Where to Go..>>Rome or Paris
 

My husband and I are researching where to go for a holiday in November. We were in Paris in October last yr, but were there during the transportation strike so we didnt get to see everything we wanted to. He leans towards Paris because he knows the ways around and its familiar to him.

As far as Rome goes, hes worried because he's heard its really dirty there and that the food is terribly expensive. He likes the sites but doesnt know. I want to go to Rome. Convincing him is the problem. Does anyone out there have suggestions as far as whether to decide to go to Rome or Paris? As far as hotels go, we have had really good luck w/ Priceline and are budgeting $120 USD a night for four star. We were able to get a four star in Paris last year for $110 plus tax. So that really isnt too terrible of a problem. Just concerned with how expensive Rome is versus Paris and which one we should go to for a week in November.

Thank you Everyone, Ive had such good help before on this site!
-Shaina :)

I don't use Priceline, but I don't think Italian meals are as expensive as Parisian meals, although you can find quite a range in either city. Rome is a bustling modern city, lots of traffic, however I didn't think it was 'dirty', just 'urban'. It doesn't have as 'elegant' a look in architecture as does Paris but the look and feel of old Rome is every bit as intriguing, in a different way.

I'd also check on weather averages for November for both places - does either typically see more rain? comparable sunup/sundown times? etc.

Hi Travelnut...well I checked in on Rome for November, it does say its a raining month. We are looking at the end of November, thanksgiving weekend. As far as Paris weather, its pretty much the same...some days could be warmer and no rain, and some could be rainy. We dont mind the rain really. And we love it to be cold!!!

I'd go back to Paris, but, if you have 10 days or so, I would go to Rome AND Paris as flights between the two cities are cheap!!!

bozama, why would you got back to paris?

We are going to do both like bozama suggested over New Years. We were in Paris over Thanksgiving last year...it was quite chilly and rainy and the metro/buses were on strike until the next to the last day we were there. We had a tour guide and saw everything on our agenda except the inside of Versailles. The civil servants decided to sympathy strike with the transportation strikers. But, we still had a wonderful trip. I think the weather made our photos even more beautiful.

I'll be following this thread regarding costs as well. I really didn't think the food was outrageously expensive in Paris, but we dined in more modest restaurants.

Hi nolefan1

Well Ive thought about that, but honestly last year when we were there we kept hopping flights and I just want to be in one location for one week. We only have six days of actual sight seeing! So this is where Im torn. Do we pay the money to see somewhere new, or do I go somewhere Ive been and enjoy a week of it. No I agree our meals werent expensive at all in Paris. They were what we figured they'd be at.

I would go to Rome. I love seeing the ancient monuments, the treasures of the Vatican, the markets and the sculptures that you come across in churches and piazzas. The food and wine is also very good. If you stay centrally, you can walk to mist sights and not worry about transport strikes.

I understand. We will only have 8 days to sightsee. At first we were just going to go to Rome but I just can't resist going back to Paris since it is so close. My husband hasn't been back since the mid 60's when he was a young teen.

sdhall, I went to Rome for the first week of November last year and had nice and mild/balmy and only sprinkles of rain once. I LOVED it and didn't find it dirty at all. Don't confuse "old" with dirty...it is an ancient city!

I have been to Paris 4x before (5th next week!) and can't say one is any more expensive than the other. You can always find some place cheaper to eat or sleep anywhere if you look hard enough.

My vote would be for Rome, but that's because I miss it terribly and would go back in a heartbeat.

Been to Paris 5 times, Rome once.

Enough said!!

I personally love Paris, but have also grown fond of Rome. If neither of you have been to Rome, why not give it a try?

I have never found it to be more expensice than Paris...there are ways to make things more affordable in each city...for starters rent an apartment and buy food at lovely markets and make some meals

Good luck...you will enjoy regardless I am sure!

s,

I also vote for somewhere new! I love, love, love Rome. I liked Paris and would return, but I don't know when.

I would check your hotel prices vs. your planned budget. If you are American, the exchange rate has changed drastically. Luckily, November is low season and Rome will be about as uncrowded as it gets.

Buon viaggio!

My wife said that she'd never love a place as much as she loved Paris. But then we went to Rome and she fell in love with it even more. Seeing the Pantheon alone is worth the trip.
Rome is not dirty. In my experience it was basically just like Paris or London. It's an urban capital city, so you expect a little graffiti and litter. But it's no different than Paris IMO.

I love Paris...but I say go to Rome...and see the Bernini sculptures at the Borghese.

love Paris ( more than 20 visits) . Rome is a very different
city with wonderful churches, museums and , of course, all that history .
Rome is not hard to get around , the weather may be better than Paris( in Nov).
Since you have seen Paris, I would opt for Rome this time.
The prices are not that different.

Hi S,

I'll be going on my umpteenth visit to Paris next month.

Still haven't gotten up the desire to visit Rome, although I have been to Venice about 8-10 times, and to other places in Italy.

((I))

Ira!!!

I can't believe you haven't been to Rome yet! On my first trip, I didn't really plan any time in Rome because I had "heard" that it was a dirty, polluted, crowded, big city.

We had only 1.5 days there and I LOVED it! I had 5 days there last trip and decided I would like to live there for at least a couple years.....

So totally different from Paris. Hurry up and get yourself to Roma! I think you will be very surprised.

Wow, great advice everyone. Im totally leaning towards Rome, just for the fact I havent gone, and Im not sure how much the dollar is going to sink, better now than never! I do love Paris though, its a very captivating city. Ill be sure to print everyone's suggestions out.

Has anyone gone to the underground beneath St. Peters in Rome? Suggestions?

Also, any suggestions on places to eat in Rome? I had a patient last year who recommended a fabulous place in Paris and now Im hooked on everyones recommendations...

I think I kind of dropped the ball a little on finding great places to eat. I was so caught up in the sights that I didn't plan much on dinner.
I had a very nice meal at Armando Al Pantheon. I'd recommend that. Great location too.

If money is not an object then La Pergola is an obvious choice. And I've been told that Del Pallaro is really terriffic and good value.
Da Baffetto makes great Pizza.

I didn't get to do the underground St Peter's Scavi tour. :(
Next time I guess...

I love Paris, but having just gotten back from our 2nd trip to Rome, I would vote for Rome. My heart is still with Paris, but on our 2nd trip to Rome I really developed a feel for the city.

Last May we flew to Rome on a cheap fare with Eurofly. I also did not want to miss out on Paris as we have visited every year for the past 10. We were in Rome for 4 nights and then flew to Paris for 3 on Easyjet and then had to fly back for 1 night in Rome for our rt on Eurofly. It was too much back and forth in too short a time and I ended up feeling dissatisfied with both city visits.

This past March we once again got a good fare on Eurofly and flew to Rome and stayed put for 6 nights. We relaxed more and walked and explored more and just got a feel for the city. I came away really enjoying Rome and our vacation. Having said all this, I would recommend trying Rome and then maybe next year going back to Paris.

We also find that renting an apartment really adds to the whole experience for us. You might want to consider this.

I have to say I was totally totally smitten with Paris...until I went to Rome. I'm anxious to see how I feel about Paris when I'm there next week. I'll report back. ;-)

Hi sdhall2,, I just love Paris. I have only been to Rome once( Paris many times) , and that was many many years ago. I am returning to Rome this July though, so perhaps my attitude will change. I liked Rome, but I did not love Rome. Sometimes you need a second visit to really love a place so thats why I think you should go back to Paris,,there is almost no chance you will hit a strike again!


PS Paris has about 250 different museums, so of course , for someone like me this is a big attraction,, plus,, oh horrors,,

I didn't love the Italian food. Pasta is just not a fave, and I didn't like the pizza, and worst of all, I do not like Italian bread, and they do not do the cheese course( I LOVE cheese) so for ME I prefer to dine in Paris.

Another vote for Rome. I love both cities, but for different reasons. If I had to choose between the two I would probably pick Rome. I suggest Rome for you because you have been to Paris already, and you have a better chance of good weather in November in Rome.

One of the biggest problems people seem to have with Rome is that they plan their first visit for 2-3 days and then scramble to see everything they want to see in an impossibly short time frame. They barely have time to hit the big sites and cram in non-stop, exhausting days. With 6 days you will be able to take your time and get off the beaten track a bit.

I also think it's easier to find inexpensive meals in Rome than in Paris. Sure you can find cheap street food in both cities, but I just think your options are greater in Rome. There are several Rome restaurant threads on this board - do a search and check them out.

If you can find hotels in the $120 ballpark on Priceline, then go for it, because you could easily pay double that for a well-situated three-star in either Rome or Paris. Do watch your location though - Rome is the kind of place where you really want to be in the thick of the historic center, not way out on the outskirts. The Pantheon / Piazza Navonna area is always a safe bet for a first-time visit. You'll be within walking distance of all the major sights. Your hotel should be able to provide you with a good street map, and then you can just go a-wandering!

I meant to add that I found Paris dirtier than Rome on my last visit. Rome is not any more dirty than any other major urban center. Rome's architecture and atmosphere is completely different from Paris, and that's what makes it so fascinating. There's nothing quite like walking through thousands of years of history.

For November, I agree Rome is best.

As for a hotel, the $110 bid you got with Priceline for Paris last year was good, but it probably wouldn't happen so easily this year. With Rome, you can also bid on Priceline, but the deals are not so great, typically, nor so frequently available. If you must have a 4* hotel at $120 USD, and are willing to stay on the outskirts to get it, then Paris is the best bet in that respect. There may be relatively cheaper hotels in Rome in the Vatican and West zones that are available on Priceline bids, but these will not be conveniently situated.

We made our first trip to Rome last summer. We were there four 5 days and barely scratched the surface.

So next summer we plan on spending a week. We've checked the biggies of the list so this time we want to wander and enjoy the food more.

Read threads for great restaurants and search on scavi to get everyone's reviews on the tour under St Peters. I went and it was wonderful.

Definitely stay near Pantheon/Piazza Navona and rent an apartment to save some money.

St Peter's, Ponte Sisto, The Pantheon and Gelato....sigh

That being said, when we do go next summer we hope to travel for three weeks in total and will spend 4/5 days in Paris to start things off.

Well, I love Paris and just can't seem to get enough of it. I think I may just have to move there.

I'm glad I went to Rome. It's not dirty. It's fascinating and bustling and filled with ancient history. But, I did not fall in love with Rome. It was sunny and hot there and cold and rainy every time I go to Paris but still, I like it better.

I am another non-pasta lover. Perhaps this is why I prefer Paris - the food and cafe culture appeals to me more. I never met a bad pasty in Paris.

I actually find Paris less expensive than Venice or Rome. Even the pricing of the museums seems more reasonable in Paris. Plus, under 18 is free, free, free to everything! This makes me love Paris even more. Everywhere I turned in Italy, someone wanted admission fees to see something. A few weeks back, I was at the Cluny with my daughter. Well, I knew she'd be free, but I was so pleased to find out I was too! Some sort of "experiment" as the ticket collector explained. Plus, in Paris the museums all have great audio etc. Not always true in Rome...

This may be just me, but I also find Parisians more helpful and less looking to "take" the tourists.

Okay, still, I think you should branch out and see Rome from top to bottom. Check it off your list. And then head to Paris again and again and again!

gruezi

hee, hee I meant pastry not pasty...

Hi sdhall,

even though I live in europe, it took me 50 years to get to Rome; I kick myself virtually every time I think about it.

I really like Paris, but Rome is something else. go, go, go.

regards, ann

I went to Rome five years ago expecting NOT to like it. I expected dirt, disorganization, disaster.

I cried the day we left.

We go to Paris frequently. The travel time is convenient, three out of four members of the family speak the language, and what the heck, we just feel at home there. We always find something new to do, and we fall in love with the city more. But as much as I feel at home when we arrive, I never cry when I leave.

Two springs ago, we only had one night of a return visit to Rome. It was the worst day possible, Saturday before Easter. Crowds were terrible and heat was awful. Disappointed? Heck, no. I left our hotel windows open, even though the night wasn't warm, so that I could hear every bit of sound on the square outside the Pantheon.

I cried when we left.

Go to Rome.

Go to ROME!!
I spent about 5 Euros for water in Paris. and 2.50 Euros for the same water in Rome!

Up until our latest trip to Rome last year I would have said Paris but after a wonderful one-week stay in Rome I'd say try Rome since you've never been there. It is not really dirty and the food is not terribly expensive.

I would not try to visit both in one week. I think both PAris and Rome are much more enjoyable if you have plenty of time to explore/wander/relax--a week in either is an ideal amount of time.

For water, you can always buy it at the grocery store cheaply in either Paris or Rome. No need to spend 2.50 Euros per bottle.

Rome! I have spent full weeks in both cities and love each. But I just spent 8 days in Rome and had a fantastic time. I don't think Rome is any more dirty or the food any more expensive than Paris. It all depends on where you go.

You asked about the Scavi tour (underneath St Peter's) and about restaurant recommendations. Have you seen my current trip report?
Click on my name and look at the post called "Four Friends, Eight Days in Rome during Easter week". There, you will find my report (which includes the Scavi tour and LOTS of eating!) along with links to my website which has the report with pictures. Maybe this will help convince your hubby to go.
Also, if you are going to spend the whole time there, I highly recommend an apartment over a hotel. Much more bang for the buck!

Rome is my favorite big city. It actually doesn’t feel like a city with 3 million people, because there are no skyscrapers (old Roman rules forbid the construction of a building taller than the nearest church).

There are probably as many people who are passionate about Rome as there are about Paris. Maybe it depends on which city you visit first.

Here is an abbreviated quote from the introduction to The Smiles of Rome (Susan Cahill, ed.):

Rome has the power to blow your mind and heart, delivering man, woman, and child from small mindedness, bestowing a much larger capacity for the beauty of the world than you started out with....it's the accumulation of pasts in Rome and one's consciousness of those layers - in the city and in one's self - that can make Rome a life-changing experience. Once Rome enters your consciousness, your perspective on human time may change, deepen, mellow....the whole city seems to pulsate with hidden presences, a register of the human psyche and of 28 centuries of history striated by horror, by thrilling legends, and anonymous kindness...Getting to know Rome, we come home to ourselves...

I agree with Willtravel, ridiculous to spend 5 euros on water. I found REALLY cheap water in Le Bon Marche much to my surprise. Tucked away in a corner, it was about .50 euros a bottle. But, hey, the tap water is fine!!!

@sdhall2:

We are planning to go to paris at the end of may, anyway, $120 USD a night for four star hotel is fabulous.

Can you advise the name of the hotel? and perhaps the priceline link where you got it? Thanks in advance.

One of you is going to have to graciously acquiesce for this trip, but obviously you can't lose either way. Whatever you decide, it will be wonderful.

I can't vote because I haven't been to Rome yet, but I completely agree with the suggestion of renting an apartment. It provides a more homey space which can be especially welcome on a week-long stay, and you can keep your food expenses down by eating in some nights.

If budget is a serious factor, why not look into apartment options in both Rome and Paris, make a few enquiries, and see what's available for your dates in your price range. Maybe you'll find something to sway you or your husband one way or the other. The slowtravel website is a great resource for vacation apartment listings.

max_oblivion I went and named my own price on priceline. I stayed at the Le Meridian Etoile. What I did was picked the area I wanted to stay in and said I wanted a four star hotel, either way you cant go wrong with a four star hotel! It was great, the metro was just a short 3 minute walk, I had both the metro and the railway. Plus there was a mall nearby! Even better!

Wow everyone has such great advice, thanks so much!