I'm planninmg a trip to Rome with my teen age daughter (18)in march 2001 and have a few questions. How would the weather be that time of year and is a good time to go? Is it easy to navigate Rome using public transportation? How hard/easy is it to get into the major attractions? What is the best way/cost to get from the airport to hotels downtown? I need a few hotel recommendations that are centrally located to main attractions but low cost (clean and safe). <BR>I only have 8 days- start to fionish so I'm thinking of doing my own plan- would a tour be better???? <BR>Please respond to my e-mail if possible. Thanks!

Bill My daughter (17) and I were in Rome in March of 2000 and so I do have a few thoughts. The weather (March 25-April 10) was lovely warmish (sweater needed) sunny in the day and cooler (light jacket) at night. Toward the end it was actually hot and my daughter wore her T-shirt. We found it an excellent time to go as most tourist sites were not overcrowded, though Rome is always "full"so book well in advance. Rome is very navigable by public transport: follow the guidebooks advice and get all day tourist tickets and get yourself a plasticised map of Rome-invaluable and about $10 and available in most Rome bookstores catering to tourists. Yhe best way to get downtown from the airport is by train. This is especially good if you have pre-planned in two ways 1)don't bring suitcases but knapsacks-this will appeal to your daughter (feels more studenty which made me feel more youthful) and leaves your hands free and 2) pick a hotel near the main Termini train station. Ours was charming and not too expensive and within easy walking distance of the staion, even with a back-pack. Yes, I know the guidebooks tell you the more authentic hotels are away from the station, but they don't have to pay your AMEX bill for taxis and fancy hotels. We liked the Hotel Columbia (via del Viminale,15 Tel 39-6-4744289 or Fax 39-6-4740209 or e-mail [email protected].) I see our bill was about 600000 lira for two nights which is about $150 US per night and that was for 3 adults in a large, pretty room with a nice private bath. Very attractive breakfast room with delicious food.Speaking as a parent, we found the best thing was to let our daughter do her own homework on what was available to see and followed her schedule as much as possible. We saw most of the major sights anyway and avoided that "see the sight, drag kid" scene you so often see with teenagers. We also got some real insights as to what her tastes in art (Surrealists) and literature and life(Lonely Planet Guidebook was invaluable to her) and food (yep, still pizza!) You don't need a tour, you've got a daughter...

Hi Bill! <BR> <BR>Public transportation is not great in Rome but central Rome is not huge and you will want to walk everywhere. Walking is part of the fun. BUT... Stay in a hotel in central Rome near the Piazza Navona. <BR> <BR>The best way to get to the city without spending a fortune is via airport train. After leaving customs follow the signs to the airport terminal. Trains go to the Roma Termini wher you can then catch a taxi to a hotel. <BR> <BR>8 days in Rome is perfect to see the city and get use to the culture. With so much time I would consider a day trip to Pompeii or Ostica Antica. Both are easy to get to by train. You might even get daring and go to Florence for a day, its only 2 hrs by train! <BR> <BR>As I said aboue a hotel in central Rome would be your best bet. Look for a location near Piazza Navona, the Spanish Steps or Trevi Fountain. My personal recommendation is the Hotel Due Torri. Its a quaint old Italian hotel with a friendly staff and comfy rooms. <BR> <BR>Check out my websight for pics and details. It also has a lot more info on Rome such as restaurants and tips. The websight is not completely finished but the Rome path is ready. <BR> <BR>http://home.earthlink.net/~richardab/ <BR> <BR>Follow the path Enter&gt;Fly&gt;Europe&gt;Rome <BR> <BR>If you have anymore questions, please send me an Email!

don't know about the weather in rome at that time of year but i don't have experience with the public transport, airport, etc. i was just there in july. the subway system is not as extensive as other big cities in europe. i heard that was because every time they started digging underground to expand it they ran in to more ancient ruins and had to stop to excavate them---that makes alot of sense to me. however, it does go to alot of the tourist sites. for instance there is a station directly across the street from the colessum and the roman forum. we used it a fair amount and got taxi's when it was convenient to use the subway. i personally thought the taxi's were inexpensive. i even took one fromt the airport to my hotel and didn't think it was that bad. of course the subway is cheaper. also, i bought a 7 day subway pass. never used the bus system which some people use alot i believe. the BIG downside to public transportation is the pickpockets---don't take the warnings you read lightly. i was pickpocketed in the subway and i saw it happen to other people. <BR> <BR>we also did a day trip to florence and it was great. i would love to have more time in florence and will definately go back there. With 8 days i think you will definately want to go outside of the city a day or two. went to florence on the eurostar.

Just returned this week from 10 days in Italy - 3 in Rome. At the recommendation of people on this forum we stayed near the Spanish Steps at a small hotel called Hotel Carriage which we thought was a very convenient location and very clean and air conditioned! The staff was very friendly and helpful. I believe it was around $200 a night US. We were told that the subway and walking was the way to see Rome and did that on our first day. After getting off the subway stop to see the Vatican we still had to walk a really long way to get there. We decided that instead of spending so much time walking we would take taxis from then on and be dropped right at the site. You still have an incredible amount of walking to do once you get to each location - the Vatican Museum itself is at a minimum of two hours of walking. Anyway, from then on we took taxis and never spent more than $5 or $6 for each ride. We just felt we were able to see so much more of Rome in a much shorter period of time. We also were free to ask the taxi driver to stop along the way if we saw something we wanted to take a picture of. In our three days we spent about $40 or $50 in taxi fares including tips and it was worth every penny to us.

I've traveled to Rome twice in March and go at that time because it is less expensive and crowded than other times of the year. I would recommend spending the money to take the red tour bus through town on the first morning there. It's a good way to get a grasp on where everything is located. It also helps you check off the attractions that are of the drive-by variety anyway and the tour guides give good background on lots of sites. Hotelitalia.com has a lot of good inexpensive hotels listed. Have fun. <BR> <BR>Jay

couple of thoughts on Rome. We planned to use the subway, even bought an all day ticket in the lobby. After the third train went by, packed to the windows, we gave up and took a taxi. Can confirm what others have said, taxis are relatively cheap and dependable. When leaving your hotel, have the desk clerk call and have him/her tell the driver your destination. Same with a restaurant. Makes life easier if you don't speak Italian. The ride can be a hoot if you relax. A friend who was in the backseat said it was like being inside a video game! Also we took two different walking tours of Rome and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The major sites are relatively close to one another and we felt more 'connected' than if we were on a bus. Finally, would second the idea of going to Pompei via train. Great day trip and a fabulous site to visit.

Hi all, Thanks for the tips on taxis! We are going to Rome Sept. 14 for a week and need to maximize our time there! Taxis seem to be the way to get around. We are also going to take a limo from the airport to lesson the aggrevation of jet lag. Learned my lesson on that one; the extra money you spend on taxis or limos, is worth it!!And we are staying at the Hotel Portoghesi...great location and reasonable also! I will let you know,Bill, how it turns out...

Sorry, but I just have to disagree with all the taxi fans out there. We only took two tubes in our time there and walked the rest of the time. I just think you miss so much if you are riding all the time. We did hop on a bus one time and that was good too, but then you are still missing all the little discoveries along the way. I also went with a teen daughter, actually we were there to spend her 21st birthday in Rome, and she just loved walking everywhere and exploring everything we found along the way. Prepare yourself to spend a fortune on clothes for your daughter, haha, fortunately ours is a working girl so clothes shopping was at her own expense, thank goodness because she wanted everything she saw!!! Hope you have a great trip

I would take the train from the airport, get a taxi to the hotel (even after our cab driver took us to the wrong Albergo Sole the fare was only 13000 lire), then walk. The only time we used buses or subway was when we were covering a lot of ground (for example, to the Vatican; to Porto San Sebastiano; back from Trastevere late one evening) and after the first several days when we'd made the same treks several times already and were tired. Otherwise, walk--you will see so much and experience the city. (We did get on the right buses a couple of times but in the wrong direction and so got impromptu tours.) To answer Bill's question, I think we paid about $7 per person for the train from FCO to Termini. I highly recommend Hotel delle Regioni, as I've posted several times before, just off Via del Tritone on Via Zucchelli and down the hill from the Barberini tube stop. Phone 06.453675 or 06.4745858, fax 06.4883300.

Bill, <BR>We just returned from Italy, including 4 days in Rome. We loved it! We stayed at the Hotel Portoghesi (not inexpensive at $150/night) - but it's excellent - great location, very clean and up-to-date, highly recommend it. As for public transportation - we walked everywhere. Outside of taking the train into the city of Rome from the airport, then grabbing a taxi at the Main Termini to get to our hotel, we walked everywhere. We were only a few blocks from Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon and beautiful Piazza Navona and less than 30 minutes to every other main site. We picked up a city map of Rome before we left the U.S. that was invaluable. Read up on major sites in the city before you go - we didn't pre-book any formal tours and just set our itinerary each day. The rental audio guide at the Vatican museum was excellent - no need to deal with a group tour there. (There were many areas that we found interesting that group tours spent only moments in.) If interested in details about Roman history - book a tour(s) for Roman Forum and Colosseum. FYI, you can get away pretty inexepnsively for food - our hotel had breakfast as part of cost, lunches were usually $5-8 for both of us (pizza or sandwich to go) and you can get good dinners for two for anywhere between $20-40. Have a great trip - it should be an incredible experience!

My fiance and I are returning to Rome in October -- we are also returning to the Hotel Carriage, which is in a wonderful location near the Spanish Steps, is affordable, and serves a very nice breakfast as well. As I recall, there is a Metro stop about a block or two away from the hotel. I also highly recommend that you request one of the lovely upper rooms with roof terraces that look out over the city. <BR> <BR>As far as transportation, we have taken the bus, the Metro, and walked all over Rome (make sure you have comfortable shoes!) with no problem.

Bill, <BR>My husband and I took our daughter to Rome in March....great weather and the time to go. Stayed in wonderful little hotel with about 14 rooms one block of P. Navona and Campo di fiori and short walk to Vatican. Got name from Cheap Sleeps in Italy...Hotel Primavera. Ms. Sena runs it and it is a charmer. Large rooms, lovely marble floors on 5th floor(newly redone), big bathrooms, no phone in room and a bit Spartan, but very comfortable, clean, and lovely. We will go back. Location perfect. I did my own planning...get the book! Also Cheap Eats. <BR> <BR>MC

Bill, <BR>H.Primavera also great price at about 115 dollars for a triple room with morning coffee and rolls.

We went to Rome last summer and stayed at a convent within walking distance of the Vatican for about $25 a night per person. It is called Casa Beata Margherita Caini. The rooms were very simple, almost hospital like. However, they were exceptionally, and the private bathroom was excellent. Curfew of 10:30. Many people like to be more centered to the action of Rome. However, my teenage daughters loved the shopping in the area. Several blocks away was a great shopping area with moderate prices items, lots of shoe stores, and teenage or adult type daily clothing versus designer. There was a nearby food market, inexpensive cafes, nice sisters, peaceful and safe area. We thoroughly enjoyed the location. We were within two blocks of the subway.

I went to Rome last September and fell in love with it. I will be going again in a couple of weeks. Public transportation checkout the ATAC site: <BR>http://www.atac.roma.it/trasroma/indexuk.htm You can buy a weekly bus pass that is good for buses and subways. I stayed in convents most of the the last time Iwas in Italy . Frankly $100.00 to $150.00 per night does not sound very cheap to me. You will want to spend your money on food and admissions. I used as my guide to accommodations a book titled <BR> BED AND BLESSINGS by June and Anne Walsh. A sympathetic travel agent, <BR> made all the contacts and did all the faxing for me. There is another book <BR> THE GUIDE TO LODGING IN ITALY'S MONASTERIES by Eileen Barish that is also helpful. I am using it to plan my next trip in late September of this <BR>year. The convents worked out very well <BR>They are clean, quiet, plain and cheap but usually very well located. There is sometimes but not always a curfew. I am staying in the Dominican guesthouse, the Villa Rosa in the Aventino (L60000 to L80000) a night depending on the number of people.The Aventine is a lovely place. It is quiet, with nice parks, but is close to the historic center, very close to the Forum Romanum, the Cimitero Acattolico where Keats and Shelley are buried, near the subway and the Ostiense railway station and adjacent to the vibrant and upscale Testaccio district. <BR>Take the train from the airport--it is chaep quiet clean and convenient. in addition to all the regular stuff don't miss the Villa Borghese gallery (make reservations), the Museo Centrale Montemartini a Roman scupture museum located in a renovated electrical powerhouse, the Cimeterio Acattolico, the Scavi excavations under St. Peters. <BR>Walk walk walk --it is very safe everywhere.

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__ <BR>Bill: <BR> <BR>Check out 'Insider’s Guide to Rome' website at: http://www.nerone.cc/ <BR> <BR>Good info on the major attractions.