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First Trip to Italy with family

I do not know where to start. I need to build an itinerary for Rome.
We would like to see Colosseum, Roman Forum, Spanish Steps, Appian Way/Catacombs, Vatican Museums . Maybe it is too much for four nights where we plan to stay from June 16 ( arrival in Rome Airport in late Morning) to June 20 ( will depart to Florence)

We would like to enjoy and relax in Rome. I am trying to build an itinerary for those events and shopping and lunch and dinner etc...

We would love to try to eat the local dining in the evening.

The major problem is that, we are DEAF. I aware of no American sign language for tour. Nothing that we can do about it.
Can you recommend what do you think of the itinerary if you can make one for us?

Posted by
15682 posts

Let me think on an itinerary but in the meantime, here's a little good news: the Colosseum has an 'audio' guide (that must mean visuals on the hand-held device) available for rent in ASL (€ 5.50). See this page under "Audio Guides" :

http://www.coopculture.it/en/the-colosseum.cfm#

The Vatican Museums also appear to have a video guide in ASL that's free (yay!) for use during your visit:

http://mv.vatican.va/3_EN/pages/z-Info/Didattica/MV_Info_Videoguida_ASL.html

I haven't found such services for the catacombs (yet) but the mandatory tours are provided in multiple languages, including English. How are your lipreading skills? St Callixtus also has quite a bit of info on their website which could be downloaded and taken along so you know what you're looking at.

http://www.catacombe.roma.it/en/index.php
http://www.catacombe.roma.it/en/percorsi.php

Posted by
85 posts

Great News about ASL video for Vatican Museums! We are NOT able to use audio because We are born totally DEAF. :(

I learned something about cost of tickets. I feel it is rip us off because we are missing a lot of information. What do you suggest about the tickets to purchase for Deaf Visitors to feel worth it?

We are staying near by Spanish Steps for four nights.

Hope to hear from you when you are trying to think of the itinerary for us.

Big Thanks!

Posted by
8572 posts

http://www.handsontvl.com/.

Started by two hearing impaired individuals who live in Rome. As far as wanting to see everything in 4 days it is doable with your own 2 feet and use age of the Metro. Use the google maps satellite view and type in Coloseum. Roman Forum is adjacent to it. Easily walkable. You'll be able to see the distance to Spanish Steps, etc.
Lastly have NO clue about this website but might be worth you investigating. https://www.interpreters.travel/en/rome/2261?gclid=CPTslfHWhssCFQepaQodRg0Kbw

Good luck.

Posted by
85 posts

I thought the mobile phone may not great reception due weak wifi?

Posted by
15682 posts

Yes, I know a traditional audio guide wouldn't be useful: they specifically mention on the Colosseum's website that this particular one is an ASL guide so I think it's just a poor use of wording.

No, the normal cost of entry tickets would not be a "rip off" as there isn't anything provided at either the Vatican or Colosseum under that price for people WITH hearing. They have to rent an audioguide too, take a tour or use a guidebook. We've taken no formal tours in Rome - other than what has been mandatory, such as at a catacomb - and have used our own guidebooks and printed materials at the sites themselves for learning about them.

Posted by
85 posts

Additional my son is studying Archeology and Arthopology Major for the first year in USA. However does the Roma Pass or any other tickets accept him to get a discount tickets?

Posted by
85 posts

Kathy, you are making a sense. Are you trying to think to making an itinerary? I hope it is helps us. Big Thanks

We are very close to Spagna Train Station. Can we walk instead of using train? Because of Roma Pass included train tickets. I am little lost about how to purchase tickets for visiting the sites.

Posted by
15682 posts

Additional my son is studying Archeology and Arthopology Major for the
first year in USA. However does the Roma Pass or any other tickets
accept him to get a discount tickets?

Not unless he's under the age of 18 or an E.U. citizen, I don't believe. And civic museums have different admission policies than national museums.

The one exception is the Vatican Museums: the website notes that :
"Students up to 25 years of age, on presentation of a valid International Student Card, a student identity document or other documentation stating their registration to a university or institution of higher education, are granted the reduced price ticket."

Posted by
85 posts

Yes he is under 25 years old. He is still student College. How can we notify them that he is student college while purchase ticket at Vatican?

Posted by
15682 posts

Itinerary: I'll have to have a little more time to think about that but in the meantime...

A note about the Roma Pass: if you do not intend to use it quite a bit for public transport, it's not a good buy. We walk almost everywhere in Rome so we've never purchased the pass but we are also well used to putting on 10-15 miles a day on foot so how much walking you can do depends on your personal abilities. We have purchased a few individual public transport tickets for attractions further afield or if we're in a hurry.

The Roma Pass does not cover anything at the Vatican, in case you didn't know that.

Regarding tickets for the Vatican: what you will be doing is making reservations. They will send you a voucher used for picking up your tickets when you arrive at the time of your reservation. This from the website (http://biglietteriamusei.vatican.va/musei/tickets/do?action=booking&codiceTipoVisita=26&step=2)

"It is also possible to reserve a ticket at a reduced price for students up to 25 years of age on presentation of a student identity document or a valid International Student Card on the day of the visit.* If a reduced price ticket is reserved without the required documents the visitor will be asked to make payment of a full price ticket so as to enter. The reduced ticket will not be refunded. "

I'm also going to strongly suggest that you get a guidebook to help plan your trip. "Rick Steves Rome" is, of course, the most recommended of them on this site, and it'll have all sorts of useful information which will be very good to have read in advance.

Posted by
85 posts

I do not mind we walk up to 15 miles a day. Not a problem. That is what I thought.

I wonder if it is worth to see at night, Colosseum By Night by walking from our apartment ?

I am really overwhelming. I checked too many websites, all the different prices to purchase tickets. I am looking for skip in line :)

I found, Is it good? https://www.expedia.com/things-to-do/skip-the-line-colosseum-palatine-hill-roman-forum-ticket.a166461.activity-details?theme=colosseum-tour&regionId=179899&semcid=US.MULTILOB.GOOGLE.SEARCH.TSHOP&kword=%20colosseum_%20tours!m.ZzZz.4280000000619.0.79120810750.+colosseum%20+tours.%20colosseum_%20tours&gclid=CM6J-oPjhssCFYhbhgodKmoPTA

Posted by
85 posts

@Kathy ,

I need to purchase tickets very soon when you are trying to offer a good an itinerary.
Thanks!

Posted by
15682 posts

fsg89, have a lot going on right this minute so will get to it soon as I can.

I am not a travel agent, BTW, nor is anyone else on the forums so urgency for itineraries for trips other than our own isn't always top of the to-do list. :O)

Posted by
8572 posts

Yes fsg89 everyone replying to you are merely fellow travelers NOT travel agents or paid Rick Steve employees. We are only trying to help. I still think you should contact people on the link I posted. Believe they would be able help you define your itinerary. Good luck.

Posted by
7175 posts

June 16
Trastevere

June 17
Colosseum
Forum
Trevi Fountain
Spanish Steps
Piazza del Popolo

June 18
St Peters
Vatican Museums
Castel San Angelo
Pantheon
Piazza Navona

June 19
Appian Way
Catacombs

Posted by
85 posts

June 16
Arrival at 10 am at airport in Rome.
Trastevere - Walking around/dining/Shopping?
June 17
Colosseum - Need Tickets (must)
Forum- Need Tickets (must)
Trevi Fountain-Walking around/dining/Shopping?
Spanish Steps -Walking around/dining/Shopping?
Piazza del Popolo- walking around , no need tickets?
June 18
St Peters - need Tickets (probably must)
Vatican Museums - need Tickets (must)
Castel San Angelo - need tickets?????
Pantheon -need Tickets ( not sure if we should go)
Piazza Navona- walking around/dining shopping
June 19
Appian Way- need Tickets - Is it good to go?
Catacombs- need Tickets- Is it good to go?

Please correct me.

Posted by
250 posts

FSG I can understand being overwhelmed by tour and ticket options, especially when not all websites say the same thing about them. My advice about that is go by what the official websites say about times, prices, etc. Yes, the booking process is confusing for some (I know other people have complained about Coop Culture), but you know what you see is what you get that way.

You need to calm down and be patient. This is only February. Four weeks is not too long to wait for tour tickets to become available. I don't understand why you are panicking so early before a trip that is nearly four months away. It is possible to create other parts of an itinerary first, then figure out times and dates after buying the Vatican Museums and Colosseum tour tickets. For example you and the other people can decide what else to visit that does not require a dated ticket. Then pick the times and dates for everything later after Colosseum tour tickets become available. Does that make sense?

BTW I have not been to Italy and am just going by general knowledge from years of planning many vacations using guidebooks.

Posted by
15682 posts

June 16
Arrival at 10 am at airport in Rome.
Trastevere - Walking around/dining/Shopping? Add the Jewish Ghetto to this.
June 17
Colosseum - Need Tickets (must) You have the website for ordering these
Forum- Need Tickets (must) Is on the same ticket as the Colosseum
Trevi Fountain-Walking around/dining/Shopping? This is just a walk-by
Spanish Steps -Walking around/dining/Shopping? Another walk-by
Piazza del Popolo- walking around , no need tickets. This is a public square: no tickets needed
June 18
St Peters - need Tickets (probably must) You cannot get entry tickets for the basilica; it's free. You will have to wait in a security check line
Vatican Museums - need Tickets (must)
YES. MUST. It's going to be crazy busy in June.
Castel San Angelo - need tickets????? Not in advance; buy them there
Pantheon -need Tickets ( not sure if we should go)
Yes you should. This is a very important structure. It is free: no tickets.
Piazza Navona- walking around/dining shopping
June 19
Appian Way- need Tickets - Is it good to go? This is a public road; no tickets
Catacombs- need Tickets- Is it good to go? Get tickets at the one you want to see
Please correct me.

A couple of notes:
June is going to be very, very busy everywhere so expect heavy crowds. It's also a Jubilee Year at the Vatican so lines for St Peter's may be very long. There are tours available on the Vatican website which include both the Vatican Museums and the Basilica, and provide direct entrance into the church from the museums but they are not offered in ASL.

Appian Way: although this has been designated as a 'park', it is still a road used today although the further out you get, the less vehicular traffic there is. I don't know just how far out you intend to go. The ruins of a Roman Circus and a couple of other things along the way have entry fees just like the catacombs do. You can find all the info on the park here:

http://www.parcoappiaantica.it

This will not be a fun thing to do if it's pouring rain.

Posted by
7175 posts

Your questions have been exceptionally well answered by Kathy - thanks to her.

I would only prebook for the Colosseum+Forum and the Vatican Museums.

You may want to find time for the Bhorgese Gallery if you have an interest in art. Of course a lot of (free) art in the churches you will pass along the way.

Posted by
250 posts

If you want to visit the Borghese Gallery, YOU MUST MAKE A RESERVATION. They are timed tickets. So do your research on it before paying 44 euros (11 per person) and be careful about choosing a time to visit. Reservations are required because of a strict limit on the number of people inside, so this does not mean you will take a tour. If flexibility in art museum timing is important to you there are lots of other choices you can learn about here and in guidebooks.

Posted by
15682 posts

I love the Borghese, and would personally choose that one over the mob at the Vatican Museums but I've no idea how our OP would fit it in. Something else would have to go!

As the OP's son is studying archeology, some of the older sites may be higher on the interest list?

Posted by
85 posts

Personally, Vatican Museum is for Parent who want to see.. :) My son is very flexible to find something interesting such as Colosseum and Appian Way. I looked the information about Appian Way which it seem not interesting to me but.. I am trying to find better than Appian Way. My son seems interesting with skeletons . Where??

Posted by
15682 posts

He'd have to be more specific about his interest in "skeletons". He won't see those in the catacombs (or we didn't, anyway) and I think the only place place they're really on display is in the Capuchin Crypt (Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini). Those are also not "skeletons" as one would usually think of them.

http://www.cappucciniviaveneto.it/il_museo_3.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Maria_della_Concezione_dei_Cappuccini

Posted by
85 posts

I found some help with visitacity.com

I tried to build an itinerary. What do you think? I try to make sure not to miss to visit a museums while we walk slowly and enjoy to explore before go to the museums.
WE are very interesting to find a local dining, Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner AND shopping. Any recommendation?

June 16 (1st day) THURSDAY
ARRIVAL AT AIRPORT ROME.
---walk around in Trastevere and Jewish Ghetto
---Eat Lunch and maybe Dinner( any recommendation?)

June 17 (2nd day) FRIDAY
----In Morning, Colosseum (START WHAT TIME?)
and Colosseum Underground duration approx 3 hours
---Palatine Hill and Roman Forum duration up to 2 hours

BREAK / WALK TO:

---Walk to Trevi Fountation ( shopping/lunch?)
---Walk to Spanish Step (shopping/lunch?)
Then
---Walk to Piazza del Popolo

Where do you recommend us to go to dinner?

June 18 (3rd day)- SATURDAY
--IN MORNING, Vatican,Sistine Chapel, Raphael's room and St. Peters at 10 am (duration up to 3 hours)

20 minutes walk to:
---Walk to Castel Sant' Angelo - Not available TOUR after Vatican?
---Walk to Piazza Naovna - REST and Lunch?
---Walk to Pantheon - Free Tickets
---Dinner (Where do you recommend us to go to dinner?)

Posted by
22 posts

I think the Rick Steves guides would be a big help in figuring out good restaurants. Do you have the Italy guide in hand? It's all there in great detail. People of course can be very helpful recommending their favorites, but for the nuts and bolts of it, the guides are written and scrupulously researched for a reason. Looks like these guys here have done a great job with itinerary ideas--I learned something myself for our trip next month!

Posted by
784 posts

I think your Friday is going to be very full of both historic sites and walking. Over the course of a number of visits to Rome, we've only visited the Palatine Hill once (and the Forum and Coloseum almost every time). The Palatine Hill is more ruinous, so it's more difficult to envision how is must have looked. You may enter information overload after the Forum, Coloseum and the Palatine Hill.

For lunch in that area, we like Hostaria Isidoro. Lots of good pasta choices (and other foods).

It will likely be late afternoon once you finish those visit. Also in the area, and very interesting, is San Clemente, a church bult on top of an older church, built on a Mithraic Temple, on top of an ancient Roman home, all available for viewing.

To walk from there to the Trevi Fountain, then to the Spanish Steps, and then to Piazza del Popolo is quite a bit of walking. You may just want to walk over to the Trevi, then down to the Pantheon or Piazza Navona and spend some much-needed rest time at a cafe, and visit the Piazza del Popolo. Which I have never found terribly interesting, BTW.

Your son may already have specific architecture books about Rome. If not, he might want to get the Blue Guide to Rome. Heavy and dense, but lots of detailed information on just about every historic thing in the city.

You might want to check out a company called Hands on Travel. They organize tours for the deaf, but it was started by a Deaf American with Italian roots, who now lives in Rome, and they have consultation services. While I think you would do just fine with your own guidebooks (that's how we visit places 90% of the time), they may be able to propose ASL guided tours in Rome, if you want to do that.

Enjoy!

Posted by
85 posts

I keep changing. I don't know anymore. It is getting harder and harder. Am I making a sense this one?

Day 1, 16th Thurs
Late Afternoon: walk around Trastevere and Jewish Ghetto
Evening: Dinner

Day 2, 17th Friday
Morning: Colosseum, Roman Forum, Paltatine Hill
Afternoon: Lunch- Hostaria Isidoro (maybe)
Evening: Spanish Steps and Piazza del Popolo
Evening Dinner

Day 3, 18th Sat
Morning: Vatican, Sistine Chapel, St Peters
Afternoon: San Clemente, Trevi Foundation
Lunch: location?
Walk: Castel Sant’ Angelo
Walk/ Dinner: Piazza Naovna

Day 4, 19th Sunday
Morning: Appian Way
Afternoon: Pantheon ( huh? Make sense?)
Lunch: location?
Dinner: location?

Day 5, 20th depart to Florence

Posted by
32173 posts

I haven't read all the replies so not sure if anyone has mentioned it, but it would be a really good idea to have a look at the RS Italy 2016 guidebook as there's a lot of great information there for touring in all the locations you'll be staying. If you don't want to buy a copy, you should be able to find one at your local Library.

"I thought the mobile phone may not great reception due weak wifi?"

You'll only have Wi-Fi access in hotels for the most part, unless you can find restaurants where this is offered. The quality of service will vary, and you'll have to get a password and sign on in each place you use Wi-Fi service. You could also use 3G/LTE service, but you'll need to check (a) whether your present phones will even work in Europe and (b) what the cost will be for cellular data roaming, as well as voice and text service.

Although I can appreciate that you can't use Audio guides, note that many audio guides download into the phone, so don't require wireless access to use them. Rick's audio guides have PDF maps showing walking tour routes, etc. which you can download and print AFAIK. Is there anyone in your group that can provide assistance with hearing and translation to ASL?

You stated that this was a first trip to Italy. Is it also a first trip to Europe? If so there are other concerns when travelling with electrical or electronic gadgets.

You'll also need to be aware that there are some potentially expensive "caveats" to be aware of when using trains and other public transit in Italy. How were you planning to get from Rome airport / FCO into the city? If you need more information on that, post another note.

Buon Viaggio!

Posted by
85 posts

No this is not my first time to Europe.

I am hoping to get a high speed train from Rome to Florence when we are leaving from Rome. The websites are not available to sell the tickets. I am very concern about this.

Probably I will print the pdf guide. Thats the best option for us.

Which section are the most local italian restaurants?

Thanks for concern!

Posted by
250 posts

Janie, that is why I am reading this thread: to see if any suggestions people give FSG will help me as I plan my first trip to Italy. I do not know ASL and neither does my mom, but would appreciate any other ideas that are helpful for deaf people because she hears almost nothing after a flight even with her hearing aids.

Posted by
7049 posts

I am hoping to get a high speed train from Rome to Florence when we are leaving from Rome. The websites are not available to sell the tickets. I am very concern about this.

Trenitalia does but probably only 120 days out (you may be too early); there is no reason to be concerned about getting tickets, you will get tickets.

Also, I would say you don't need to plan every lunch and dinner - there's something to be said about spontaneity. I think it's hard to predict which location you'll be in exactly when you get hungry, so it's OK to go to a place whose menu looks appetizing that you happen to pass by. Italians eat much later - say 8pm so a lot of small places will be crowded past that time.

Posted by
85 posts

Thanks for information! I probably just need a ton of water! :)

Posted by
22 posts

@Traveling Woman, I wasn't trying to sound snarky when I suggested the RS book for dining ideas. It just seemed that resource hadn't been used by the OP, so I merely suggested it.

Posted by
15682 posts

I haven't read all the replies so not sure if anyone has mentioned it,
but it would be a really good idea to have a look at the RS Italy 2016
guidebook as there's a lot of great information there for touring in
all the locations you'll be staying.

Yes, Ken, I suggested that earlier in this thread (02/20/16 10:25 AM) but for the RS Rome book as there wasn't any conversation at that point about Florence. So yes, I'd recommend either the RS Italy book or any good guidebook at all at this point.

We don't pre-plan restaurants either, and don't eat as late as Italians do. Never been a problem.

Posted by
250 posts

No problem Janie. The tour group will give me a list of restaurants to choose from if I read the dining section of its booklet correctly. It also schedules some meals with the whole group of 30-40 people. So that part of the RS book would not help me anyway.