First Trip Anywhere - and it is to Rome

Just my opinion... there is plenty enough in Rome to fill the 5 days. A day trip to Venice or Florence is possible I guess, probably more like a one-night stay, but either way that's a long day with a lot of transportation.

I think for your first trip, you will enjoy it more if you stay in Rome (maybe do the day trip to Ostia Antica if you want to get out of Rome for a day) and gain some more confidence in your travel abilities and some experience. Then once you feel comfortable, you can come back and do the northern Italian cities next time!

I can't imagine trying to do Rome, Florence and Venice in just five days! You'd spend an awful lot of your vacation studying the Italian train and taxi system getting to Florence and Venice. Florence and Venice are not day trips from Rome. It wears me out just thinking about it.

I can't even imagine doing it by plane. By the time you got to the Rome airport, through ticketing and security, fly to Florence, get out of the airport and into town, it's about time to turn around and start the trip back to Rome!

If your son and his wife want to try that, let 'em. You stay in Rome, maybe take some group city tours so you're not alone. Your hotel will arrange a taxi to get you to the tour site. Maybe the hotel can also tell you how to find a taxi to get back to the hotel afterward.

One note: hotels where I've stayed in Rome never have any English channels on TV. They only pick up local channels on an antenna. Granted, I don't stay at 5-star hotels! Maybe nicer places have satellite and international channels.

So, if you're alone in Rome for a day or two, and don't want to go out much alone, you may spend a lot of time watching TV in Italian or reading books. Of course, reading books might be OK for you. A good restful part of your vacation.

Venice is definitely a little too much for a "day trip." Florence can be experienced as a day trip, as can Pompeii or Herculaneum. Pick one or the other, and stick to Rome for the rest of the time.

With only 5 days, I would spend the entire time in Rome,especially if you have an interest in Roman history. There is more than enough to keep you as busy as you want to be, or just more time to soak in the atmosphere. If you really feel the need to get out of town, my suggestions would be a half day trip to Ostia Antica or a day trip to Orvieto. Save Florence and Venice for your next trip.They deserve more than a quick trip.
Good advice to take a couple of guided tours while your son is gone. Where will you be staying?

I went to Roma the first time when I was a callow youth of 15 in 1951. I fell in love with Roma and, to a lesser extent, with Firenze. I have been back to Roma many times since then with my wife, sent my children, and plan to go every year or so for the rest of my life. I think you will love it and take it into your heart. Five days is great for a first visit to Roma. My first visit was only 2 1/2 days. I would agree with Linda that a side trip to Ostia Antica would be a good side trip on this trip or your next (you will be back). But you can seen Firenze in one day if you take an early ES train to Firenze. Have your hotel make reservations for the Uffizi and the Medici Chapel in advance for you. When you arrive forcus on the main sites (I would be thrilled to help you) and don't worry about what you miss. Again, you will be back. Then take a late train back to Roma. Believe me you can do it and you will have a ball. Please write if I can help. Email: [email protected]

I just returned and spent 5 days in Rome. There is so much to see and do. I think that if you have such an interest in Roman history, you will be disappointed if you cut it short. Spend all five days in Rome!

You have all been so gracious. Thank you. I don't know where we are going to stay. My son is making the reservations and we're on a budget. Any advice? I'd like to stay somewhere that is convenient either to the sights or to transportation to the sights.

First, take Rick's well worn advice..."Assume you will return", then plan to see everything you want to see. I took my wife and her 83 year old mother to Rome, Tuscany and Paris in 2007 and most of that was in Florence and the Cinque Terre. We found that 2 1/2 days was simply not enough time for us in Rome (or Paris either, for that matter), and I didn't realize how much of Rome we missed until we got home and saw Rick's DVD of "Italian Cities". It didn't help that we lost our "Italy 2008" guide book on the first day. Given your love of Roman history, I'd stick to Rome and make sure you have the time to see everything YOU want to see, not just that of your family.

Florence is a wonderful city and I strongly disagree that you can see it in one day, even a long one, when you factor in three hours RT on the train. In addition to Michelangelo's David at Acadamia and the many fine works at the Uffizi including his Holy Family painting, there's The Doumo (and it's museum and Baptistry, Santa Maria Novella church and many other things that will capture your imagination if you allow time to slowly work your way through them. In my opinion, stick to Rome and plan another week-long trip in a couple of years that includes Venice, Florence and side trips to Siena and the CT. You'll find that you'll get the most out of BOTH trips that way.

Final word of wisdom(?). Remember you are going in the heat and crowds of summer and that will slow you down, even with reservations to many sites. Have a great time.

PS My wife is a UT grad. Go Vols!!

"My son is making the reservations and we're on a budget. Any advice?"

We stayed at Hotel Giardino, a Rick Steves recommendation for those on a budget. It's a couple of blocks to the Trevi Fountain. Five more minutes walking and you're at the Pantheon.

In the other direction, it's about 10 minutes walk to the Forum and Colosseum.

It's not a fancy place, but it's clean, with friendly and helpful staff. We stayed there three nights and liked it.

Your son and daughter-in-law are not making a great decision to attempt these two day trips in a 5-day visit to Italy. Maybe a day-trip to Florence could work as the high-speed Eurostar can get you there in 1hr.40min and the train station is a few blocks from the historical center. Venice makes it more complicated.

Aside from spending about $225 per person for tickets on the high-speed Eurostars, they will see very little. These are "blink" and run for the train excursions. If you go with the children, you will see most of Italy from the train window.

As a senior citizen, I suggest hugging the two adventurers and sending them off. Being alone in Rome might be a bit out of your comfort zone but you'll be fine. There are plenty of bus and guided tours to keep you well occupied in Rome. There's just so much to see.

Delie,

Given that this is your first trip to Europe and that you've only got five days, I'd highly recommend limiting your stay to Rome (with perhaps a short day trip or two), especially as you've "always been fascinated with Rome and Roman history". Also, you're going to be there in August, which is PEAK season and a time when many Italians take their holidays. It will likely be hot and crowded!

I'd suggest having a look at a copy of Europe Through The Back Door, so that you're familiar with things like Rail skills, money and language issues, etc. August is only a month away, so if you haven't booked accommodations, do it quickly! Also, you might want to pack along a copy of the Italy 2009 Guidebook, as it's good reference while travelling.

While a day trip to Florence is certainly possible, IMHO it would be better to just limit your stay to Rome. Venice is not exactly a "day trip" from Rome, as the trip is about 4.5 hours each way. That's a nine hour day, so doesn't leave much time for sightseeing in Venice! Given the time of year you'll be there, your Son's day trip plans are more than a bit "ambitious".

Be sure to read the section in ETBD regarding "Theft & Scams" as unprepared travellers are easy prey for petty criminals. Wear a Money Belt!

Good luck with your planning!

Here's another vote for spending all of your time in Rome. As mentioned already, there's more than enough to see there!

I don't know what your budget is, but we've stayed (and will be staying against this fall) at Residenza Canali ai Coronari. We have a triple room for 210 Euros/night (190 Euros if we pay cash). The rooms are nice but not luxurious, and the staff is very helpful. It's a great location, on a quiet street about 1 block from Piazza Navona.

Have a wonderful time!

We stayed at Le Rose di Bl earlier this month 68 euro, not fancy but clean, great location. Look it up on trip advisor. I wouldn't do Florence nor Venice as day trip. The Roma Pass is good bargain. Read www.roninrome.com for lots of great info.

Delie, where ever you end up staying, be sure your hotel room has air conditioning. Often it's an extra charge per day. I think you will definitely need it in August.

Delie,, I second the A/C thing,, Rome is hot as Hades,, and all that stone work makes if just feel like you are in an oven sometimes.. LOL

I am so glad you are going on this trip,, you will have a great time,, and I also agree with others,, stay in Rome,, don't rush about.

I agree with everyone, stay in Rome the entire time. One thing I did not expect was that I would be so exhausted from our travel from the US to Italy. We had an overnight stay on the way over there so we would be well rested, but I was basically so tired I couldn't enjoy the first two days after we arrived. If you are planning on going to different major cities in Italy, you would be hard pressed to enjoy any of it in 5 days.

Have a great trip and enjoy Rome!!

We stayed at Hotel Lancelot in Rome and loved it! Staff was extremely helpful and all spoke English. They arranged private transportation from the airport for us with a great driver. Location was convenient to the Colosseum/Forum and public transportation, yet seemed a quiet neighborhood. There were great local restaurants nearby, and the hotel breakfasts were good. They also have dinner available if you let them know by 4:00, and the menus looked wonderful. We felt very at home there. (oh, and they also have an elevator.)