I will be staying at this hotel in Rome in about a week. If anyone has stayed
there, I would love whatever info you could provide.

I have heard that they have a shuttle that will pick you up at the airport. How
would I contact them for service? Also I understand that there is a shuttle that
will take you to Rome central(Piazza Venezia?), what's the scoop on that.

I'll be staying 2 nights on award points(i'm gold), are upgrades possible, is
there a particular type of room I would want to request? All info and help is
appreciated.

Thanks!

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Originally posted by starboy340:
I'll be staying 2 nights on award points(i'm gold), are upgrades possible, is there a particular type of room I would want to request?On US award points or on a specific hotel chain's?

Your hotel is about 10 miles from the main attractions.

For the airport shuttle, I would suggest contacting Sheraton and asking for the email address of the hotel's concierge.

As to shuttles from the hotel to Piazza Venezia, I don't know anything.

Beware of pick pockets in crowded places, especially high-density tourist areas and busy places like the subway trains and stations.

Chexfan....the Gold Parco De'Medici is a Sheraton....level 2 property...have 2 overnight stays at 4,000 Starwood points each

BillMorrow...sounds lke you've been to Rome...i've got 2 days...what do you recommend?

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starboy,

>>i've got 2 days...what do you recommend?
Another 3-4 days.

Seriously, for a VERY quick introduction to Rome, I would suggest:

One day: take the subway to the Circo Massimo and note the Circus Maximus after you get off. Walk up Via Di San Gregorio to the Colosseo(Colosseum) and the Arch of Constantine. Go across the street and enter the Palatine Hill and Forum area (the oldest parts of Rome) through the Titian Arch. At the far end of this area you can see the Emanual I monument (the Piazza Venezia is on the other side of the monument). After leaving this area, you might want to consider a walk up to the Trevi Fountain.

The other day: Go to the Vatican. Take a tour with a guide for informational purposes. The tour will take you through the Vatican Museum and into the Sistine Chapel. Leave the tour at the Sistine Chapel and go into St Peter's and then St Peter's Square. From there walk to Castel San Angelo along Via d. Corridori(there is/was supposed to be an underground escape tunnel that extends from the Vatican to Castel San Angelo) and then walk up along the Tiber and cross it on the Ponte Umberto bridge and walk to the Piazza Navone. Piazza Navone is the #1 people watching place in Rome. There are lots of cafes where you can sit outside. The fountains there are tremendous. From there walk over to the Pantheon (hard to believe that this building is almost 2,000 years old). Then walk over to Piazza Venezio.

Some notes:
1. The above ideas are predicated on the premise that you have access via Piazza Venezio.
2. Wear comfortable shoes. These are long walks.
3. Go to the Vatican on a day when the Pope does not have any public functions/audiences (definitely not on Sundays). It is much less crowded. Also, there is a walkway from the Sistine Chapel into St Peter's Square. This walkway avoids a VERY long hike, but is closed on days when the Pope has public events. You enter the walkway (and must ask permission of the guards) in the Sistine Chapel at the far corner from which you enter. Be there when the museums open with the first tour of the day.
4. Some alternatives would be to take a night time tour of the City (usually includes Trevi Fountain) or a tour out to the Catacombs (which I found quite interesting).
5. Food is generally inexpensive and good as long as you get away from the major tourist attractions. (For a some recommendations, ask). If you are found in a McDonalds or a Dunkin Donuts, you deserve to have your US passport taken away and replaced with one from Albania.
6. Don't kill yourself. Treat this as an opportunity to plan your next trip to Rome.

[This message has been edited by BillMorrow (edited 02-11-2001).]

First off, a question? Is this post REALLY in the US Airways forum? Or is it in the Starwood forum and just showing up here because of a fluke? If it really IS in the US Airways forum, then I might kindly and politely suggest that it would do better in the Starwood forum. If it's really in the Starwood forum (which I only suspect because no one else has mentioned that it's out of place), then my apologies for probably confusing a bunch of other people. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Secondly, there is an EXCELLENT and INEXPENSIVE pasta restaurant near the train station. I wish I could remember what it was called, but I'd be able to find it if I was there. To find it, start inside the train station. Exit the front doors, and turn left. Walk straight, go across the street, and continue down the road ahead of you. The restaurant will be on your right within two or three blocks. It's name begins with "IL", and it's logo has the top of a pillar column in it coloured yellow. You can get HUGE plates (enough for two) of a plentiful variety of pasta with an equally plentiful choice of pasta for about US$4 for dinner. Pretty good for me, anyway.

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"Visualise whirled peas."

NATHAN PRODUCTIONS
Professional Music, Audio Production, and Website Design http://www.nathanproductions.com

[This message has been edited by ThisFlightNoFuel (edited 02-12-2001).]

TFNF,

You're right. I should have moved the thread over to General Travel. That's where it belongs and Starboy would probably have gotten more responses there.

TFNF,

You're right. I should have moved the thread over to General Travel. That's where it belongs and Starboy would probably have gotten more responses there.

Yes, you are both right. This was not the proper place for the post. In reality I had posted it on the Starwood area, but was not getting a response...so in desperation I posted it incorrectly in the US Airways spot as well.

I do thank both of you though for you're assistance...I leave saturday and hope to use both of your good advice....THANKS!

-starboy340

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