Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
tell me about Rome!
So we were initially thinking of going tropical for summer vacation this year, but DH has to travel to Naples for work (probably sometime in July). So now, we're thinking of just bookending 2-3 days in Rome at the beginning and end of his week in Naples. While, I'm pretty excited about this, now I'm all scattered bc I normally spend months planning our vacations (especially international ones!) before making the final bookings and plans.
So... we'll probably be looking at having about four full days in Rome (excluding travel days). This is based on when we can get plane tickets using air-miles. Aside from the Forum, Colosseum, the Vatican, Pantheon, etc, what were your favorite sights? Also, any recommendations for hotels or restaurants would be great. Our hotel budget is most likely around $250/night. Please feel free to share any other tips on transportation and anything else. And I love trip reports, ha!! Thanks!
Re: tell me about Rome!
Hey there, I'm pasting my reply to a recent Rome post. HTH. I'm a local so feel free to PM me with any questions.
"Oh dear, the list of must-sees goes on forever :)I guess we can include Colosseo, via del corso, piazza di Spagna, fontana di Trevi, Bernini's Elephant/Pantheon, Trastevere/Gianicolo, San Pietro/Borgo Pio, Vatican Museums, underground tour, Campodoglio/Fori Imperiali, Campo de' Fiori, Piazza Navona, Truth Mouth, Aventino Hill/Circo Massimo/rose garden, Castel and Ponte Sant'Angelo, Ara Coeli, Piazza del Popolo etc. Being from Rome I don't have many hotel recommendations; one hotel I know (for its lovely rooftop restaurant, is Hotel de la Minerve. It's near the Panteon, around the corner from Bernini's Elephant. From this location you could easily walk to Piazza Venezia/Campodoglio, Campo de' Fiori, Trastevere (taking the #8 tram from Largo Argentina), Castel Sant'Angelo, piazza Navona and the portion of Via del Corso closer to Fonana di Trevi, as opposed to the initial portion which is basically Piazza del Popolo. Another hotel I know is Residenza Ripetta, which is right by Piazza del Popolo that I just mentioned. From here you could walk towards the Spanish steps taking via Margutta/via del Babuino. Once you get to the steps you could climb up and visit Trinit? dei Monti, then proceed to take via Sistina which leads to piazza del Trintone. From piazza del Trintone you can reach the Terme di Diocleziano/Piazza Della Repubblica. In the same neighbourhood you can visit Via dei Serpenti and reach Piazza Venezia, walking all the way down from the top of the hill. I hope this doesn't sound too confusing, sorry if it does!Another option, probably less expensive but I might be wrong, is to stay in a central neighbourhood as opposed to the historical center. Last time I went home friends of mine came to visit me and stayed at the Panama Garden, a hotel in my neighbourhood. The historical center is easily accessed via numerous bus lines. Also, there many lovely B&Bs if that's something you would consider. Although, if time is of the matter, you're probably better off smacked in the middle of the historical center. "
Santa Maria Minerva-i think that's right-the minerva part is anyway (the church which the elephant obelisk is in front of) is worth a visit inside (it's around the side of the pantheon). i stayed at albergo del senato which overlooks the pantheon. not sure if it fits that budget in teh summer. i've used venere.com for prices and tripadvisor.com for reviews.
other of my faves-walking along the tiber towards the vatican. the castel st angelo and the bridges are so pretty and have such beautiful statues along them. then there's the walk up to the vatican itself which is gorgeous.
but i also love having af ew hours of down time in the afternoon to enjoy some wine and food. that's a must.
We toured Rome in 2 full days, but wished we had more time. Definitely take a walk around town and stop by the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish steps. We only spent an evening out walking around looking at these sites and also stopped at a local cute little restaurant for dinner.
We stayed outside of Rome because we drove and driving in Rome is pretty scary even for an advanced driver like H. So we took a train into Rome. We booked a tour guide for the Forum/Colosseum otherwise we would've had no idea what we were looking at. At the Vatican, a group tour guide found us and took us along. I heard that those group guides suck because it's so big but I honestly had a great time and would do it again. If you choose not to do a guide, then either get tickets before hand or get there early because the lines are about 3 hours long. And dress conservatively! no legs and no shoulders.... something that I didn't know.
If you're budget is $250/night and your not driving then I'd stay inside Rome. Rome at night is beautiful and much different from the day. If you get a car then you should drive around at night.
Rome is awesome! We got a Roma pass when we we a few years ago, which was great for public transportation as well as allowing us entry into some of the major stuff (and, we could skip the lines!).
If you do the Vatican, you can buy tickets to the museum ahead of time on their website. You still have to wait in the security line, but it was nice to bypass the ticketing line. We went to the museum on a Wednesday while the Pope was having his mass for the public. Since most people were at the mass, the museum wasn't as crowded.
Make sure you visit the Trevi fountain at night....beautiful!
And, if you have time, a day trip to Pompeii is amazing and SO interesting.
Have fun!
It's very old.
Yeah that's right my name's Yauch!
LOL.
Eat pizza at Dar Poeta.
then i should fit right in, according to my niece.