Rome

[RowlattsFox]

I'm just after a bit of advice really, I'm looking to go Rome at some point early next year with the girlfriend and we're thinking March. Is that a good time to go? i.e cheapest

I've never been on one of these city break type of holidays befoe, so I'm not sure how I should go about booking it, a package through a travel agent? booking flights and hotels seperately? etc..

Again, without wanting to sound like a tight-arse, I'm looking for the cheapest possible way.

Anyone have any good sites that they trust? for flights and hotels? Obviously want the accomodation to be a decent standard but we're not bothered about it being top quality, somewhere in a good location and basic will do fine.

Anyone been before? Looks amazing.

Sorry if there's a thread for this sort of thing somewhere, I did do a little search but found nothing.

[Bilo]

I'm just after a bit of advice really, I'm looking to go Rome at some point early next year with the girlfriend and we're thinking March. Is that a good time to go? i.e cheapest

I've never been on one of these city break type of holidays befoe, so I'm not sure how I should go about booking it, a package through a travel agent? booking flights and hotels seperately? etc..

Again, without wanting to sound like a tight-arse, I'm looking for the cheapest possible way.

Anyone have any good sites that they trust? for flights and hotels? Obviously want the accomodation to be a decent standard but we're not bothered about it being top quality, somewhere in a good location and basic will do fine.

Anyone been before? Looks amazing.

Sorry if there's a thread for this sort of thing somewhere, I did do a little search but found nothing.

Weirdly, my girlfriend and I are thinking the exact same thing. We'd probably go around February/March time I imagine.

A good tour operator to use for this type of holiday is Superbreak, though bear in mind they only sort out your hotel accommodation and you'd have to arrange your flights separately. Even then though, Superbreak will arrange an airport transfer for you. In terms of flights, don't be too tempted by the budget airlines as a lot of them will take you to an airport that's miles away from the city itself. If you think Luton airport is classed as London, that gives you an idea of how far away the budget airlines take you away. Also, beware of the extras that Ryanair and Easyjet charge. By the time you've tagged these on and factored in the distance from airport to city your best bet may be to check for offers from the bigger airlines like British Airways, partly because their offers are fairly generous and partly because the price you see online is the price you pay.

As for the kind of hotel, they really aren't too dear so long as you're not planning on going too extravagant. A decent four star hotel in the centre will cost anywhere between £60 and £100 a night depending on the season so really isn't too pricey compared to some London hotels for example. Two and three star hotels can be had for about £40 odd a night which isn't too shoddy either.

Rome is a lovely city, I'd advise you to go in the mood for a lot of walking as there's plenty to see and do. Everything from the historical stuff like the Colosseum and Pantheon up to the more slushy romantic stuff (Mrs Bilo special) like the Trevi Fountain are all they're cracked to be as well. Could even go to the Vatican if you fancied it, though that really isn't my cup of tea.

Hope that helps.

[RowlattsFox]

Weirdly, my girlfriend and I are thinking the exact same thing. We'd probably go around February/March time I imagine.

A good tour operator to use for this type of holiday is Superbreak, though bear in mind they only sort out your hotel accommodation and you'd have to arrange your flights separately. Even then though, Superbreak will arrange an airport transfer for you. In terms of flights, don't be too tempted by the budget airlines as a lot of them will take you to an airport that's miles away from the city itself. If you think Luton airport is classed as London, that gives you an idea of how far away the budget airlines take you away. Also, beware of the extras that Ryanair and Easyjet charge. By the time you've tagged these on and factored in the distance from airport to city your best bet may be to check for offers from the bigger airlines like British Airways, partly because their offers are fairly generous and partly because the price you see online is the price you pay.

As for the kind of hotel, they really aren't too dear so long as you're not planning on going too extravagant. A decent four star hotel in the centre will cost anywhere between £60 and £100 a night depending on the season so really isn't too pricey compared to some London hotels for example. Two and three star hotels can be had for about £40 odd a night which isn't too shoddy either.

Rome is a lovely city, I'd advise you to go in the mood for a lot of walking as there's plenty to see and do. Everything from the historical stuff like the Colosseum and Pantheon up to the more slushy romantic stuff (Mrs Bilo special) like the Trevi Fountain are all they're cracked to be as well. Could even go to the Vatican if you fancied it, though that really isn't my cup of tea.

Hope that helps.

Thanks for that, much appreciated

Yeah, I've heard about the budget airlines, Ryanair in particular. 2 airports in Rome I believe, and most flights I've looked at go to Fluminico (probably spelt wrong but I can't be bothered to check it up)? and then require a train or other mode of transport into the centre of Rome.

Walking is fine by me, both me and the Mrs want to see most things, even if they don't really interest us.

Also hoping to catch a Roma/Lazio game while I'm there, girlfriend doesn't know this yet

[Bilo]

Thanks for that, much appreciated

Yeah, I've heard about the budget airlines, Ryanair in particular. 2 airports in Rome I believe, and most flights I've looked at go to Fluminico (probably spelt wrong but I can't be bothered to check it up)? and then require a train or other mode of transport into the centre of Rome.

Walking is fine by me, both me and the Mrs want to see most things, even if they don't really interest us.

Also hoping to catch a Roma/Lazio game while I'm there, girlfriend doesn't know this yet

You're very welcome mate.

Last time I was in Italy I was working on ships so didn't come into contact with Rome airports but I believe Fiumicino is the easier of the two. Ryanair take you to Ciampino which is actually a little closer but doesn't have Fiumicino's direct rail link to the city. It's either taxi or a bus service to take you into Rome, though taxis can be very expensive in Italy.

[SOCCERROO FOX]

i've found expedia very easy to use and you can compare between packages, flights and hotels.

[SOCCERROO FOX]

You're very welcome mate.

Last time I was in Italy I was working on ships so didn't come into contact with Rome airports but I believe Fiumicino is the easier of the two. Ryanair take you to Ciampino which is actually a little closer but doesn't have Fiumicino's direct rail link to the city. It's either taxi or a bus service to take you into Rome, though taxis can be very expensive in Italy.

You are not wrong 5 minutes in a taxi cost 35 euro plus 5 euro for having a suitcase in the back...........but in a forien city ya not going to kick up a stink even tho he is clearly ripping you off.

[James.]

Flights:

Either use Sky Scanner or go direct to the budget airlines.

Hotels:

For cheap places to stay try Hostel World or Hostel Bookers. They do budget hotels as well as hostels although even hostels can offer some pretty decent private ensuite rooms... Sometimes easyJet will offer you decent hotel deals after you book the flights so keep an eye out and maybe book flights first.

Rome:

Great city. I went for a 3 day break with my girlfriend 2 years ago. We pretty much did all the main sights (Pantheon, Colloseum, etc) in one afternoon and then spent another day up at the Vatican. Everything is pretty close so it really doesn't take long to see the main stuff.

[Monk]

Flights:

Either use Sky Scanner or go direct to the budget airlines.

Hotels:

For cheap places to stay try Hostel World or Hostel Bookers. They do budget hotels as well as hostels although even hostels can offer some pretty decent private ensuite rooms... Sometimes easyJet will offer you decent hotel deals after you book the flights so keep an eye out and maybe book flights first.

Rome:

Great city. I went for a 3 day break with my girlfriend 2 years ago. We pretty much did all the main sights (Pantheon, Colloseum, etc) in one afternoon and then spent another day up at the Vatican. Everything is pretty close so it really doesn't take long to see the main stuff.

Good stuff James. I'd also reccommend searching on www.kayak.com for flights, using the +/- 3 days to search for cheaper flights - for hotels use www.tripadvisor.com - IMO the best resource for reviews.

[Shrenchel]

Ryanair go EastMidlands to Ciampino (which is the airport closer to Rome.) Doubt you'll get cheaper than that.

[RowlattsFox]

Thanks for the advice everyone, will take a look on those sites later on.

[Smudge]

We were in Rome a few years ago and found it a brilliant place to visit as I'm very interested in history; the area around the Forum is incredible.

Oh but watch out for pickpocket thieves; the only time I get felt up in a crowd and it turns out to be some bloke after my wallet.

[Raj]

DO IT!

Romes GREAT!

If you dont mind staying abitout of town check this place out where we stayed...Yes it does say ARS!!

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g1...Rome_Lazio.html

So much to see and do in Rome,you'll need a day in Vatican on its own!

[grth2004]

went to rome for 3 days couple of years ago we booked the flights and hotels ourselves and had an amazing time heres my tips -

buy a guide book my mrs bought one and the best places we ate were in the book , also theres so much to see its realy helpfull to have a guide

try to go out of the main city when you go for a meal as we got realy badly ripped off for drinks and food in the centre but as soon as you head out a bit the prices half

if you want to go to the vatican get there early as the ques are like anything ive ever seen , after waiting for 2 hours to get in we gave up.

great place and so much to see

[JoeyB]

If your clever with ryanair you can get there and back for £20 return!

Book it in 2 seperate transactions.

EMA -- rome

Rome -- EMA

use a visa electron card, dont check in any hand luggage, get your own insurance, dont use speedy boarding either.

and keep your eye on ryanair.com because they sometimes have offers where you get free booking online!

[purpleronnie]

Huge amount of immigrants I noticed, which was odd because I thought after reading the tabloids it was only England who had them.

Anyway, I found Rome (like most people who visit there) beautiful, I prefer Florence but Romes still a great city.

[acooling08]

Well I went to Rome (with day trip to Pompeii) in the half term week and it was brilliant.

I have to say that October is the best time to go because its still around 20 degrees + but don't know about march.

[acooling08]

We were in Rome a few years ago and found it a brilliant place to visit as I'm very interested in history; the area around the Forum is incredible.

Oh but watch out for pickpocket thieves; the only time I get felt up in a crowd and it turns out to be some bloke after my wallet.

Yeah the Forum and colisseum are pretty special.

[Trav Le Bleu]

We were in Rome a few years ago and found it a brilliant place to visit as I'm very interested in history; the area around the Forum is incredible.

Oh but watch out for pickpocket thieves; the only time I get felt up in a crowd and it turns out to be some bloke after my wallet.

Yup same happened to me near the Colosseum, but still an amazing place. You need to visit the Spanish Steps and take a walk down Via Dei Condotti, which leads away from the Spanish Step to the Tiber. Your girlfirend will like that cos that's where all the posh designer shops are (and the Lamborghini dealership, but don't expect to get in unless you look like a million Euros ). You need to take time to have lunch in one of the Piazzas too and watch the world go buy or one of the many acts that might be on. The fountains are great too as you can drink from practically all of them (they have little drinking taps off the side, you don't stick your head in the main fountain ) which is brilliant on hot days, though maybe not so much for March time, though it could be quite warm. When my wife and I went in May we didn't have to buy a cold drink all day (until we went to a bar, which is different), we just kept refilling our bottle at the fountains. Now there's a budget tip!