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Just back from solo Rome Trip -April

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I just returned from a 6 night 7 Day solo trip to Rome. Thought I'd post a brief trip report in case it is helpful.

I flew SFO to Rome via Newark and arrived at 745am.
The passport control in Rome was automated for usa passports so it was quick - just had to scan your passport and take a photo of your face.
I booked Hotel Smeraldo which I loved. Yes my room was small but great staff and location, great breakfast and reasonable price.
Tours I booked:
1. 3 hour tour of colosseum and palatine hill including Underground with Livitaly Tours. This was an excellent tour. It was great to see the underground area of the colosseum.
2. Welcome to Rome walking tour with Walks of Italy. Piazza navona, the Pantheon, Trevi fountaim, stop for gelato. This was very good, but in retrospect, a 2-hour walking tour on my first day was maybe too much!
3. Evening food Tour in Trastevere ( Eatingeurope.com). Our guide Toni was great and we tasted so many delicious things!
4. Rick Steves/Mondo shared tour of Pompeii. This was a great deal. As long as you have six people show up it's only 15 euro a person. Luca was fantastic. Highly recommend! (Sharedtours.com)
I considered booking a day tour from Rome but with the fast train now from Rome to Naples, it's really easy to do it yourself.
5. National museum of Rome - Palazzo Massimo. This had amazing sculpture and frescoes.
6. Scooteroma Vespa tour of Rome- this was so fun. They have been in business for about 10 years. A very skilled driver drives you around on the back of his Vespa and takes you all over Rome. ( With a stop for coffee and pastry of course). Scooteroma.com 160 euro for a 3 hr. Tour.
7. Baths of Caracalla. This was very impressive - took a bus to get here and bought a self guided audio tour.

I made reservations for dinner - some before I left, some while I was there. Rome is getting busy again!

It was very easy to do a covid test the day before I left. A pharmacy near my hotel did them for 15 euro no reservation needed, results in 20 minutes. Ask for a printed copy of the certificate.

Posted by
148 posts

Your trip sounds wonderful! I will visit Rome, Naples, and Pompeii in mid May. I saw photos of wisteria blooming in the baths of Caracalla, and it looks like a beautiful scene.

I am curious if there were any issues with dining on your own, such as finding an open table for one? Did you eat at the bar or at a communal table? Way back in 2013 I had a lovely dinner on the back terrace of Antica Pesa in Trastevere, but I remember that the host seemed disbelieving and then sad that I was dining alone. I love to travel and eat alone, so I had no problem with the situation, but I think I was an object of pity to the restaurant staff.

Posted by
190 posts

I was worried about the same thing, NYCLibrarian ! I can only speak for Rome, but there it was not an issue. I think it actually helped coming in with a reservation, rather than just asking for a “table for one” I did not go to any fine dining restaurants, (They were medium range) but everybody was happy to see me. I think post-pandemic Rome is extremely welcoming!
I did go to one place that had bar seating that you could reserve, and that was fun because I did strike up conversations with the other people at the bar. Its called Roscioli, and is very popular, so definitely reserve at least a week out. Have a great trip!

Posted by
108 posts

Great report. Will be there with my family in 1 1/2 weeks and also staying again at the Smeraldo.

Posted by
7915 posts

I appreciate your trip report to hear the details of what went well!

My daughter & I are planning to take that food tour, also. And, I bookmarked your report for reference. Thanks!

Posted by
68 posts

Thank you for all this information. Very helpful! I will be going to Italy with my family in June but we will only be in Rome for 1.5 days because we fly out of there. For our one free day, would you recommend the tour of the Colosseum?

We were in Athens not that long ago and took a tour of the Acropolis and the Agora. We thought we would enjoy it but our guide couldn't come up for air and it was just too much information for three straight hours. Wondering if you felt that tour of the Colosseum was like that or if your guide had more social awareness and paused every now and then so that the participants could absorb the information.

Posted by
190 posts

Hi, regarding the Colosseum tour, If I only had one and a half days in Rome I would probably choose a shorter tour of the Coliseum. Our three hours was the whole Palatine Hill and the Coliseum including the underground area. Livitaly tours is a very good tour company but there are probably others that offer a shorter tour as well.

Posted by
593 posts

Annemargaret- I’m staying at Smeraldo soon. How did you get there? Train from the airport and a taxi or? Thanks!

Posted by
127 posts

Leaving Hotel Smeraldo this morning. Good location, very clean, solid breakfasts, friendly front desk and breakfast staff, good Internet. Light sleepers might want ear plugs.

Roof deck is delightful, but can be crowded and one bartender is busy. Aperol spritz hits the spot. 10 euros. Two beers - one lager, one IPA, at five and six euros, respectively. Gelato across the "street" from entrance three euros.

Rick's Heart of Rome walking tour starts just steps from hotel entrance. We covered Jewish Quarter, Trastavere, Monti, Testaccio, Spanish Step neighborhoods all on foot from hotel - I think we averaged about 15,000 steps a day, not bad for two geezers.

We arrived from FCO via pre-booked booking.com car - $46 - and about 45 minutes to our front door. The grocery around the corner is well stocked - toothpaste, picnic grub, toiletries, etc.

Posted by
190 posts

Hotel Smeraldo will offer you pre-booked airport transportation for 55 euro. It was so easy, I did it on the way back as well.
I asked for a quiet room when I booked. I was only on the first floor and I had a window that opened onto one of the alleys. There was a café below me and a restaurant but no bars in the immediate area. I have stayed in much busier areas. So I’m a light sleeper but I was happy with the soundproofing of the windows. I did wear earplugs!

Posted by
77 posts

nk you so much! I leave tomorrow for two weeks in Rome and environs and travel solo. I booked with Roscioli and the Pomeii tour based on your comments and will try to find time for the Baths of Caracalla.

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