ROME-Advice please

[jardy]

Please will you help this nervous traveller/booker?Flying to Rome 2nd August 2010 and returning 4th/5th Aug.Purpose is to spend a couple of days with dd who is working in Italy.We then all fly back together.
I have arranged a bank loan of £1000 to make this a lovely memorable trip.(long story).
My dh and I will fly out from a NW airport PROBABLY with Ryanair from Liverpool.I will need to book an extra flight for dd so she can return.The old threads on Rome have been so helpful regarding places to stay in Rome and various advice.However before I make a ghastly mistake which I have been wont to do in the past can you tell me TO WHAT airport I need to book from Liverpool,as there seems to be a few in Rome,and surrounding area.If you can tell me your itinary of your dream Rome break,ie where you stayed and what you did,bearing in mind that we will be spending 3 nights there I would really appreciate it.I have to go look after my mum tonight,but please be assured I will read all your replies.Thanking you very much in anticipation.I am budgeting for about £500 for the airfares and £500 for the Hotel/B&B or whatever will be a nice place for the three of us to stay in.

oh and while am thinking of it a handy tip. If you are going to use public transport buy a few tickets either at metro stations or at tobacconists (have big T sign outside) because you can't pay on the bus. You need to have a ticket first and stamp it in the box thing when you get on. Each ticket is a euro and you have unlimited travel on metro, trams and buses for 75 mins from time you stamp it.
Other handy tip, the little water fountains you will see on the streets are totally safe to drink from-Roman water is excellent quality. Oh and finally 2 mins from that hotel you are booking on Piazzale degli Eroi in July and Aug there is a temporary melon seller who sets up stall with some chairs etc-I often stop for watermelon there to get refreshed from heat, it's lovely!

That so kind and patient of you,thank you very much BananaGio,I can see it is about 25 miles away MAXIMUM.Can I also thank you for the valuable snippets of information that only an insider would know,eg the melon seller.We all love melon so that would be brilliant.
Right here goes! I don`t feel half as scared now,thank you!

no problem, if you think of anything else just ask! If I spy English speakers at the melon seller I will wave incase its you

All booked,thanks a million BananaGio and Eightieschick.Can`t stop beaming

fantastic! let us know how you get on and if you want any restaurant recommendations let me know. Ciao!

Great! Glad to be of help. We didn't know the area but just went and ate in random nearby restaurants, plus coffee bars and ice cream places and everything was delicious. We drove from Ciampino (yes, everyone said we were mad but the car hire was part of the holiday deal) and once we got used to the roads the drive was fine, and not too long. Didn't use the car once at the hotel though as everything was easily walkable - the Vatican is literally round the corner along with St Peter's and the metro was accessible nearby.

BananaGio I'm very jealous that you live in the area! Will go back one day I hope.

Thanks you two girls again,and thank you mumsnet,will let you know how we get on but very excited!!

BananaGio,please could I ask your advice?We are staying in the Best Western Hotel Spring House and if you look on their web page you can see that they offer a special deal,something called a Roma pass.Do you think this deal is worth it or should we pay as we go?Unfortunatly I don`t think the room rate I paid includes breakfast,so it might be worth paying the extra 100 euros to cover our 3 buffet breakfasts for three mornings.However I thought I might ask your opinion first,as there might be a more economical or practical alternative.What do you think?Thank you very much!

Got this sorted and will let you know how we get on,so excited!!

sorry jardy only just seen your post. Am not always around much-best place to find me is the Little Italy thread in Other.
Sounds like you are sorted anyway. Did you go for the pass?
Just realised we are travelling the same day! I am in the UK at the moment and due to go back on the 2nd from Liverpool. If you need any help and you spot a late 30 something with 3.5 year old travelling on own then come and ask - will probably see you in the taxi queue!

Hi BananaGio,I will certainly be looking out for you!Yes the Spring Hotel responded immediatly,it seems the breakfast is included and they will point me the right direction when it comes to trips.Thank you anyway!

BananaGio,sorry about saying your son was born in Greece,Italy of course!

BananaGio,I know that you have to dress modestly for the vatican but is there any reason why you can`t wear shorts and sleeve less tops while in Rome itself?
Is the dress code very strict,what do you have to be aware of?

No fine round the city, just make sure your shoulders and legs are covered in the Vatican.My DP said last night the temperature has become a lot more bearable the last couple of days luckily. It was around 40!! Dropped by about 10 degrees thank goodness!

Thank you for that BananGio.Cant believe it is 40 and cant wait after all the rain!!

Jardy hope you had a lovely time. Did you get the message I left at your hotel? Incase not - I just wanted to apologise for dashing off. Was hoping to catch up with you at the taxi queue but bags took ages to come through to be collected. DS was saying he needed the loo and the idea was I dashed off so I could get through passport control quickly so could get bags speedily. Forgot I was in Italy obviously as nothing happens that way . Anyway it was nice to briefly meet you and hope you had a great time. Off on holiday myself on Saturday so now on countdown.

BananaGio it was brilliant to meet you,yes I did get your message and was dying to contact you to say not to worry at all about dashing off.It was great to meet you and your beautiful ds.I really want to thank you so much for your wonderful support.As someone who finds booking a day trip to Southport nerve wracking,your knowledge and patience made all the difference to the anticipation of the break.It really was a trip of a Lifetime,wonderful in every sense.The photographs are magic that we took,what a breathtaking and beautiful City.The heat did take us aback,you were absolutely correct!Also a huge THANK YOU to Eightieschick for recommending The Best Western Spring House Hotel,it was great,very central and clean,and we even had a cute little balcony,table and chairs,with a beautiful view.For anyone reading this thinking of going to Rome,please read the advice given to me by BananaGio.Here is a couple of little tips,we paid for Guides for The Vatican and the Colosseum,it was well worth it to beat the queues and it cost 40 euros each.At the Vatican,see if you can find a Guide called Luigi Natalia,he was brilliant,very entertaining.At the Forum ( which was far too hot too visit in August,BananaGio was spot on)there was a wonderful American Guide called Rachel,she was free,and lovely to listen to.We found it very easy to use the subway to get to the Col
osseum from the Spring House Hotel,also to walk to the Vatican(round the corner).There is a lovely Restaurant above the Colosseum subway which we used for the loo,and we ate there at lunch time,which meant we had the stamina to cope with looking at the Forum in the afternoon,just,very very hot.We did see a few couples with young children at the Collosseum and the Forum.The poor children were very bored and fractious,and I wouldnt recommend it as a place to visit with very young children.We didnt get the 30 euro rule taxi price,although we tried.We paid 63 euros from the airport and 50 back to the airport.Extremely busy traffic getting to the Hotel but quiet coming back.Ryan Air,great,no problems whatsoever,did not pay any extras and lovely staff,told me to stuff one bag into another to make sure I did not pay extra and were smiley and pleasant throughout.We got a taxi each night to Trastevere,10 euros each way.It was a romantic and beautiful place,especially in the Square at night,and there were many lovely restaurants.Fantastic food,we loved the way you got fresh crusty bread and olive oil straightaway and my wine was always icy cold,also the fresh orange was exactly that, a freshly squeezed orange,so refreshing.All in all a truly memorable trip.A Guide book would have been too confusing for me,I would have been overwhelmed,this is where the mumsnet advice is so invaluable.Once again fantastic advice BananaGio,lucky you living in such a beautiful and unique City.Now must get back to my washing and ironing and Northern Industrial Town rain,but have my little souvenirs lined up in front of me on the mantlepiece to remind me.Thank you and have a wonderful holiday yourself!