Hello, everyone. My best friend and I will be going to Italy in May. If anyone would be so generous, we'd like some practical advice on a couple of free days we have in Rome before we have to meet up with a tour group. Friend's Russian mama is convinced that we'll be brutally murdered or something as soon as we step off the plane (hence the tour), so my concerns are basically with assuaging her worries about safety and transportation for the time before we meet up with them.

So...I've read about the Termini express from Fiumicino. Is it easy to find at the airport? I read somewhere that you just go upstairs when you arrive and then it's easy?

And is the Termini Station area dangerous? We were thinking of getting a hostel/hotel within walking distance of Termini. Russian Mama keeps telling us new tales about horrible things that happen to tourists around that area, although I hadn't heard anything particularly terrible about it, so now I feel compelled to ask.

If we decided not to stay near Termini, is the bus system foolproof? Where would we go to find/buy a bus schedule/fare ticket/map of Rome? Would a bus be easier to use to get around, or the metro?

Also, would it be safe to take a digital camera? If I were going anywhere in Italy but Rome (well, okay, that or Naples) I probably wouldn't have issues with doing it, but Rome is so very famous for its kleptos, I'm not sure exactly what kind of a risk I'd be taking.

If this makes a difference in how difficult it's going to be to get around, I'm an American, and I once spoke fairly decent Italian, although I haven't used it in so long, I'm fretting to myself that it might have gone away (although I have no problems reading the language). My friend's originally from Russia, speaks no Italian at all (so I guess I should avoid losing her... ), but has Spanish and some German in addition to English and her native tongue.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I did my best to search the forums and read through things before I posted, and there was so much great stuff to pore over about every country imaginable, I couldn't stop. I love these forums!

Thanks for reading, and if anyone replies, thanks in advance!

First of all, quit listening to the mama. If you are afraid all the time you will have no fun at all. Since you have decided to go, be firm with mama and don't listen to her tales.

Termini express is at the airport, you can find it easily.
Termini station area can be a bit seedy and not very pleasant after dark, if you are jumpy I would suggest staying further into the historic section, that way you won't need a bus.

Plenty of other people take digital cameras every day of every year and nothing bad happens.

Are you two very young and from a small town? If I listened to naysayers in my family I would have never gone anywhere exciting. I hope your tour group turns out fine too. Relax and do your homework and you will be fine.

Hi

My wife and I went to Rome last year. We stayed near Termini and we didn't have any problem. We don't speak Italian but we were able to get around by using the bus and metro. And the Rome city core is not that big so we also walked a lot around. I have posted a trip report with pictures and links on my homepage http://gardkarlsen.com/rome_italy.htm Maybe you can find some useful information there.

regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

Hi Th,

A Russian worried about crime in Rome?

When you exit Customs at FCO, follow the signs to the train station.

You want the Leonardo da Vinci Express to Roma Termini. It leaves FCO on the :05 and the :35, and takes 30 min.

You will find a map of Rome TE at http://www.romatermini.it/indexf.cfm

Do bring your camera.

Have a nice visit.

I'll just one bit of advice to the excellent advice you've already been given: Get over the paranoia, relax and start looking forward to the exciting and memorable experience you're likely to have!

Thanks to all! To those who asked, no, we're not from small towns - she's from Moscow (<---- I think THAT is why her mom is so ridiculously paranoid about crime and so on ) and we both live in Pittsburgh (I know, yum).

I'm a DIY sort of person who didn't have any issues about going to Italy on my own, getting a railpass and just taking everything in, but then somehow my friend decided she was coming, and you know, that's when things get complicated. She and family think I'm a naive American who "doesn't understand how dangerous things in Europe are" and I think that's ridiculous, so I am planning to show this to my friend to get her to chill.

I've stayed in the Termini area a number of times and never had a worry.

Bus maps-- I've been able only one time to find a bus map when I was in Rome. I download the maps from the ATAC website
http://www.atac.roma.it/

then click on "Percorsi e mappe"

Then download the pdf. "Roma centro"

Print it out on a color printer and take it with you. It shows the bus routes and where they start and end..(white boxes)

A lot of routes start in front of Termini.

You can buy a single or multi-day pass for the busses, trams and the Metro at Tabacchi stand. Tickets are not sold on the busses. Validate your ticket the first time you get on the bus. Here's a link about the Metrebus tickets
http://www.romaturismo.com/v2/romati...biglietti.html

This site has a lot of info you will want to look at.
http://www.romaturismo.com


Have a good time. Be careful, but not paranoid, about pickpockets... I didn't get picked until my eighth trip to Italy...there isn't much concern for personal injury...mostly property crimes of opportunity. the Metro and bus 64 are places of particular concern.

Agree with the above comments; don't let mama's well-intentioned but paranoid comments restrict you.

Try this B&B near the Forum:
www.nicolasinn.com

It is getting really popular, so may be booked, but the American owner Melissa and her Italian/French/Lebanese husband Francois are super-helpful.

We took the bus, cabs, or walked everywhere in Rome. If you are concerned about just getting to your hotel the easiest way upon arrival, splurge on a cab (or hey, ask mama to treat you!) My two girlfriends and I (and I am sure we are much older than you) walked all the way down Via Cavour from the Termini to the Nicolas Inn (mostly because we were sick of sitting after a long train ride) and except for the hassle of pulling wheeled suitcases down bumpy sidewalks, found nothing to worry about.

Just keep your money safe and your wits about you, like you would in Moscow or Pittsburgh anyway, and you should be fine.

We just got back from Rome - you will love it. We stayed at two hotels right near the Termini. Yes, the area is a little seedier than others, but it is so centrally located that it is a great base for sightseeing. The Metro is a terrific way to get around - pretty foolproof. Just be careful of pickpockets as you have been told. Our friend had her purse held to her chest and due to the VERY crowded train, a pickpocket was able to slit it and pull out her wallet without her even knowing it. I would leave most of my money in the safe in the room and use zippered pockets or under clothing pouches for whatever you feel you need to take. As for digital cameras, I carried mine with me EVERYWHERE we went and never had a problem.

If you are looking for some place fairly inexpensive, we stayed at the Hotel Scott House about 2 blocks from the station. It was about $90US for the two of us and the room was very large and comfortable. I believe breakfast was included in that, but we didn't have it since we had to catch an early plane. The other nights we were in Rome we stayed in a place that was a bit more expensive, but very nice - the Hotel Morgana. I think it was about $105euro - not sure what that would work out to in US. The breakfast was fabulous and the rooms were small but comfortable. The staff at both places were very helpful. Neither of us spoke Italian and we had no problems getting around.

Lots of great information on buying and using bus and trams in Rome here:

http://slowtrav.com/italy/

Also, information on using payphones, ordering food, etc.

Read and enjoy, and you won't feel out of place at all in wonderful Rome!

i stayed near termini.it is not as picturesque as the vatican area but i wouldnt classify it as seedy,at least not before 11PM.it is well connected by metro/bus too.

>a naive American who "doesn't >understand how dangerous things in >Europe are"

did she watch the 2006 movie Hostel by any chance?