We are set for a 13 day med Roman adventure March 13-27--my in-laws big treat--
w/o all the gory details--I have few questions

1) all 11 will need to stay one night in Genoa March 14 before boarding a MSC Fantasia Med cruise for a week--any thoughts?

2) All 11 will need to train from Genoa to Rome on Sunday afternoon March 22--that is hard to figure online--should I buy March 14 (we arrive in Genoa noon and boat leaves next day at 9 am) or now?

3) all 11 will need to stay in Rome 4 nites after we arrive March 22--an apt? any help on areas? --only my 76 and 75 year old in-laws have been to Rome which was 20 years ago !

Thanks

also any Rome guide book recs be great--i need to pick one up--I tend to be the cruise director
ha

I can't answer many of your questions, but here's a start:

This last trip I used the Michelin guide to Rome and really liked it. In the past I've used the Eyewitness Guide and Fodor's and some others. I got kinda hooked on the Michelins after a trip to France and now I am used to their layout--and they're lightweight and fit easily into a purse.

11 people in one apartment? Or 11 people in neighboring apartments? What's the budget for this? I like to stay in central Rome or Trastevere, but for four nights including folks in their 70s, I might delete Trastevere and just focus on the Ghetto/Campo dei Fiori/Piazza Navona/Pantheon areas.

By the way, from advice on this board we booked our airport transfers through Rome Cabs and they were fantastic. I recommend them highly and know they also do pickups from the port.

With 11 people for one night, then four nights, I'd stick with booking hotel rooms not apartments. much easier to arrange and know what to expect. Also you then have the assistance of the front desk staff making further local arrangements.

For Rome, in Nov 2007 5 of us (4 adults and my not quite 2-year old) stayed in the green apartment at Residenza Giubbonari (http://www.residenzagiubbonari.com/home.html) and were very happy. Their building has 4 apartments, all of which sleep 6 (2 double bedrooms + either a single bedroom or a sleeper sofa in the living room). They are located 5 minutes (maybe less) from Campo de' Fiori by foot. They are managed on site, so there is someone there who could help with additional needs.

Good luck,
Paul

1) Sounds like great in-laws - keep up the good work!

There are plenty of excellent hotels in Genoa. One night apartment in Genoa I would think is impossible. Museum is worth a visit. It's a gem. Christoffa Corombo is worth checking out while there. Of course Isabella and Ferdinand made him famous and us Americans know him as Christopher Columbus.

2) I think you can purchase train tix March 22 before boarding. Easter is April 12 2009 - St. Joseph's Day will not fill trains ;-)

Be sure to validate all 11 tickets before boarding train!

3) Apartment in Rome is most economical. I agree with Suze you'd have to search hard to find an apartment for 4 nights. Check Largo Argentina area - Piazza Navona, Campo de' Fiori, Pantheon. Or Via Giulia/Piazza Farnese area.


Sounds like fun – Buon Viaggio!