Side trips from Rome
Sep 11th, 2005, 06:29 PM
#1
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Side trips from Rome
We are already trying to plan for spring break with our children next March. DH wants to use Marriot rewards in Rome( He has been watching the History channel special "Rome" last week)
Any great ideas for side trips?No overnights
Any comments on the 2 Marriotts in Rome?
Also, how far by train is Florence? ( I did this trip 21 years ago and don't remember~)
Thank you.
Sep 11th, 2005, 08:25 PM
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There is only one Marriott IN Rome, the Marriott Grand Flora. This is a lovely hotel, in a nice location on the Via Veneto. Be sure to go up onto the roof to get a really excellent view of Rome and the seven hills. The hotel is near the Borghese Gardens which is nice as well. The other two Marriott hotels are a good bit outside Rome, nearer to the airport. One is the Courtyard, which is very nice and new, and about 10 minutes from the airport, but IMO not appropriate for going into Rome every day for sightseeing, as it would take you about 45 minutes to an hour each way without traffic (although I think the hotel ha a free shuttle bus into Rome, a nice option). The hotel does have an outdoor pool, which is rare in Rome (but in March not such a plus), and is walk able to the town of Fuimicino, which has some good seafood restaurants. The other Marriot is the Rome Marriott Park, which is a convention hotel on Aurelia, about 30 minutes from the main tourist areas, again not ideal for touring. I don't think this hotel is even open yet.
There is a TON of stuff to do and see in Rome itself, so you may not want to get outside much, esp. if you are only in Rome for 5 days or less, and if you are going to Florence you can spend time in that beautiful countryside there (consider a biking or walking trip in the Florence area). A half day to the catacombs is a good idea, you can see a bit of the countryside and the catacombs are very interesting (and only a little ghoulish, IMO). You can do a walking biking tour of the countryside around the catacombs, take a look at www.enjoyrome.com Enjoy Rome also does a 3.5 hour bicycle tour of Rome which I think would be great for young people. They might be able to organize a bike tour of the countryside around the catacombs or other areas of Rome. A good day trip for you would be Ostia Antica. Much easier for a day trip than Pompeii and much more walkable with kids. It's about an hour by train from Rome, shorter by taxi. It is near the Courtyard Marriott (hmm, maybe that hotel should be reconsidered. . .) . Rick Steve's has a good self-guided tour to Ostia, go to http://www.ricksteves.com/news/0202/ostia.htm.
Florence is about 2 hours by train, IMO, Florence deserves much more than a day trip, esp to see the countryside.
There is a TON of stuff to do and see in Rome itself, so you may not want to get outside much, esp. if you are only in Rome for 5 days or less, and if you are going to Florence you can spend time in that beautiful countryside there (consider a biking or walking trip in the Florence area). A half day to the catacombs is a good idea, you can see a bit of the countryside and the catacombs are very interesting (and only a little ghoulish, IMO). You can do a walking biking tour of the countryside around the catacombs, take a look at www.enjoyrome.com Enjoy Rome also does a 3.5 hour bicycle tour of Rome which I think would be great for young people. They might be able to organize a bike tour of the countryside around the catacombs or other areas of Rome. A good day trip for you would be Ostia Antica. Much easier for a day trip than Pompeii and much more walkable with kids. It's about an hour by train from Rome, shorter by taxi. It is near the Courtyard Marriott (hmm, maybe that hotel should be reconsidered. . .) . Rick Steve's has a good self-guided tour to Ostia, go to http://www.ricksteves.com/news/0202/ostia.htm.
Florence is about 2 hours by train, IMO, Florence deserves much more than a day trip, esp to see the countryside.
Sep 13th, 2005, 05:52 AM
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Thank you for your reply! The Grand Flora is the one we were considering. glad to hear how nice it is.
I agree there is so much to keep us busy in Rome. I would like my family to experience Florence as well. I enjoyed it so many years ago!!
Any other ideas out there?
I agree there is so much to keep us busy in Rome. I would like my family to experience Florence as well. I enjoyed it so many years ago!!
Any other ideas out there?
Sep 13th, 2005, 06:34 AM
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Only to second what Cicerone said. By "spring break" I assume you will only be in Rome one week - hardly much time to even hit the Rome highlights. The day trips mentioned are good ones.
I don't think a day trip to Florence is a good idea - 2-3 days at the very minimum is required (assuming you can extend the length of your stay).
I don't think a day trip to Florence is a good idea - 2-3 days at the very minimum is required (assuming you can extend the length of your stay).
Sep 13th, 2005, 06:36 AM
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