Has anyone stayed in The Marriott Grand Flora in Rome on Via Veneta? Is it accessible to sites (within one mile)?
Which of the tour companies offers the best tours? Gray Line?
Posted by
Lake Forest, CA, USA
1633 posts
Yes, we stayed there for 4 nights two years ago and what a treat it was. The Spagna stop on the metro is the closest to the hotel. It is a bit of a walk when you exit the train to Via Veneto street, however, it is all underground. Just make sure you are walking towards Borghese Park and you will exit on the street right across from the hotel. We originally got off at the Barberini metro stop and it was quite a hike with our bags to the hotel.
When we checked in, I had the concierge make a reservation for myself at the Borghese Gallery for 5 p.m. that day. It was a 5 minute walk to the gallery and there was literally no one there at that time.
Just around the corner from the hotel there are some great restaurants and the Hard Rock Cafe. It's a very exclusive area. We enjoyed a huge breakfast buffet every morning on the rooftop terrace of the hotel. Have fun!
Posted by
Pa and Italy
4152 posts
The Via Veneto is a great area to stay. It is very close to the sites though not considered in the city center. It is less than a 10 minute walk to the spanish steps and about a 15 minute walk to the trevi fountain. It will take less than half an hour to walk to the colosseum. You will also be very close to the Borghese Park and Gallery, just up the end of the via veneto and through the walls. There is a metro stop at the piazza Barberini which is in the opposite direction than the Borghese gardens.
As for tour companies, which tours do you want to do? If you want a tour of the vatican museums just book through them at:
http://biglietteriamusei.vatican.va/musei/tickets/do?weblang=en&do
If you want a tour of the colosseum you can get one when you approach the site. If you want a tour of the city I would suggest contacting RoninRome.com. Ron gives wonderful tours of the city. You might also want to check out the romapass. The website is romapass.it. It is a site pass that lasts for 3 days, gives free entrance to the first 2 sites covered by the pass and reduced entrance prices to all other sites. It also comes with a transportation pass that you can use on the metro, buses and trams in Rome. It really is a wonderful pass and could save you money if you visit 3 or more sites.
Donna