Tips on vacationing in Rome
Story and photos by Bob Schulman
Friends, Romans, countrymen...
Standing under the 60-foot-high columns of the ancient Roman Forum, it's not hard to imagine the likes of senators and magistrates wandering around in striped tunics and purple-bordered togas. You can almost hear the trumpets announcing the triumphant return of armies from conquests in Gaul, Egypt and Persia.
Legions of people from faraway places still pass through the Roman gates, but now they're mainly tourists – close to 10 million a year at last count. And instead of trumpets, you'll hear the putt-putts of motorscooters zipping in and out of the bumper-to-bumper traffic.
Between the tourists and the 3 million people who live here, this is a hustling, bustling town. That aside, most visitors agree that a stay in the Eternal City can be one of the most exciting experiences on the planet.
It's tough deciding what to see first. The Vatican City? The Colosseum? The Forum? The Pantheon? The Circus Maximus? The Trevi Fountain? Capitoline Hill? The Spanish Steps?
Chances are you'll end up seeing the sights (and making some new friends at the same time) on group tours aboard buses stopping at the hot spots. “Over a few days,” says veteran guide Angela Bosco, “visitors can sample 2,700 years of history...they'll see everything from the palaces of mad emperors to the stunning frescoes of the Sistine Chapel to today's playgrounds of la dolce vita (the sweet life).”
You can sign up for tours of the city at your hotel or before you leave home through your travel agent. Do-it-yourselfers might be able to save a few bucks on the Internet (if you're willing to wade through a thousand or so listings).
Another option is to buy tours packaged by the airline you're flying to Rome. Among outings offered by British Airways, for example, is one that takes you to the Forum, the Colosseum and the Basilica of St. Paul. Another goes to the Pantheon, the Basilica of St. Peter, Navona Square and the Trevi Fountain. The tours cost around $50 (U.S.) per person and last for about three hours. Buses pick you up and drop you off at your hotel or at nearby gathering places.
A tip: For tours of the Vatican, it's wise to pay a little extra for an option that lets you go to the head of the horrendous lines of people waiting to get in.
Among the least costly tours are day-long trips around Rome on double-decker buses that stop at 17 major sites. For about $25, you can hop off and on the buses at any of the stops as often as you like.
Where to stay
Like the tours, you can book your hotel independently or as part of an air-ground package. Count on paying $250 to $500 a night at four- and five-star hotels, and around $150 a night at boutique inns and lesser rated properties. For instance, a small but pleasant double room with a private bath in the 3 Coins Trevi Fountain Hotel costs about $180 a night including some munchies for breakfast.
As you might suspect, the hotel is close to the Trevi Fountain, where the coin-tossing scene was filmed in the 1954 movie “Three Coins in the Fountain.” The fountain is shown several times during the film with hardly anyone around.
Today, it's hard to even get within tossing distance of the fountain. You'll find it jammed with thousands of tourists, day and night. It's also a favorite haunt of pickpockets. Tip: As a safeguard, men switch their wallets to a less accessible front pocket (some additionally substitute an empty “robbery wallet” in a rear pocket) while women keep an extra-tight grip on their purses. “Fanny packs” are a no-no in crowds.
Some visitors opt to stay at hotels near the fountain and do their sightseeing a la carte. The Pantheon and the Spanish Steps are close by, as are large shopping areas. Also, there's handy public transportation to the Vatican and other popular landmarks around town.
Another tip: Planning to bring your electric shaver, hair dryer or other plug-in devices? If so, you'll need a “Type B” outlet adapter (the one with two round prongs). Your hotel might have one available for you to borrow, but don't count on it. Your best bet is buy one before you leave home.
Surprisingly, few stores around Rome sell them. You could spend hours trying to track one down.
Getting there
It's a long trip to Rome, typically requiring flight connections at a U.S. gateway terminal or at a connecting hub in Europe, or both. One more tip: You can enjoy some of the luxuries of business class for about a third the cost in a special “premium economy” class now offered (under different names) by a number of airlines.
British Airways, for instance, has a special “World Traveler Plus” section featuring wider seats with lots of extra legroom, a personal entertainment system and a choice of entrees at meal times. Seating is in a separate cabin between the plane's business and economy sections. (www.britishairways.com)
More info: Visit the Italian Government Tourist Board at www.italiantourism.com.
Reader's Responses
Most visitors see the city in tour groups.
St. Peter's Basilica holds 60,000 people.
A typical day at the Trevi Fountain.
Taking a break on the Spanish Steps.