteries by Lindsey Davis) and non-fiction (eg "Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling" by I -forget-who). The Falco mysteries take place in 70-76 AD Rome and the plots are usually located in the Forum and its surrounding areas. Fun, light reading that makes the area live. The Michelangelo book prepared me for not only the beauty but the genius of the Sistine Chapel.

2. I read LOTS of trip reports on this forum. Absolute wonderful reading that really got me excited, as well as providing invaluable information and insight.

Have fun preparing for your trip!
Linda