<BR>Hi,<BR><BR>A fellow grad student and I are traveling to Rome to spend a couple of weeks at the beginning of June. We are looking through guidebooks and so on, but are there any major tips anyone has for first time visitors to Rome? We are both more into the ancient history side of things, her more early Christianity and me more Republican Rome.<BR><BR>I am curious about what people have been saying about ATM machines and exchange rates. Does this mean I should take my little dinky TD debit card and withdraw Euros from machines there instead of taking out Euros here in Canada? I would have thought international withdrawal charges would be killer.<BR><BR>Also, what's the deal with electricity? I'd kind of like to bring a travel hair dryer... do I need a converter/adapter of any kind?<BR><BR>I am told that if I go to a little cafe or pizzeria that I should NOT sit down or I will pay twice as much. Is this true all the time... are we going to have to eat standing up for 2 weeks? Are there grocery stores or markets where you can buy a little bread, fruit and cheese to eat? We don't care much what we eat, although I'd like to try lots of different things, but we do have to save money!!!<BR><BR>Hope some people can help. Love these forums!<BR><BR>A.

There is a 500 word limit here, Alexa - - and you can find several thousand words of some of the best tips for Rome you can imagine at www.twenj.net - - regrettably, its creator, the late great Edward Gehrlein is no longer with us here on this forum (though many of his posts remain here - - search "twenj").<BR><BR>And you will be much better off to buy a hair dryer there, or if by chance you already own (or wish to buy) a dual voltage hair dryer (11/220), you can get along with just a plug adapter. Just don't be deceived to thinking that those little travel "transformers" will protect your 110-only hair dryer - - nor the electrical circuits wherever you're staying. Burn-out - - or worse is virtually guaranteed.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

up. for Alexa.<BR>

Yes you can buy food at groceries and bakeries and markets ans that's a greaat way to eat to save money and even just for fun if youre not esepcially trying to save money.

I'll take a stab at one of your questions.<BR><BR>If you stand at the counter of a bar or caf&eacute; and order a coffee, expect to pay about 1 EURO. If you sit down and order a coffe, expect to pay 2 or 3 times more.<BR><BR>You will sit down to eat at a pizzeria, trattoria or ristorante. Only at a bar will you have the option of standing, but the food options at bars are mostly limited to sandwiches (panini).<BR><BR>

I apologize for my word length in my initial posting! You'd think after 9 years on the net I'd know my netiquette better. I suppose I am just excited - my first time to Europe, and my companion's first time on an airplane... Thank you for the kind responses, however. I look forward to any more.<BR><BR>A.

alexa - no worries on limit - you would not be able to post if you went over.<BR><BR>your post was fine.

I don't think Rex was criticizing YOUR post, Alexa, but just saying that to answer your questions HE would go way over the 500 word limit. As the previous poster said, it is just the system, it won't accept more than 500 words per post.<BR><BR>Ask your bank about ATM charges in Europe - there are certainly some which have no or very low charges, and the exchange rate is generally at least as good as you would get in Canada. I certainly wouldn't carry large amounts of cash around.

My daughter found out the hard way on her trip to Spain that her ATM only works in a foreign country if it's linked to a checking acct. NOT a savings acct. Go figure.<BR>About a hair dryer - on our Italian trip last year, every hotel room we stayed in had a hair dryer. <BR>

Hi Alexa<BR>I have a long file on Rome, with I think some useful information, and a list of websites (though twenj.net is the best!)<BR>If you'd like to see the file, email me.

topping, with no word limits required for this post.<BR>

I'm into the ancient history side of Rome. Take a look at my trip report for some places not to miss that others might not point out:<BR><BR>http://www.ramtops.demon.co.uk/4rome.html<BR><BR>Doug

My husband and I were just in Rome in April. It was our first time in Rome (actually our first time in Italy) and we LOVED Rome. We used the guidebook Access Rome which we loved. We also used Rick Steves book Italy 2002. Both are very handy to have. Enjoy Rome, if you're like us, you'll love it!<BR><BR>Terry