Rome advice - accomodation, eating out, things to see..

daveg

Any advice would be very much appreciated. Traveling to Rome with wife and (7 year old) child for 5 days in February.

Any advice on Accomodation (budget E100 - E150 per night max)
Eating out
Must see/things to do?

Thanks in advance.

Any feedback on http://www.viscontipalace.com ?
Or Best Western Hotel Universo?

swingking

Here is a few tips

get your accommodation near the spanish steps as opposed to the train station

Pickpockets are everywhere, make sure you don't carry important documents around with you, and watch your money

best sites to see are: The Colloseum, The Vatican, The Spanish Steps, The Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona

The food is quite cheap, but it's a good idea to shop around for prices.

The tour buses are very good and not too expensive plus they get you to all the best tourist sites. By the way, the street merchants will continually hasstle you in these areas.

Have a good trip It's a city that you will thoroughly enjoy.

mikedragon32

I'm going on Sunday for four days... I'll be sure to post and let you know how I got on. At least the info will be up to date!

Swingking is right on the hotel front and pickpockets. I got a lot of tips on Tripadvisor and those were two of the top tips.

As a rule of thumb, it's never a good idea to stay in the vacinity of a main train station in any city.

black & white

I'm heading out there at the end of Feb as well, have booked the Hotel Miami based on recommendations from people I know who have stayed there. 5 nights in a double room is 500 yo-yo's B&B. It's a 10 minute walk from the station and within walking distance of everywhere except the vatican. Even has an Irish bar across the road for the Ireland V England game which is on the Saturday we're there.

Have a search on Tripadvisor.com and see the reviews for yourself.

Wishbone Ash

Heading there the end of this month with Mrs WA, our 5 year old and my parents (both pensioners). I'm a bit worried about the oul lad as he's a real meat and spuds man. I've a feeling he will be going hungry! :eek:

brettmirl

BEWARE OF THE PICKPOCKETS.

I've yet to come across a city or destination as bad as Rome for them. They are quite blatent about it too. Especially on public transport.

The queues for the Colloseum can be very long, get their as early as possible.

The Vatican is breath-taking. I did read somwhere that they are restricting the visitor numbers these days due to security issues. You have to pass through a metal detector to get in. Same proceedures as airport security.

Food-wise, plenty of options...even meat and spuds catered for!

We stayed here - http://www.napoleon.it/eng/home.html - not sure what the prices were like as we esentially booked out the hotel (brother was getting married) but there was a train stop right outside the door. Staff were extremely helpful. Would highly recommend.

ardara1

We travel to Rome quite a it -
Number one stop for our kids is to stop after lunch for an hour at the north end of the Piazza Navona, there's a lovely toy shop on the corner with an ice cream shop opposite, sit on the fountain and watch the world go by.

From ther also facing South take first lane on right and keep going thru' the alleys to the back of the small church on left - there's a restaurant called Foccacia - one of the best in Rome and resonably priced - great pizzas.

Rome is very small and can be walked around V easily - but not worth dragging the kids - take an open top bus and jump on and off.

Accomodation - I tend to stay away from the Termini area and stay N of the Piazza Navona - favorite spot is up near the Piazza Del Popolo - the Villa Bourghesi Park/Zoo is to the right of this and a great area for kids to run about or hire bikes.

Head South thru Navona some kunch time keep going over the road - theres a delicatesan on the right - grab a lunch from there - go straight on thru the Campo dei Fiori to the Piazza Farnese and picnic.

Back of the Rotunda - (Pantheon) theres the Minerva chrurch great obelisk on the back of an elepant - kids love it.

Also to the right of Pantheon - Sant Ignazio di Loyoloa - a church that could afford a dome - so the painted a false one on the inside - but it only works from one spot - good fun.

daveg

Thanks a million for the feedback so far. Keep it coming..

swingking Thanks for all your tips.

mikedragon32 please do report how you get on. Where are you staying?

black & white Hotel Miami looks really nice. Great reviews on tripadvisor and only E600 for 5 nights - triple room. Superb reviews on tripadvisor.

mick_irl was very impressed with Hotel Napoleon till I check tripadvisor which gives very mixed reviews and says it's not in a great area?

ardara1 great post for travelling with kids. Any recommendations for kid friendly hotels in the Piazza Del Popolo area?

mikedragon32

I'm staying in the Grand Palatino Hotel. Booked through Venere as it was well recommended and is well located (or so I believe!).

brettmirl

daveg wrote:

mick_irl was very impressed with Hotel Napoleon till I check tripadvisor which gives very mixed reviews and says it's not in a great area?

I find that every hotel gets mixed reviews on TipAdvisor.

The hotel itself is old and does not offer services you would get in more modern hotels, but it is clean and the staff were very helpful. We had no issues with the area.

The hotel istelf is walking distance from the Colloseum, and like I said, the metro stop is right outside the front door, which will take you to the Vatican.

The area is not awash with restaurants, but we did find two lovely restaurants close to the hotel (out the main door and to the right, about two mins walk away, one on the same side as the hotel and the other opposite). They did all the traditional Italien foods and you could get things like steak and roast chicken for the pickier eaters!

mikedragon32

I'd agree with you on the Tripadvisor reviews. Funny, with regard to most old european hotels, it's usually the yanks who moan. The obviously have problems getting their heads around the concept of very old buildings.

If it's not a Holiday Inn there's no satisfying them!

Wishbone Ash

daveg wrote:

Any recommendations for kid friendly hotels in the Piazza Del Popolo area?

You could consider renting an apartment. It might offer more versatility with children. That's what we have booked. I must find out it's name from herself and will post back.

oconn

was there in may stayed in lovely hotel ...hotel welrome think the website is WWW.WELROME.IT the lady at reception is as nice as they come she is like yor own tourist guide everyday she wil point you on the right track...its just across from the main train/bus station so the tube is 2 min walk. I wasnt in a taxi for the week. couldnt recommend it enough simple spotless rooms at around 80-90 a room.

yom 1

Trevi fountain must be seen at day and night time when lit up. There is a fantastic ice-cream shop just down the street from it.

Spanish steps is a nothing thing really - just something to say you seen

The Vatican is well worth the visit. Queues are huge but they move so dont be conned into getting a tour from a english speaking guide outside telling you that you'll skip the queue with them. They'll charge you a fortune. Of course you could get there very early to avoid the queues. I got there about 10 am and took us 40 mins in the queue. Also the Vatican musuem doors close at 12.30 - so dont plan an afternoon trip to it.

I didnt get the tour of the colloseum due to the size of the queue but an impressive sight none the less.

Zaph

I'm sending the folks to Rome in April as a present and booked Hotel Alimandi for them on the recommendation of a friend who stayed there. It's family run and she told me the staff were brilliant. It's one street away from the Vatican Museum, whch should help getting there early ahead of the crowds. They own a second hotel with a very similar name, but that's a dearer 4* one.

When I was there two years ago we came across a brilliant restaurant just off Piazza Navona. No idea what it's called, but standing near the middle fountain in the piazza there are streets off the piazza on either side. Take the street on the same side as the domed building (west side) and about 120 metres down the street there's a right turn to what looks like a dead end with a church facing you (the church has columns at the front). At the very end on the left, about 40 metres down this street, is the restaurant. I've recommended it to a few people I know who have been to Rome since and all came back with glowing reports.

Even if you're like me and not into art, I'd recommend a trip to the church at the entrance to the Piazza del Popolo. It's got two amazing Caravaggios on either side of a small altar down the back.

mikedragon32

Just back.

I have to say it was good, but not that good.

I can't fault our hotel, which was well located. In fact from the door of the hotel we could see the pillars of the Temple of Venus, in the Forum. There was a nice view from the room too. The bar and restaurant were both lovely and well priced.

Rome itself didn't really do much for me. I may have been expecting a lot more and should probably allow for the time of year, but it seems like everywhere we went, areas were closed off for work, litter was all over the place and nobody seemed to give a crap about anything!

By lunchtime yesterday we got up the courage to cross roads like the locals! The lack of pedestrian lights might be a worry to the OP as he's taking kids.

Likewise, with kids in mind, anytime I did see children at the major attractions, they seemed bored. In fairness, there's not much to keep a kid entertained in the Colloseum or the Forum, or anywhere else for that matter! It really is for adults, who do at least appreciate the historical relevance.

The stand-out things for me were St. Peter's Basilica. It really was astounding. The other thing I enjoyed was the Keats/Shelly museum, next to the Spanish Steps. Well worth an hour of your time.

As for getting around, we walked just about everywhere and got a 24 hour open top bus tour ticket, which is handy for orientation, but not particularly informative.

A lot of begging goes on, particularly around the Vatican and the guys dressed as gladiators around the colloseum and forum can be a bit of a pain.

The sales, which are currently on, having started on Friday last, are really good and if you're into shopping, there are some great bargains to be had.

Shopping in the Airport is really good too, but obviously the choice isn't quite so good.

daveg

Thanks for posting back Mike.

siobhan.murphy

daveg wrote:

Thanks for posting back Mike.

I am new to boards, I am travelling to Rome in april on the cheap with my 2 aunts,any Idea for good cheap room rates we fly in to Ciampino at midnight and none of us have been to rome b4 are we mad?
my 2 Aunts have left the accomodation to me,help.
siobh_murphy@yahoo.ie

Carrigman

siobhan.murphy wrote:

:
any Idea for good cheap room rates we fly in to Ciampino at midnight and none of us have been to rome b4 are we mad?
siobh_murphy@yahoo.ie

Siobhan,

Try www.laterooms.com for the prices and check www.tripadvisor.com for the reviews.

The Nal

Anyone been post lockdown? Any new restaurants to look out for?