Rome. Weekend break. Tell me all you know.

[ThePhantomPlopper]

Give me your top tips.

Am thinking of going next March/April, Fri-Mon jobby.

Is this a good time to go?
Any recommendations for a hotel in the city centre area?

I want to go to Pompeii on an excursion has anyone done it?

Tell me anything you know.

Thanking you.

Gio
We stayed in a convent overlooking St Peters the first time we were in Rome. One of our favourite pasttimes was to sit at the windows and guess the nationalities of the passersby, going by their behaviour on the zebra crossings.

The Germans would walk confidently towards the crossing then start complaining loudly that noone stopped. The Brits would look most apologetic for having the cheek to want to cross the road. The Japanese school girls would stand in a huddle and giggle before making a mad dash.

You could see the locals a mile off.

Have your seen the From Our Foreign Correspondents thread on the Living Overseas topic? Maybe you would like to pop over and give us some insight on living in Rome?

I have just been reading this as I have booked a suprise trip for my husband and am now worried as it is in august, purely as this is our wedding anniversary.
Have I wasted money if everything closes, how much will this affect the holiday?
I am almost in tears this was suppose to be special

Went in a Dec when DS was 3.5 (I think). Loved it (especially the 16"C) and still planning to go back 3 years later .

caykon don't worry. Tourists still visit in Aug so there will be stuff open and you can still see all the sites etc. The centre will still be open for business and each neighbourhood normally has a couple of places open. Also with the economical crisis the talk is that fewer Italians will be doing the traditional month out of the city this year. Also re other things, the chemists for example take "turns" so you can end up trekking about a bit to find one but they all have notices in the window saying where the ones in the area are that are open. When I described it as hell on earth I was meaning heat- but that's because I work from home in a non air conditioned apartment here so I tend to get very very tetchy at that time of year . In some ways August has a real charm here if you don't mind the heat. The streets are really quiet because noone is working which is a bonus, so the pollution is lower than is July. There are less people about and off the beaten track a bit there are times when you can really feel as if you have the city to yourself which is lovely.
Which area are you staying in and I'll see if I can give you some tips?
Am sure you will have a wonderful time and if you need to find me at anytime for questions I am usually on the Little Italy thread.

PS MmeLindt will come and visit you guys on Foreign Correspondent thread

thankyou Gio, I ahve been doing a bit of research since i read this thread and am a bit more relaxed now.
The only thing that is still niggling me is we are in Rome on the 15th of August and this seems to be some big holiday. All the attractions seem to be open but on some sites tourists have complained about not being able to find places to eat on these days. Our hotel has a resturant which i assume will be open as the hotel is, so doubt we will starve.
We are staying on via cavour which on the map looks quite close to the colleseum.
My other concern is we have to check out of our hotel at 10am but our flights not till 9pm, is there anywhere you can leave luggage or will we have to cart it with us?

Hi Caykon, yes 15 August is pretty much biggest holiday of the year "Ferragosto". Everything will be closed on that day but as long as you know that in advance will be fine. Re your area Via Cavour is pretty close to the Colosseum-goes from that area near Termini station. Best place to go out around there is the Monti area-very typically Roman, cobbled narrow streets, bars, restaurants, craft shops, boutiques. I would explore that area because some of the Via Cavour area near Termini can be a bit souless/dodgy. Having said being near to Termini will be handy on Ferragosto because there will definitely be a few shops/eating places in the station open. Have just done a quick google and you can get more info on Monti here www.romanhomes.com/your_roman_vacation/quarters/monti-quarter-streets.htm
Re luggage there is a left luggage section at Termini station- see here www.grandistazioni.it/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=5dc9fb73699fb110VgnVCM1000003f16f90aRCRD
Hav ing said that am sure the hotel will be happy for you to leave your bags in the hotel until you go so worth asking them first.

should read "goes from that area TO near Termini"
must remember to proof read.......
PS I would eat in the monti area rather than the historical centre- rip off prices and a lot of second rate food.
have a great time!

Thankyou for all the advice, do you think we will struggle to find anywhere nice to eat open on the 15th. I have looked into it and we could go on a tour to pompeii, which includes lunch, but only having a limited time in rome think i would rather stay there, and if my research is correct the attractions will be open on that day.

Not read all the thread but trastevere was great for meals when we went many moons ago, think it was were the locals ate and it was a lot cheaper than the tourist areas.

Mmm, makes me want to go back just thinking about the lovely food!!.....

Enjoy!

Hi Caykon, sorry re delay getting back to you. You will definitely find somewhere open to eat on 15th. Agree re Trastevere, good place to go on 15th as well because there are loads of places to eat so you'll definitely find something. Is popular with the tourists now but you get better quality food than in the historical centre.
Pompei will be a zillion degrees and is relentless-no shade- so I would avoid in August.