More Rome stuff

[crystal]

Ok I have never been to Italy and My b/friend has always wanted to go to Rome so I have a free week in mid Feb to try and tick this off my 'to do' list. I realise that someone has posted about Rome just below me but their itinery seems a little more hectic than mine.

I will probably have Sun/Mon - Thurs/Fri so it will be a whistle stop tour. I don't know a lot about the layout of rome so when I've been looking for hostels their location doesn't mean a lot to me. My B/friend does not want luxury but is not up for roughing it (Boo! ) so I was thinking a private dorm in a hostel. Also I have been trawling the budget airlines and they seem to have different airports to fly into and I don't know which is which

Any Rome advice would be greatly appreciated.

- Cheap places to visit
- Cheap places to eat
- Cheap places to stay
- Stuff to watch out for.

Love the site and any advice would be a HUGE help ;D

[Jules80]

Hi Crystal!

I loved Rome and you will have a blast! you absolutely MUST stay at the Beehive!! www.the-beehive.com/ It is a wonderful little place, clean and really really nice! The staff are awsome and the food is outstanding. Its near the train station so near the metro (tube) and bus lines to get wherever you want to go in rome. There was Tratoria around the corner from the beehive that was great, too!

As for places to see, Vatican City is a must regardless of whether or not your catholic or religious (i am neither). st-Peter's is incredible. you have to see it to believe the size of it. you really need a whole day to sufficiently deal with the vatican. Trevi fountain is of course a must see as is the coliseum, roman forum and palatine hill (excellent archeologia pass available for these things). another site that a friend of mine insisted that i see was the capuccin crypt. its fairly macabre and morbid but also really cool. i definately recommend it! Piazza Navona and Piazzo del popolo you should see as well. There's so much to see and not nearly enough time for it all! i can't wait to go back to see the rest. i loved rome!

let me know if you have any other questions

Jules

[me]

Hello, Crystal!

i also really enjoyed Rome, it's my favorite city of my last trip. stayed 5 nights at the beehive, too, yet still saw just a fraction of what Rome has to offer.

Rome is, unquestionably, the most important historic city in Europe. Think Roman Empire <not to be confused with Eastern Roman Empire or Holy Roman Empire, it was so important, these two borrowed the name!> and Roman Catholic Church!

i don't remember the beehive providing any food. but, there's a kitchen where you can make your own. perhaps Jules lucked out and a guest was preparing a big meal to share? or, it may have been a special occasion?

but, i had the same experience with transport! the beehive is right down the street from Termini train station, all major bus lines converge there.

there are twin private rooms there, as i recall.

- d

[Jules80]

the beehive now has a cafe downstairs where they serve breakfast and dinner a few nights a week. they also offer a packed lunch for the day which is wonderful and way cheaper than anything you'll pay near tourist attractions. they have information about the food on the website.

jules

[gougeAway]

I'll put in a good word for Gulliver's Place www.gulliversplace.com/ (which is associated with Gulliver's House Hostel, but this is a bed and breakfast.) It's located just a little north of Termini Station.

As for places to visit - I think the big ones are covered above. Pantheon and Spanish steps are probably worth a visit too. There's pretty much something spectacular around every corner in Rome - so you can just stroll through the city and see a lot of amazing buildings, statues, ruins, etc.

You could always take a (full) day and head to Pompeii or something if you were so inclined, too.

[me]

cool! good to know for my next trip to Rome.

Thanks, Jules!

- d

jules80 said:

the beehive now has a cafe downstairs where they serve breakfast and dinner a few nights a week.

BTW, the Galleria Borghese, in Rome, has some amazing stuff, too! the David statue there, by Bernini, is special. www.galleriaborghese.it/borghese/en/edefault.htm

[WillTravel]

If you want the Beehive, best to book now! It fills up quickly. I haven't stayed there, but with that new cafe, it sounds even better.

I second or third all the above recommendations for sights.

I loved Rome too.

[stanncie]

Ah Galleria Borghese, I spent half a day there and wanted to stay so much more!! This place is great, the statues are awesome. I love but absolutely love Rome

[me]

was looking at www.the-beehive.com and guess what i found?

"The Beehive Recommends" as a pdf! www.the-beehive.com/recguide.pdf

a perusal is suggested to anyone going to Rome. the places i got around to trying were all great!

[Jules80]

i didn'tknow they had it as a pdf. they give you a paper copy when you check in as well as a great map of rome. very cool.

i love that place.

free internet, too... makes me happy.

jules

[me]

yes, i'd gotten the regular booklet when i was there. wanted to pass along info from it, but have misplaced my copy. now i get the info online!

- d

[WillTravel]

Another really interesting thing is the Scavi tour, which takes you under St. Peter's Basilica to see the ancient necropolis and construction there and to see what is likely the tomb of Peter. You have to reserve as far in advance as possible, though. Email [e-mail] and list the days you will be available for a tour, the number of people, and the language you want the tour to be. It costs 10 Euros which you have to pay in advance by credit card, once they send you your date.
See: tinyurl.com/2yb63

[crystal]

Thanks for all the great advice seems Rome is a big hit!

Sorry it takes me ages to acknowledge everyones help but i use my college internet access and have been at home since i posted.

The beehive certainly seems to get the thumbs up and if i can't get in to stay there i will be definately checking out the cafe.

I will let everyone know how my trip goes (fantastic of course ;D) when i get back thanks again.

Crystal

[crystal]

IT'S ALL BOOKED.

Ok I'm flying ryan air from Glasgow on the 20th of feb until the night of the 23rd.

We are staying at the Papa Germano Roma hotel which has some good reviews on the web the only conplaints were that the area could get a little noisy. It is close to the Termini Station. No curfew, internet access, free lugage storage and managed to get a private room and bathroom with a continental breakfast (to keep b/friend happy). It seems to tick all the boxes for us .

- Has anyone stayed in this hotel or around the Termini area?
- Compared to the UK do people find Rome expensive?
- Is the public transport easy to navigate?

Cheers for all the help so far - roll on the 20th of Feb ;D

[me]

thats not much time in Rome. if you want to see much, you'll need to be well organized.

crystal said:

Ok I'm flying ryan air from Glasgow on the 20th of feb until the night of the 23rd.

- yes, stayed at The Beehive, just down the street from Termini. watch out for scams!
- Rome is cheaper than London, only part of UK i've visited on my own
- Termini is great for public transport. many of the bus lines stop there, as well as subway lines.

crystal said:

- Has anyone stayed in this hotel or around the Termini area?
- Compared to the UK do people find Rome expensive?
- Is the public transport easy to navigate?

Cheers for all the help so far - roll on the 20th of Feb ;D