First time travelers to Europe

If you mean weather-wise, it might depend on whether you're more interested in avoiding hot weather or cool wet weather. Heat is quite possible in mid-September, but if you delay until October you could have chilly, damp weather, and you'd definitely have fewer hous of daylight. My preference would be September, but I'd want to be sure my hotel rooms would be air-conditioned.

Others who've been in Rome in both Sept. and Oct. can probably comment on how much less crowded the tourist sites might be in October.

http://www.hotelgoldenrome.com/

First book the tour, then the airline tickets after you get confirmation and know the time and where to leave from. Lastly, they will tell you what your first hotel is. Then see if you can book in the night before. Mid September is pretty good. The worst of the heat is over and getting into fall.

September is our favorite month to travel - less tourists than Summer, the daylight is still excellent and weather is generally very nice. You will want an air conditioned hotel in Rome, just in case. We stayed at the Albergo Cesari two years ago when we were in Rome - excellent location near the Pantheon. You might want to consider reserving the same hotel as the RS tour, so you don't need to switch hotels.

We have taken 9 RS tours to dat with 10 and 11 coming up in a few weeks. We usually fly in a day or two early and stay at the same hotel as the tour group uses for the first hotel. //we usually make the reservation as soon as we receive the tour confirmation which lists the first and last tour hotels. Also, we ask to be in the d=same room as we will have assigned for the tour nights. No problems to date. Saves having to pack up and move! Have a wonderful time on your travels!!

I thought September was a great time to be in Rome, as it's still warm enough at night for all the restaurants to have outdoor tables. This made the center feel like one big block party - very festive. But a friend of mine there at the same time didn't find this appealing enough to offset the heat during the day - which I, in turn, didn't find too bad. He also didn't like the bigger crowds in September compared to April (our other month there), when lunches are outside but dinners are usually inside. So, as you can see, everyone will have a different opinion.

September is certainly not a "bad" time to go for a first visit.

Yes, first you pick the tour you want, then you worry about nitty-gritty like flights and hotels.

To find flights, look at Kayak or Google Flights, but once you find out from them who goes where from your home town, look at the airline websites directly, and try to book directly with the airline (I just saved about $50 this way). You will wand to know your whole trip before booking any flights. For instance, many people not only come in a day early (highly recommended), but also spend a few days after. Where you spend those days after will determine your exit airport and date. Unless you're made of money, you don't want to be changing tickets once booked - so be sure you've got what you want the first time.

If you need flight help, tell us where you live, what your travel dates are, and what cities in Europe you are looking to arrive and depart from - the advice is different for each situation.

As for hotels, Sam is right. You will be notified of your first and last hotel before you get the full list. You then contact the hotel by e-mail, explain that you're coming on a Rick Steves tour and want to arrive a day early - how much will this cost? Assuming the answer is affordable to you, this is much easier than changing hotels. If it's too expensive, only then do you need to worry about finding other hotels.

Of course, if you're going to places post-tour that were not on the tour, you will have to find your own hotels. Rick's Italy book (which you should obtain with the store credit now included in your tour) is a great start, as are TripAdvisor, Booking dot com, Hotels dot com, and asking on this Forum. When you ask, you need to include your price range (in euros) and all your needs/wants (air conditioning? elevator? balcony? breakfast?).

I would choose mid-October over mid-September, because I don't mind a little rain (if there is any) and I'd hope the weather would not be as hot. Yes, there's more daylight in September, but I think long days are overrated. If you want to get up early for photos, a 7.30 sunrise in mid-Oct is preferable to a 6.45 sunrise a month earlier. When the sun sets at 6.30 in mid-October, you can enjoy it, then early dinner and out to see the city at night, or switch them and have a late dinner.

We prefer late Sept and October. We have never encounter damp and chilly weather in October. Often just the opposite. Maybe the last week of Oct as you move into November. It is always best to go a day or two early - we often go a week. It is always possible for your flight to be delayed and with international flights the delay can stretch to a day or more. For the first time ever, last Spring we had two flights back to back canceled. So instead of arriving on a Thursday didn't make it till Sat. Rare but possible.

The hotels that Steves frequently use in Rome are Aberdeen and Sonya near Termini.

I recommend that you go 2-3 nights ahead of time. Rather than recommend a specific hotel, because we don't know your budget constraints or physical ability, I recommend that you look at a map. Draw a rough "circle" around Piazza Navona, Campo dei Fiori, Largo Argentina, Pantheon. Anything in this general region will put you in easy strolling distance of many great sites. You can then just grab a hotel front desk map or a streetwise map from a bookstore at home, or a RS map in a guidebook and have a great time exploring on your own and getting over jet-lag. If you want a hotel recommendation - we used EXE Della Torre Argentina and found the location to be great. I heard very good things about Hotel Nazionale (sp?) next to the Parliament building and close to Pantheon.

The best months in Rome are generally April May June September and October.
Many new exhibitions start in September. It is not too hot in September, just nice 26-28 degree Celsius at the most, never the 35-38 Celsius there might be in August. Except July and August I do not think a/c is necessary in Rome. Romans are fantastic friendly people.

Near St Peter's basilica, there is a very nice bed and breakfast Home@Rome.

I'd definitely recommend going at least two days prior to the tour (preferably three) as that will not only allow you to get over jet lag, but also see some of the sights that won't be covered on the tour. If possible, it's also nice to stay at least one day after the tour ends just to "unwind".

I'd suggest staying in the same hotel as that used by the tour. You will of course have to pay for the extra nights yourself. The hotel may even assign you to the same room as you'll have with the tour. Same advice if you stay after the tour - use the same hotel.

If you are considering the Heart of Italy in 9 Days Tour, then I would suggest extra time in Rome beforehand, as well as a day or two extra in Florence afterwards, and perhaps adding on Venice by train as well. This is all easily managed on your own.

We went last September 12 through 22....lovely weather. My SIL went the year begore and it was incredibly hot. If I were to book again, I'd go the last of September, beginning of October.

What I noticed and enjoyed was the lack of all the kids....they were in school. Seems that there were tons of Middle Agers like ourselves, and young couples. The families were home.