advice for first time visitor to Rome, 2 nights/ ~3 days - late July,

Lotus, first off, you really don't have 3 sightseeing days in Rome. If you are arriving in the middle of day one, and are leaving on day 3, you have 1 FULL day and 2 partials, although your day 3 probably offers a decent amount of time if not departing until 8:00 in the evening.

To drill down, are you arriving at Fiumicino on the Day 1 on a transatlantic flight from the U.S, meaning you could be dealing with noticeable jet lag? How are you departing on Day 3 and to where? By train to a different location in Italy, by plane to a different European country, etc? If catching a flight, from which airport?

What days/time slots did you book the Vatican, Galleria Borghese and Colosseum/Forum/Palatine for? I'm a little curious about your booking through Tiquets for the Colosseum as that's not their official ticket vendor; no need to panic, just curious what ticket or tour specifically you booked for those sites. Same for the Vatican Museums.

Yes, you can trust booking.com. I've used them for a number of years now without issue, although you need to read reviews with a critical eye. Some complaints could be about issues a property has no control over, are about normal quirks for historic center properties (such as no screens), or are nitpicks minor enough not be an issue for most folks at all.

You WILL want a property with decent air conditioning (not a given in all accommodations), and will hold your bags from late morning checkout on Day 3 until you collect them to depart the city. That also is not a given if, say, you're using small guest houses or very small hotels that do not have 24/7 desk services. As you are a nervous first-timer, I would advise booking a property with round-the-clock desk personnel should you need them for questions/services, for late check-in should you experience a flight delay, etc. As you intend to breakfast in your room, a minifridge would be a useful amenity as well.

I have found the booking.com reviews to be reliable. You cannot leave a review on that website if you haven't stayed in the property.
I normally read at least 50 reviews, watching particularly for complaints about unreliable Wi-Fi and inadequate a/c. In your price range (which is a bit higher than mine), you should expect a very small room. That comes with one advantage: it's easier to cool down a tiny room.

I don't think you'll have too much trouble finding good vegetarian options in Rome.

To drill down, are you arriving at Fiumicino on the Day 1 on a
transatlantic flight from the U.S, meaning you could be dealing with
noticeable jet lag? How are you departing on Day 3 and to where? By
train to a different location in Italy, by plane to a different
European country, etc? If catching a flight, from which airport?

these are 3 days in the midst of a trip to UK so no jet lag. landing and departing from FCO.

What days/time slots did you book the Vatican, Galleria Borghese and Colosseum/Forum/Palatine for?

Day 1 nothing booked. planning to see Pantheon

Day 2 9:30 am - Colosseum / Forum / Palatine
4 pm Borghese

Day 3 8:30 am - Vatican / Sistine

Also interested in seeing Tiber, Appian Way, climbing dome of St Peter's Basilica whenever we can fit these in. Possibly also Villa Medici. Day 2 is a Wed and I believe St Peter's is closed on that day.

I'm a little curious about your booking through Tiquets for the
Colosseum as that's not their official ticket vendor; no need to
panic, just curious what ticket or tour specifically you booked for
those sites. Same for the Vatican Museums.

Got a "Rome Tourist Card" via Tiquets
https://www.tiqets.com/en/rome-attractions-c71631/rome-tourist-card-p1013153/

In your price range (which is a bit higher than mine), you should
expect a very small room.

small is fine since we are only coming back to the room to sleep. can't think of a single advantage to having a big room.

delighted to hear that my price range is not considered too low ... would be eager to hear any recommendation you might have from experience.

So far we have booked admission to the Vatican, Sistine Chapel,
Coloseum and Forum and Palatine Hill through Tiquets.

I hope this works out for you. Tiquets looks to be a third party reseller-do you actually have the tickets in hand or is it a voucher?
It’s just that I have never seen Tiquets mentioned or recommended here. Always best to use the official ticketing sites. This is where a good guide book would serve you well- and even the guide books that haven’t been recently updated- post COVID- can be wrong- so going to the OFFICIAL websites is your best bet.

Day 1 nothing booked. planning to see Pantheon Day 2 9:30 am -
Colosseum / Forum / Palatine

> 4 pm Borghese
Day 3 8:30 am - Vatican / Sistine Also interested in
seeing Tiber, Appian Way, climbing dome of St Peter's Basilica
whenever we can fit these in. Possibly also Villa Medici. Day 2 is a
Wed and I believe St Peter's is closed on that day.

St Peters is open every day. It closes on Wed am for the papal audience til about 1 pm. Not sure what that schedule is in July/post COVID-
Official site here:
https://www.vatican.va/various/basiliche/san_pietro/index_it.htm
Use Google Translate if you can get to the English page.

Showing up to climb the dome early when it opens is a good plan but of course you won’t be the ONLY people doing that. If climbing dome is a must that is probably your best bet- especially in July- it will be hot and claustrophobic so you’d want to get it over with early!
But honestlyI don't see how and when this dome climb fits on any morning.
Day 1 you are not there in the am.
Day 2 you have Colosseum at 9:30- no way you get there on time if you climb the dome that am
Day 3 You have Vatican/Sistine at 8:30.

Colosseum/Forum/Palatine needs a minimum of 3 hours- and that’s pushing it- after that you need lunch and you will want to get to Borghese by 3:30ish. You don’t really have time for much else this day.

Vatican and Sistine will also take a few hours. Add St Peters to that and your day is almost gone.

Tiber? Do you mean Tiber Island or Tiber River?
Both are right there-the river runs right thru Rome. You will see the Tiber River as you cross it to go to St Peter’s. Tiber Island can be walked in about 5 min.
Appian Way is well outside the center of Rome- takes time to get there and needs several hours. Don’t see you having time for this at all.

booking.com is perfectly fine. Reviews are extremely helpful. Set your filters for price, AC, 24 hr desk, bkft/fridge, location, etc and see what is available. I’d suggest staying pretty close to historic center- near Pantheon or Piazza Navonna. Mainly since your time in Rome is short- you’ll not want to waste time getting to sites if your lodgings are further out.
If you find something that looks right- post it here and ask for reviews/advice. We’ve mostly all been to Rome more than once and can steer you in the right direction.

Do you have a good map of Rome? That would probably help you visualize these 3 days. Rome is very walkable and actually more compact that you realize. The historic center and ancient Rome (Colosseum, etc) is where you will spend most if not all of your time.

RS has a very good Heart of Rome walk that will take you to and past all the major landmarks/fountains etc.

Last bit of advice- it wil be HOT. Churches are free and nice and cool inside. There are dozens and dozens of them in Rome. Step in, enjoy the art and decoration and a bit of quiet time.
Be sure your knees and shoulders are covered.

Tiqets says that I pick up the ticket from their office:

Touristation office: Viale Vaticano 97, 00192 Rome Vatican Museums: Viale Vaticano, 00165 Rome Opening times on 28 Jul 2022
Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel: 09:00 - 18:00
Start time: 08:30
Arrival time: 15 minutes before start
How to use your tickets
Go to the 'Touristation' office (point 1 on the map) and show your smartphone ticket to the representative, who will then take you to the Vatican Museums and help you get inside

I've used tiquets with no problem, not in Rome but in both Athens and Lisbon. I don't think that that is a concern, but definitely check how to use the tickets - in my experience you just show your phone ticket at the entry, but that would depend on the set-up of the place. The tiquets email will say.

However, this is an tight schedule. I don't think you can comfortably do all you say, especially if you want to "have room for spontaneity". Are you arriving from your intercontinental flight at noon on day 1? If so, you won't be in Rome until 2 at the absolute earliest. Add in a minor delay - very common lately - and 4 isn't unreasonable. Remember, you have to go through passport control, then get your checked bags, if any, then get to the city, which is roughly 40 minutes in a cab, longer in a train if you count extra transit from the train station to the hotel. So you really can't do much planned on this day. The next day you will be jet lagged. You might say now you are good getting up at 6 in order to make a 7:30AM Vatican visit...but the reality may be different. Regardless, you do have this full day.

The final day, I assume it's 8PM you leave, right? You have to check out of your hotel at check out time (11AM is common, sometimes 10 or 12, but I've rarely seen later than 12.) So you leave first thing for morning sightseeing, the hotel holds your bags, you need to return to the hotel to get your bag and get to the...airport? Train station? If airport, you need to factor in multiple hours, if train you have more time. Be sure to factor transit time to return to the hotel, collect bags, and get to your train/flight in time to not miss it!

You have two "clumps". Colosseum/Forum/Palatine are all together, and Vatican/Sistine/St. Peters. One "clump" each day, each can take a full day but you don't necessarily have the time for that, so read ahead and figure out your own priorities. Trying to go between the clumps on the same day can work, but it's much less efficient. Also, you will want time for the historic core/Pantheon/Trevi Fountain/Navona. This is a good place for evenings - on day 1, it would be a nice welcome to Rome dinner and post-dinner time.

Booking.com is reliable. Obviously there may be bad hotels on there, but if you read reviews carefully you should be fine. On your schedule, location is paramount. Get a room close to things you want to see. You can't afford a lot of time going back and forth.

these are 3 days in the midst of a trip to UK so no jet lag. landing and departing from FCO.

If you are flying from/to UK you will need to do passport control/processing on arrival and when you depart

If you land at noon, 2PM is probably the best you can hope for to be at your lodging; likely 3PM before you can be out doing tourist stuff.

For the return you probably need to head for the airport not much past 4PM. Presumably you will have left your bags at the hotel while touring that day and have to go back to retrieve them, and then head for the airport.

There have been a couple of recent reports of folks arriving at FCO and making it to the gate within ~40 minutes, but planning for that sort of efficient processing is a risk.

Thanks Mira

Be sure to factor transit time to return to the hotel, collect bags,
and get to your train/flight in time to not miss it!

no checked bags, just a small backpack which we can carry with us on day 3 if it seems too tight to stop back at the hotel.

Also , Rick Steves says to contact a guest house directly and book with them rather than on the major sites. Has any one done this? Is this a reliable way to go?
https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/read/articles/booking-rooms-in-europe

Yes, definitely book direct. I use booking.com and other sites just to read the reviews but I always book directly with the business. You don't need to email or call, I just use their website.

Book direct if the hotel has a website. However some smaller properties mainly book through booking.com and other sights. They don’t want to maintain a website and almost everyone wants to book online so they go with the booking sights. I’d check for an easy way to book direct, but if there isn’t one then using booking.com is fine.

no checked bags, just a small backpack which we can carry with us on
day 3 if it seems too tight to stop back at the hotel.

I'm not quite following you here. That small backpack will be the ONLY luggage - with all of your clothes and toiletries - you'll be taking on the entire trip?

I'm not quite
following you here. That small backpack will be the ONLY luggage -
with all of your clothes and toiletries - you'll be taking on the
entire trip?

yes, just one small backpack each :-)

OK gotcha. Depending on the size, you may have to check it at the Vatican museums (your Day 3):

https://m.museivaticani.va/content/dam/museivaticani/pdf/visita_musei/servizi_visitatori/Regolamento_guardaroba_en.pdf

https://m.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani-mobile/en/organizza-visita/consigli-utili.html

Looks good.

Has anyone here ever kept anything in the Vatican cloakroom? Is there a risk of it being full and not accepting the bag? Are the lines very long to leave and collect things from the cloakroom?

thanks

Vatican Museum-
CLOAKROOM REGULATIONS
Art. 1
It is compulsory for visitors to stow the following items in the cloakroom:
a) food and drinks of any type;
b) suitcases, bags, packages and containers in general, of a size greater
than 40 x 35 x 15 cm; ( 15x12x6 inches)
c) rucksacks, with the possible exception of small ones that, when
carried on the shoulders, do not exceed the widest point of the body by
more than 15 cm; (6 inches)
https://m.museivaticani.va/content/dam/museivaticani/pdf/visita_musei/servizi_visitatori/Regolamento_guardaroba_en.pdf

So how big are your backpacks you intend to use when filled with your stuff?

As with anything at the Vatican I would expect lines

Vatican Museum- CLOAKROOM REGULATIONS Art. 1 It is compulsory for
visitors to stow the following items in the cloakroom: a) food and
drinks of any type; b) suitcases, bags, packages and containers in
general, of a size greater than 40 x 35 x 15 cm; ( 15x12x6 inches) c)
rucksacks, with the possible exception of small ones that, when
carried on the shoulders, do not exceed the widest point of the body
by more than 15 cm; (6 inches)
https://m.museivaticani.va/content/dam/museivaticani/pdf/visita_musei/servizi_visitatori/Regolamento_guardaroba_en.pdf
So how big are your backpacks you intend to use when filled with your
stuff?

challenge accepted ;-)

so i have contacted the guest house where we plan to stay and they will allow me to keep the bags there on the day of check out and collect them in the afternoon before catching the train to the airport. has anyone done this kind of thing and is it generally considered safe to do so?

It’s perfectly safe to have your hotel hold your bags before and after check out
We’ve done that for years, in every country we’ve visited

What sort of “guest house” is this?

Best practice is to always keep your passport and credit cards/ cash/ valuables ON your person at all times
Use a money belt

The Guest House is called "Ariana Luxury Guest House"

It appears to be near Piazzale Brasile. Has anyone been there? It worth being near here? I could get something closer to the main sights by paying a little bit more. But apart from the higher cost there is also the higher density of tourists and possibly higher noise levels, as I have read from some reviews of hotels near the Pantheon etc, though not all. I don't mind some ambient noise and it is not like I have always lived in the countryside, but I am not sure how much noise we are talking about.

"Day 1 nothing booked. planning to see Pantheon"

You don't specify the days of your trip, but if Day 1 falls on a weekend, the Pantheon recently changed its policy whereby reservations are required on weekends.

The location is fine as fas as safety, etc but it is too far out of the way for main sights.
1.6 miles to Spagna
Too far to walk to/from Termini as well ( at least IMO)
If you were only going to the Borghese it would be perfect but it is at least 30 min walk to the Pantheon, 40-45 to Colosseum
I don’t see that they offer bkft , that is something we always prefer
It saves time, are usually quite extensive eliminating the need for a big lunch and finding what constitutes an American bkft is not easy
Unless you are fine with a pastry and espresso at a bar

Rome is a big city, there will be noise

The area around the Pantheon is mostly all pedestrian only so you won’t have traffic noise that you will at the Ariana location

I’d pay a bit more to be more centrally located, but that’s me

You are only there 2 nights and want to see Vatican. colosseum, Pantheon

Stay closer to Pantheon and you will only need transport to Vatican (take a cab there if you are going early am then walk back)
I’d rather pay a bit more and spend less time or no time on public transportation getting to the sights

Heat is also an issue, the less walking cross town the better

Maybe if you provide us with your budget, needs and dates we could help you locate a hotel that could work for you.

And to add.... As your daughter is college-aged, I would think you'd want a room with at least 2 beds. Unless you book a triple room, I don't see the guesthouse you're looking at being able to provide that unless I'm missing something. Some Italian accommodations have beds that can be pushed together to make a double, or pulled apart to make two separated twins. The reservation info on booking.com doesn't show that amenity, and I'm not seeing mention of it anywhere else.

I think you should make every effort to find a place to stay in the Centro Storico, within walking distance of the major attractions. It will be worth the convenience to be able to get quickly to and from your lodgings during the heat of the summer.

Thanks all for the suggestions.

Found a new room in a guest house near the Centro Storico. Access to a common kitchen too. Not planning to cook per se but can at least boil water to make oatmeal for breakfast. Saves a little time and money and then we don't have to worry about breakfast timings matching our schedule.

I started out extremely nervous about this whole trip but feel much better now. Still plenty to worry about (!) but ready to take the plunge.