Ciao everyone! Thanks to all for the great recommendations. Our trip to Rome was epic and thanks to this forum, I was able to get some good ideas as to what to see, where to eat and where to stay since I was planning this vacation on my own. Since we were able to toss a few coins into Trevi Fountain, they say we'll be back to Rome in the future. The city was vibrant and beautiful and like no other place I've ever visited. We felt safe walking the streets and the people are warm and passionate about their city. Learning a few phrases beforehand goes a long way and made communicating much easier. Traveling to Rome in the springtime is much more enjoyable and less crowded during the summer months. Queues were minimal and the weather was spectacular (Just missed a snow storm by six weeks). Unfortunately there were a few days filled with rain and wasn't able to make the train ride to Florence due to the weather conditions.

Accommodations: We stayed at the Navona Colors Boutique hotel just a few blocks north of Piazza Navona. The location was great and walking distance to all the main attractions. The place was clean, reasonably priced and located in a well lit area close to shops and restaurants. Every attraction was literally less than a mile walk. The place came with free breakfast and the staff was friendly and helpful with recommendations and setting up transfers for us.

Tours: We decided to use The Roman Guy company for the Colosseo, Forum and Palantine Hills tour, the Trastevere Food Tour and City Wonders for the Vatican, St. Peters Sistine Chapel tours. Both were great tour companies, reasonably priced and I highly recommend them.

Eats: There were many good ones but we also got caught in a few tourist traps because of the logistics and timing. We thought Restaurante Maccheroni and Da Francesco were restaurants that stood out and the kids kept making their way back to Frigidarium for gelato. The line for gelato was usually out the door but this small place had good quality.

Places we visited: Colosseo, The Forum, Palantine Hills, The Vatican, St. Peters Basilica, Sistine Chapel, St. Peters Cupola (Dome) and Papal Tombs basement, Piazza Navona, Campo De Fiori, Piazza Di Spanga (Spanish Steps), Jewish Ghetto and Trastevere.

This forum really gave me some good insights into planning our 1st trip to Rome. We hope to visit Rome in the future, but time for me to plan our next trip somewhere in Europe over the summer. Any recommendations?

Grazie Mille!

Jason








Da Francesco Restaurante




Outside our door of Navona Colors Hotel. (Well Lit)




Da Francesco Restaurant was our best meal.