would rome be an option?

fifib

looking for a destination for my parents. more into city breaks with things to do and see rather than sun holidays. know my dad has said in past he'd love to see rome but is there much else to do there besides looking at buildings and monuments?
would appreciate any advice on where to stay at a low cost also
or any other cities that could be possibilities

theyve already been to paris, venice and brussels

thanks

*edit* i would be looking to book something for sept/october time so hopefully still have nice weather but not too hot

SuperStarHoney

IMO Rome would mainly be visiting museum and sights, there are just so many. The highlight for me was the Vatican. Sorry I don't have any accommodation tips as it's five years since I was there but it is a very expensive city.

We were there in September and it was still very hot so I would definitely leave it until October. Maybe they could combine Rome with Florence which is only two hours on the train and is a smaller more relaxed city which I know a lot of people prefer.

SuperStarHoney

SuperStarHoney wrote: »

We were there in September and it was still very hot so I would definitely leave it until October. Maybe they could combine Rome with Florence which is only two hours on the train and is a smaller more relaxed city which I know a lot of people prefer.

If they were to do that,then theres a luxury hotel where we stayed that I'd recommend,just a 5 min walk from the cities main train station and within walking distance of the trevi fountain etc.
A taxi could take them practically anywhere else in the city

http://www.boscolohotels.com/eng/hotels/exedra/luxury-hotel-rome.htm

Plenty to do in the city.
Many restaurants and a day trip on the train.
We took one of the trains with proper dining cars with a sit down restaurant-Very Orient express like.
All very doable in a city break

fifib

thats a great idea going to Florence and certainly do-able if their there for 5/6 days. something they would be into aswell as when i was younger we went to Venice and took a trip to Verona for the day and they really enjoyed it.

ive had to spill beans to my mum tho as she'd have to be sure of dates with work and what not and she mentioned Barcelona as another option. the flights are certainly alot cheaper but accomodation is pretty much the same.

SQ2

Barcelona and Rome are my Euro favourites (so far) absolutely oodles to do in both. Barcelona is far bigger, more history in rome if thats what they're into. Bring very comfortable shoes for lots of walking in both cities. If you choose barca, use aerlingus as both airports that ryanair fly into are miles away!

galwayrush

Rome, when they come home, they will want to re visit the city again asap.:cool:

whitelightrider

Apologies for hijacking the thread! We're heading to Rome in 2 weeks and I was wondering if anyone could recommend a tour company over there for the Vatican and Collesseum so that we can avoid the queues?

fifib

ive booked Rome for them. 5 nights
Anyone have an recommendation for hotels? did a bit of searching and boy is it expensive!
Would it be an idea to stay out towards the airport say on the train line? hotels are cheaper and seems to be only 10/15mins to city center

LeahBaby

whitelightrider wrote: »

Apologies for hijacking the thread! We're heading to Rome in 2 weeks and I was wondering if anyone could recommend a tour company over there for the Vatican and Collesseum so that we can avoid the queues?

Queues aren't that bad. I promise ya!! hit the vatican about 2pm and you'll go straight in. If you go to the collesseum and you tell the guy at the barrier that you are getting an audio guide, you get to skip the que. Even still you shouldn't be queuing more than 20 mins!

LeahBaby

fifib wrote: »

ive booked Rome for them. 5 nights
Anyone have an recommendation for hotels? did a bit of searching and boy is it expensive!
Would it be an idea to stay out towards the airport say on the train line? hotels are cheaper and seems to be only 10/15mins to city center

Get them an apartment. Much cheaper and you can get fantastic locations.

http://www.rentalinrome.com/

I stayed in a fab apartment in June, 5 min walk from vatican for 250euro for the week. it's also the 3rd time I've used that site. Email the agents and they will find somewhere to suit your needs

event

whitelightrider wrote: »

Apologies for hijacking the thread! We're heading to Rome in 2 weeks and I was wondering if anyone could recommend a tour company over there for the Vatican and Collesseum so that we can avoid the queues?

book a tour with the official vatican tour guides

www.vatican.va

spongebobx

event wrote: »

book a tour with the official vatican tour guides

www.vatican.va

Did this at Easter and would highly recommend it - Passed hundreds and hundreds in the queue and walked straight in.

zemphis

whitelightrider wrote: »

Apologies for hijacking the thread! We're heading to Rome in 2 weeks and I was wondering if anyone could recommend a tour company over there for the Vatican and Collesseum so that we can avoid the queues?

As LeahBaby suggested, wait until 1 or 2pm for the Vatican and the queue is very quick. When we were in Rome, we stayed in a place near the Vatican and there were these huge queues at 8am in the morning but by 1ish they were gone. We went about 1pm and could near enough walk straight up.

Another trick for the Collesseum is to go to the Palatine Hill first and get a joint ticket for there and the Collesseum. There never seems to be a queue
a the Palatine Hill and it is worth a look. You can then go to the Collesseum and just skip the queue.

Ice_Box

We once went Rome, Florence and Venice over a two week period. All very different but great cities. Very Very Very highly recommended.