All,

I apologize in advance if this was already posted, but I saw no recent posts regarding this topic.

I am taking my wife on our first trip to Rome at the end of February and will have a full 10 days in country. I am using hotel points so we will be based the whole time here.

In looking at the many many tours like these that they have available, there seems to be much more to do then is humanly possible during our stay.

Does anyone have any recommendations of must see tours, or off-the-beaten path kinds of things that we should look into? We don't want to be rushing around but would like to hit most of the big things, and have time to enjoy slowing down and enjoying the ambience.

We are staying at the Grand Flora, so any must try restaurant choices would be appreciated as well.

Any and all help in planning would be very appreciated!

--DD73

We had a great time staying at the Grand Flora this past summer. There are a few posts in the Marriott forum that give advice on good places to eat, etc. We found that the supermarket on the way to the subway directly across from the hotel was a great place to get drinks and snacks to carry around. We didn't do any tours around the city except for guided tours or audio guides at most of the sites. We found those all worthwhile. One note at the Colosseum there are non-official 'tours' offered outside. It is cheaper to just go straight in to the left and get the official tour. Feel free to PM with any specific questions as there is too much to say about Rome and check out the forums here and the assorted web sources like Fodors and Tripadvisor.

I took Rick Steves' advice on a recent trip and booked some very informative, small tours through Context Rome - highly recommend them - you may want to do a search on the Western Europe forum

I'm a "regular" at Slow Travel at the Italy forum. Go there for your Italy and Rome questions. I have been to Rome 4 times and twice (one week each)the last two years. It's an amazing city!
Interestingly, I have not heard of Viator. I believe that they may be a booking agent for a tour company. It could just be that they don't come up there or at Fodor's Italy forum as top tours. They seem a bit overpriced.
I also know a private tour guide that can customize what you want.
You mentioned 10 days. Is that all in Rome?

Depending upon what you like, right down the road from the Grand Flora is a church that has the catacombs of the Cappuchin monks. They have used the skeletons to decorate the tombs. I can't remember the name of the church but it should come up in a google search. Very interesting and worth seeing once. It wasn't gross just interestingly odd. The friend I was travelling with decided to skip it though!

some observations.

vatican and colisseum are must sees.
vatican museum has a cd player you can rent that is pretty good.

colisseum has tours you can sign up for. check the times in advance.

a lot of things have long lines. check and see if there is a master musuem pass like in some other cities.

off the beaten path - there are tours of underground rome, meaning tunnels under the city. the current city is built on top of the ancient city.

also, the bourghese park is a nice place to check out.

also recommend dinner at the piazza navona area - hardly beaten path but more just an enjoyable place to stroll with locals and other tourists.

the pope used to have audiences in St. Peter's square on Weds, but you had to get a free ticket in advance. ask you hotel. I think you just ask for tix at the gold door in st. peters square that is at the end of one of the collonades. if you are catholic, you might be able to arrange a better interview with the pope via your local parish - an audience of perhaps 100 folks or so.

Hi

My wife and I went to Rome for the first time in July last year. I have posted a trip report with pictures and links on my personal homepage http://gardkarlsen.com/rome_italy.htm . Maybe you can find some useful information there :-)

Regards
Gard

Some tips based on our recent stay at Grand Flora:
- Taxi from Termini station to hotel ~ 5 Euro + supplement for luggage.
- If you're a light sleeper, ask for a room away from the street, due to early morning / late night noise from the sanitation trucks.
- One worthy stop downhill on Via Veneto to Barberini metro stop would be the Cappuchin crypt, made almost entirely of monks' bones.

Enjoy your stay in Rome!

We loved the Cafe Sant Eustachio near the Pantheon. Great coffee. We bought some beans and each time we make a moka, it brings us back to our time in Roma. Ahhhhhhh....

PLENTY OF INFO in the Europe forum: ^

http://flyertalk.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=477

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