Entries Tagged 'Budget Travel' ↓

Rome is a very expensive city to visit. It is like New York in that there are plenty of very up scale places to stay but finding quality budget hotels can be a challenge. Fortunately I have been scouring the Internet and asking some of my friends who live in Rome for some of the best budget hotels in the city. Some considerations were made when I ever write something on hotels in any city. First I always consider the location of the hotel. It does not make a whole lot of sense to find a budget hotel but then have to spend half the day traveling to where you want to visit. So that is why I created a series on budget hotels broken down by location to the major tourist attractions so that you can find where you really want to stay.

Many of the following hotels are clean and high quality. Some lack some of the amenities that you would find in some of the higher class hotels but that is something you can expect from a budget hotel. I made sure to only select the 2 and 3 star hotels so that most budgets can be accommodated.

Hotel Colosseum
Via Sforza, 10 – 00184
One of Romes better hotels as this hotel is topped with a terrace on the roof affording the guests a unique 360 degree view of the city. The hotel is on one of Rome’s highest hills so the view is quite spectacular and will surely enhance your stay here. Consisting of seven floors this is one of the larger hotels around the Colosseum.

Hotel Borromeo
Via Cavour, 117 – 00184
Being so close to the Coloseeum this hotel is in the heart of the city and where all the action is. A smaller hotel then the Hotel Colosseum this hotel still can accommodate disabled and elderly tourists. Equipped with a elevator it should be easier to get to your room after a long day’s walking around the city.

Hotel Edera
Via Angelo Poliziano, 75 – 00184
A larger five storied hotel that is equipped with an elevator this hotel is also very near to the Colosseum. This hotel also has a terrace that overlooks the city and parking is available for only 20 euros a night so you can park your car as well.

Hotel Saturnia
Via Ruinaglia, 6 – 00184
This is one of the better budget hotels to stay in Rome. It is family run with all rooms coming equipped with a private bathroom and television set.

Hotel Adas
Via Cavour, 233 – 00184
A recently renovated hotel this is very close to the heart of the city and all of the attractions. This hotel is unique in that it is separated on two floors of the building. The hotel occupies the second and sixth floor and the elevator only goes up to the fifth so if you are unlucky enough to get a room on the sixth floor you will have to climb up one flight of stairs. Also this is one place that offers wireless internet connections so you can stay in touch with friends and family back home.

Most of these hotels are up on the higher hills in Rome so if you get an opportunity to stay in any one of them be sure to pick the hotels with the rooftop terraces as that will surely make the stay even more enjoyable. Nothing is better then seeing the sun set or rise in this glorious city and to do so from a unique vantage point makes it all the better.

When staying in Rome for any extended period of time it is very important to know about “the essentials” of living there. That is to say the health care, laundry service and other mail services that you may need to make your stay even possible. For many EU citizens this should be easy to understand and cope with as there are already agreements in place to make any EU citizen’s life easier.

Health Care

If you are EU citizen you are pretty well covered here. There is already in place an agreement between your home country and Italy in order to take care of your medical needs. However if you are outside of the EU then that is another story altogether. For many people from the United States there will be a need to purchase some supplemental health insurance.

I would shop around at home before you leave in order to get the best deal. Also make sure of the quality of the insurance you are receiving as there are different levels of customer service that you can expect from each company. Do not just buy what ever is the cheapest plan as that may not cover all you are doing while in Italy.

Here are some of the more important emergency numbers to know and memorize before you go:

• For Local Police Dial 113
• For National Police Dial 112
• For Ambulance service Dial 118
• For Fire Emergencies Dial 115
• For Road Assistance Dial 116

For some English speaking Doctors that are of some high quality I would go to AlphaMed at Via Zanardelli 36. This facility is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday. Also recommended is Tobias Wallbrecher who runs a small family oriented doctors office at Via Domenico Silveri 30. He is also open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. since he is a family oriented doctor this would be a good place to go if your child should become sick while away.

Not all hospitals have emergency wards in Italy which I find to be a bit shocking. However I have compiled a list of some of the more centrally located hospitals that offer some emergency care.

• Rome American Hospital at Via E. Longoni 81
• San Giovanni at Via A. Aradam
• Santo Spirito at Lungotevere in Sassia 1

Laundry Service

Many hotels and even some hostels offer some sort of laundry service to their patrons. However this is really cost prohibitive way of washing your clothes. The best way is to find the nearest Laundromat at the many Onda Blu chains all throughout the city. Alternatively you can try the Wash and Dry at Via Della Pellicicca 35. They offer a wash and tumble dry for the low price of about 10 Euros for a hefty 15 pound load of laundry. That is quite the deal considering the service involved.

Mail Service

The Italian mail service is perhaps the slowest in the entire EU so I would recommend going with a speedier carrier such as UPS or FedEX if your package is urgent. In order to buy stamps you will need to go into a local tabacci or tobacco shop. In order to find you nearest post office I would recommend going to the website for the Italian postal service at www.poste.it as it will contain the most up to date information on the hours that each location is open and the services they may offer.

Alternatively you can have your mail delivered to any of the local American Express offices if you are cardholder. This is really convenient and also much cheaper as this service is included in your card.

Rome is by far one of the most interesting cities I have ever been to. The chaos of the place certainly adds to the charm. However if you want to visit Rome when it is not too overcrowded it is always best to avoid the peak travel times in Rome which is during Spring and Fall. The reason that these are peak travel times is because the city is not too hot for many people so the more comfortable air temperature provides for a better experience when viewing the historic sites which of course are outside. Since I have lived in Florida for nearly a decade I do not find the summers in Rome to be terribly hot so if you come from a hotter climate you can visit Rome when you feel the most comfortable and therefore save some money by visiting during off peak travel times.

Perhaps it is not the weather that is your biggest concern when traveling to Rome. For many budget travelers they are more conscious of saving some money then the climate or the crowds. Visiting during off peak times then is the best time to go as you will most certainly save some money.

If you are visiting with family and friends then the best time to go is when you are with them. While you may not be able to save a lot of money at least you will be with people you enjoy and therefore have a better time then if you were alone.

So basically the best time to visit Rome is when you are ready to enjoy the city the most. It all depends upon what your personal circumstances are. However if you want to avoid the crowds then visit during off peak travel times which I guess would be in Winter and Summer as Fall and Spring seem to attract the most amount of tourists.

The Coliseum was the largest amphitheatre in Rome. The construction of the Coliseum started under the reign of Emperor Vespasian in around 70-70 AD and completed under the reign of Titus in 80 AD. The Coliseum was further customized and modified under the emperor Domitian. This was the first permanent amphitheatre to be built in Rome between the Esquiline, Caelian, and Palatine Hills.

An Iconic Symbol

The Coliseum is seen as an iconic symbol of imperial Rome. It held the capacity to accommodate about 50,000 spectators and has eight entrances. The amphitheatre is 50 meters high and 185 meters long. The Coliseum was built for gladiatorial contests and various public spectacles like, classical dramas, mock sea battles, and animal hunts till the early medieval period. Later, it was used for other purposes like a Christian shrine, a fortress, for housing, and for conducting workshops. Presently, the building has suffered damages as a result of earthquakes and the work stone robbers but it is still among the most famous tourist attractions in Rome and arguably the whole world.

Major Tourist Attraction

The Coliseum is known for its great works of architecture and engineering. It also reflects the grandeur and cruelty of the Roman World. The monument is famous for its grand size and the efficient organization of a large crowd viewing the different spectacles. This makes it one of the greatest works of the Roman period. Tourists from all over the world visit it. A museum is also built on the upper floor of the outer wall building, which is dedicated to Eros. The Coliseum also has a lift to the first floor. This makes the monument easily accessible to people with a handicap and children. Other facilities at the site are toilets, bookshop, and souvenir shops.

Tickets, Cards, and Passes

The tickets for the Coliseum can be bought at the site, online, or also booked through a telephone. The normal price of a ticket is 9 Euros (liable to change). The entry is free for EU citizens who are under-18 years and over 65 years. An archeologia-card is also available for 20 Euros, which is valid for a period 7 days for visiting 9 sites in Rome including the Coliseum. A Roma pass is also valid for a period of 3 days for visiting the Coliseum and other famous museums and archaeological sites of the city. The price of the ticket, card and pass may vary during Coliseum exhibitions. One can also book a guided tour conducted by professional guides.

How to get there

The Coliseum is located in the center of Rome. The monument can be reached using a bus, taxi, shuttle, trams or trains. It is located near Piazza Venezia and is close to the Forums. Another rapid form of transportation that you can use is the Metro. After reaching the Metro station, one can get a taxi parking and bike rental outside the station. On Sundays, bicycles and stroller are also allowed on roads as a means of transportation.

Best Time for Visiting
There are few months in a year, which are best suited for your Rome visit. These are –
1.    October- This is the best month of the year to visit. The temperature in this month is very pleasant.
2.    January- After the New Year, there is a gradual fall in the tourists visiting here. This is a suitable time for tourists who want to avoid crowds.
3.    Easter Week- This week may fall between mid-March or mid-April and the city is overcrowded with pilgrims and tourists.
4.    July and August- These are the peak months for tourist’s season. These seasons have comparatively less rain and are a bit humid.
The Coliseum was the only stone structured amphitheater built during the grandeur days of the Roman Empire.

Today, the Coliseum is partially in a ruined state but still remains one of the most renowned architectural monuments of the Roman period. The monument still holds the same brand integrity and respect after so many years of its construction.

Finding the best restaurant in any city is certainly a passion of mine. I have a certain affinity for the pizza as well. It is one of the best street foods that Italy has ever invented. Originally created from a small restaurant in Naples, Italy this dish rapidly spread throughout the country and the rumor has it that a full one quarter of the restaurants in the country are pizzerias. Since there are so many pizzerias in the country it is important to eat at the better pizza restaurants if not the best pizza restaurants in the country. But how do you find these places? By asking friends or family that live in the area. That way you will get the best advice. If that is not available for you then it is vital to visit some well trusted travel forums that give unbiased advice.

Fortunately for my readers I have already scoured the travel forums and asked some of my friends in Rome as to what is the best pizza restaurant in Rome. For many the choice was unanimous to be Remo which is in the Testaccio district of Rome.

Since this restaurant is known all around to be the best it is always best to be early when eating here. Otherwise you will most likely have to wait in line. This place offers some outdoor eating and captures the spirit of the city through the dishes, people and of course food. There is one major drawback however as this restaurant is closed during all through the month of August. So if you are visiting the city during this time I am sorry but you will be out of luck.

Below you can find the details about this restaurant.

Remo
Piazza Santa Maria Liberatrice 44
Rome, Italy
Tel: 06-5746270

Open Monday through Saturday from 6:30 pm to 1 am.