I booked this trip last minute on priceline, Dec 14-23
I got a direct flight from Atlanta and 7 nights at Hotel Rex for 2 people.
The flight from Atlanta was like a Nazi Cattle car and the return wasn't better.
Taking the train to Rome Termini was easy and 9.50 EURO.
Hotel Rex was a good choice, the staff was
nice and the room was large, the bathroom was all marble and the free breakfast was elegant with many choices.
I picked the termini area because I planned to use the train for 2 day trips. We checked in and walked around Rome,
we found it to be maybe 3 miles each way
to the main sites. We went to the Pantheon, Piazza Novana, and Santa Maria Minerva.
The next day we went to the Coliseum, Forum and Palatine Hill.
I was able to find the game boards in the steps of the temple of the Vestal Virgins.
The next day we went to St.Peter's, Vatican and Santa Maria Maggiore. Saturday we took our day trip to Florence
it was spectacular we loved it. I was able to get the 14.28 eu fare each way. There was a 9 eu fare from the next stop up but
it was sold out. Sunday we went to the Porta Portguese flea market where we encountered Gypsy pickpockets at the main entrance.
We were ready for them and wore money belts but tourist were targets about 8-10 surround you screaming from all sides
and one women even through her baby at my husband. I consider that more of a mass mugging than a pickpocket event.
I thought the bead merchants had some good deals on cheap strands of potatoe pearls and coral beads they were about 4 eu each.
Silk ties were 1 eu and fake purses were every where and could be had for 12-20 eu. We then went to the Spanish steps which
were so crowded it was hard to walk. Monday we went to Pompeii, the weather was so bad that I backed off my plan
to take the train myself and took a tour. It would have been nice to have more time in Pompeii the weather was freezing and as
a result we were the only tour group there. It was eerie to be in the city almost alone with the wild dogs.
Tuesday we went back to the Forum and the Pantheon.
We enjoyed the neighborhood around our Hotel we liked the Bar/Bakery/Cafe Atoca on Via Torino 133
they had sandwiches for 1.20 eu and large saucer like cookies of all kinds for 1eu. There was also a grocery
store on the corner you went downstairs to a basement but the store was new and large. There was a Gelatoria
on Via Napoli 9 that sold huge gelato for 2 eu. The opera was very close to Hotel Rex and there were police
directing people and traffic there every night. It felt safe to us. We had a great time and would love to go back.
Thanks
LKW

Thanks for posting, LKW.

Would you mind telling us the Priceline cost? Did you fly Delta?

The total price was 2200 dollars.
The flight was Delta.

Thanks for your interesting and informative trip report, LKW. Glad you enjoyed your last minute bargain. You certainly packed it in - I have been to Rome 5 times & Italy altogether 12 times, I think, & have not yet attempted to get to Pompeii !

I smiled at your "I consider that more of a mass mugging than a pickpocket event.", although it must have been unpleasant at the time.

All the best.

Thanks for reporting, I am figuring out a trip that includes Rome so it helps alot.

What did your husband do when the Gypsy threw her baby at him? I have heard about this and I think it would be hard to let a baby drop. People say they are fake babies but how can one be sure?

He caught the baby it was real,heavy and dirty.The baby didn't even cry? He had nothing in his pants pockets but a map. He had a few Euros in his top shirt pocket with a safety pin. We both wore money belts. This happened so fast in just a few minutes. We ran through the crowd to get away from them.

Unfortunately, these so-called "people" who use this technique often drug the baby.

Thank you for the trip report. The total price you mentioned is for two people, or do you mean total per person?

--Marv

How sickening! I mean the Gypsies not the trip report, how could they be allowed to do this to their babies. That is a nice way to cripple a child and ruin a person's vacation all in one minute. I would probably flip out if I let their baby drop to the ground.

The 2200 was for 2 people the flights and hotel. This was my second trip with priceline I have had no problems.

I apologize for hijacking your report.

Peeky,
Maybe we could have avoided this by not entering the flea-market through the main entrance. We didn't know. That seemed to be their main spot. We were
shocked by what they did.

Thanks for sharing.

Just goes to show what happens when "family values" overrules everything else but glad you enjoyed yourselves otherwise.

Hi LKW: "I was able to find the game boards in the steps of the temple of the Vestal Virgins".
I think you mean the Basilica Julia, that is where the vast majority of the game boards are.
Any steps on the 'Temple of Vesta' would have been within their sacred area and not a good place for these male Forum gameplaying idlers to be hanging around, it was a Capitol offense .
I once thought the Gypsy baby drugging was a legend. But I have passed these women quite a few times with a sleeping child at their feet or in their arms (very lifeless you'll notice) early in the morning (rush hour). And then have passed them hours later and the child at their feet *hasn't moved* or the baby is still lifeless in the mother's arms!
Regards, Walter

Thank You Walter I did mean Basilica Julia. I used your report to tour the forum and it was better than the guides
I could over hear.

LKW - I assume that the train from Rome to Florence for 14.28 eu was not the direct Eurostar train, which I understand is about 30 eu. What time did you leave and how long did it take? We want to take a day trip to Florence when we go in May, but I would like to pay less than 30 eu per person each way.

Richard,
It was not the direct train it took about 3 hours each way. It stopped
about 4 times for a few minutes. At
Termini they called this the local train. I thought it was worth it. We
made it back to Rome at 10:30 p.m.
LKW

I didn't have any such incidents, but I did worry about the sleepy, dull-looking babies, and in one instance toddler. I have no idea what can be done about it.