Train Reservations& staying at the Bee-Hive

It's no headache to buy your train tickets there. Rail Europe will charge you more. There are ways to get discounts in advance online, but probably more of a hassle if you're doing this for the first time.

Lots of reviews of the Beehive here if you search and also on Tripadvisor.

Rena, I would wait and buy your train tickets once you arrive in Italy. I usually walk up to the Trenitalia office at FCO with a list of train#s, dates, and class and buy they all at once. Using Rail Europe will be much more expensive.

As for the Bee-Hive, I have never stayed there but know many who have and really liked it.

Happy planning!

I was just at the Beehive last week, I think it's great. They have an organic vegetarian cafe inside which I found to be really good (and I'm not even a vegetarian :)

We just got back from Rome last Sat.. The Bee-hive was full so we booked rooms thru Cross-Pollinate (Bin Chen B&B). We're very happy with it. I also went to Venice and Florence and felt centrally located hotels there more expensive.

Also we bought train tickets Venice-Florence thru Rail Europe with the surcharge plus shipping. Our train turned out to be 60% EMPTY. lesson learned.

Buy your train tickets when you get to Italy. The station ticket machines have an English option and accept North American credit cards. No need to stand in line at a ticket window.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you everyone for your help. I appreciate your comments and will be certain to help other travellers when I return!

We stayed at the Beehives "Millefoire" apartment in Rome last summer and really liked it. It was nice to have a kitchen and be able to cook some of our meals.