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Best of Rome 7days

Posted by (Pottstown, Pa) on

Just returned from my 7days Best of Rome trip. Our Hotel (Lancelot) was within a 3min walk from the Colosseum. Our tour guide Nina was incredibly kind and joy to have around. Our local tour guides were also kind and knowledgeable as well. You can check out my previous post on Paris (https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/tours/best-of-paris-7days). Having been to Paris I was familiar with the public transportation system. If you want to see some great ruins and churches and be able to see a lot in a short time this is the trip for you. Many of the historical locations are all within walking distance of each other if you're willing to walk at least a mile or two.

SCAMS - like any European countries there are people trying desperately to sell you anything. Do NOT take pictures with the "Gladiators" by the Colosseum, they will ask you for money or take your phone and hold it ransom for money to give back. Anyone walking up to you that looks out of place, usually they are and are gonna try to scam you. Just say "no" confidently and they will usually walk away.

Transportation - I flew into Fiumicino airport and for 14Euros I took the Leonardo Express directly to the Termini main train station NON STOP. I also took this from the hotel to the airport as well. It gave me 32minutes to gather my thoughts before and after my trip. There are plenty of ATM/MAC machines in the airport and you can purchase tickets at the red kiosks located. Just make sure you get them stamped at the egg shaped white machines before you get on the train. From Termini select the right train to your destination. very easy. If your hotel is near the Colosseum then take the Metro A to Laurentina(final destination) and get off the 2nd stop which is Colosseum, cost is 1.5Euros.

Gifts Goodies - buy them from the vendors in green kiosks or stores. Don't support the people just sitting there.

Tours - You will see a lot with this tour, but if you want to visit some of the major churches you'll have to do them on your own. And I highly recommend you do. St Peter, St Paul, St Giovanni and many others.

Vatican visit - We had the pleasure of seeing the Pope on Wednesday morning for a quick morning service. ADVICE ... if you want to get close like 5-8 feet away, take seats on any, ANY chairs near the borders. He will make his rounds on the road around the chairs.

Food-Restaurants - YOU must eat at least one of the following while in Rome - Cacio e Pepe, Lasagna, Suppli, Carbonara, Amatriciana, and of course gelato. If you go by the tour book and you see "reservations available" make one. Best meal for me was at Trattoria da Enzo, I waited 75minutes for a table for 1 and it was worth it, make a reservation if you want to eat there.

Walking/Steps - Like in Paris I did some extra walking on my own, if it was inside of 2miles I walked it. Took in the sites and sounds and smells of Rome.

Packing - As you travel more you realize what to take and what to bring back. I did my bulk of souvenir shopping at the Vatican Museum thus leaving me a free mind to explore.

Spanish steps/Trevi Fountain - HEADS up these two places are super, SUPER crowded. If you want to get a nice picture without anyone there better get there about 6-7am or after 11:30pm other wise it's a mob of people.

Final notes - Be polite, use your "Please" and "Thank you" in Italian it will get you far. Remember we are a guest in another country. I am looking forward to my next trip. Go with a positive attitude, leave your bills and frustrations back home. Enjoy your visit. I say that because last year I saw and took a nice tour of Notre Dame Cathedral and a few months ago it burned down, almost.

I hope this helps anyone about to go to Rome. Best wishes sorry for any misspelled words/locations/names.
Thank you Rick Steve's and Nina and rest of our tour guides.
Ed B (Pottstown, Pa) formerly from West Chester, Pa.

Posted by
8 posts

Thanks so much for the nice report! I like the restaurant recommendation.

Posted by
9221 posts

Thanks for this report. Glad you had a great trip.

Might I advise if you could cut and paste and remove it from Italy Reviews and put under Trip Report I think more folks would benefit.

Ciao

Posted by
6462 posts

Thanks for the report. We are doing this tour at the end of October. We've done all our travels to Europe independently, this will be our first tour (and first RS tour). A few questions--

  1. Did you ever feel like you did not get enough time at a site? If that were to happen, do you get the ticket and the ability to go back during free time? 2.If we wanted to see the Spanish steps/Trevi fountain less busy, how close is the hotel to those places?
  2. What time did the tour get going on the first day and end on the last day? Schedule says "after breakfast". Can you get breakfast at any time or does the tour eat at a specified time?
  3. I am not a shopper. Do they leave time for shopping, and if so, I would guess there would be some alternative?
  4. How much free time did you typically get every day? 6.Did breakfast have a protein option? Was there opportunity early afternoon to stop for a light bite or Gelato? I'm assuming included dinners were 7ish??

Thanks!

Posted by
11294 posts

"There are plenty of ATM/MAC machines in the airport"

For those who aren't from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, or Delaware (possibly other states as well), MAC stood for Money Access Center. It was an early consortium of ATM's, which allowed you to withdraw money and even deposit checks from any ATM on the MAC network, even if it wasn't your bank. When it started (I believe around 1980), this was a Very Big Deal. Lots and lots of banks joined, from an ever larger geographic area, and the machines always had the MAC logo at the top, rather than the logo of the actual bank (since it didn't matter which bank - they all would work for everyone, and this was before fees for using another bank's machine).

So, for anyone from that time and place, ATM's were "MAC machines."

Then, PLUS and Cirrus came in, and MAC gradually went away. I don't even think the network still exists, but if it does, it's no longer posted on the machines. And, most of the banks that formed it no longer exist, having been merged or bought out of existence.

Thanks for the memories, Ed! And, of course, thanks for posting your trip report.

Posted by
1 posts

I was with Ed on the tour and echo what he said in his post. I can't put enough exclamation marks on my decision to do the Rick Steves Tour. Our guide Nina was fantastic and we also had the benefit of a some local guides for a few of the sites and the Trastevere Food Tour. Everything was well planned and thought out.

Jules, to answer a few of your questions, the only place that we seemed to be rushed was at the Vatican. That's not a reflection on the tour, just due to the huge crowds. There was plenty of time built in to explore on our own but if you wanted to revisit sites that require a ticket a second time, you'll need to purchase another ticket on your own. On most days the tour got going between 8:00 and 8:30. Breakfast was typical European style with meats & cheeses, croissants & rolls plus some fruit, yogurt and cereal. We found a small market right around the corner and purchased some extra water bottles and additional breakfast items for our room. The metro station and bus stop are a short walk and you can get to all the major sites using one of those means. When a site was around a mile or so away, my daughter and I walked. This allowed us to take in the Rome atmosphere.

Steve

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