Entries Tagged 'Budget Travel' ↓

Rome is a great city to visit but not so great if you are on a tight budget. Certainly not as expensive as Venice Italy but this city does rank up there as one of the more expensive places to stay in Europe. If you are a college student then this can seem a bit daunting as your budget is probably tighter then most. So therefore you need the best resources to find a cheap hotel and fortunately I have scoured the web to find you the best resources when looking for a budget hotel in Rome.

The first and best resource I would recommend would be nycerome.com as this has the best selection of 3 star hotels that I have ever encountered. It is a great selection of hotels that makes or breaks a site for me and this site is as comprehensive as you can get. I am most impressed by the range of hotels that this website offers. Not only does this website offer hotel listings but it also offers apartments for short or long term rent so that will go along way in helping those that wish to stay a bit longer in this wonderful city.

The close second website I would recommend would be to check out holidaycityeurope.com as they have also a great selection of hotels. What makes this website more unique then the previous one mentioned is the fact that they break down each hotel by price range. I think it is needless to say that this feature is a boon to many budget travelers and those that can spend just a bit more.

Another favorite of mine is Europe-cities.com which is another great website to check out if you are hunting for that elusive deal on your stay ni Rome. This website claims to have more than 2100 hotels listed just for the city of Rome and like the previous website mentioned they also have apartment listings as well.

Whether you are staying for a short period of time or a longer time period these website are the cream of the crop in my opinion to finding the best deal on any hotel in Rome. Even if you are looking for a short term  apartment stay these websites will be able to help you out as well. Hopefully you will also find these resources as useful as I do but if you do not be sure to tell me about it because I would like to keep only the best websites listed on this blog so as to better serve my audience.

Rome is a large and exotic city and very safe however thera are some dangers that every traveler should be aware when traveling in and around this city. Like every large city Rome is susceptible to thieves, murderers and other nefarious types that will surely ruin your time if you are not careful.

Hanging your expensive camera equipment around your neck while traveling is a sure sign of an inexperienced traveler and you will be prey to gangs of thieves that hang around the various tourist traps of the city. It is better to keep a camera that is small enough in your pocket so you do not stand out too much as a tourist. Perhaps even dressing like a local might also be a good idea. This can be done with a help of a local friend if you are fortunate enough to have one.

The most dangerous areas for tourists are the Termini and bus line number 64 as these are areas that are especially prone to gangs of pickpockets. One way to counteract these gangs is by wearing a money belt. Also if you feel that your money or goods has been stolen do not pursue these gangs or you will be sorry as they are often armed. The best way to combat these gangs is to shout for help at the top of your lungs and hopefully there will be a police officer nearby who will be willing to help.

Many con men are around the areas of the coliseum and the circus maximus so be aware of the many tricks that they try on tourists. One of the tricks is to pull up in a car besides yours and ask for directions to some other tourist destination in the city. Once you approach the car these thieves will try to get you to accept a gift of theirs that they have in the car and once you approach they will start shouting and demanding money. Do not even approach people like this as these con men are very good at what they do and are sure to ruin any vacation.

One way to stay safe in Rome is by not driving at all and hiring a private driver but I do realize that is far out of reach for many budget travelers out there. However if you do insist on driving in Rome be sure you know about all the street signs and all of the traffic rules. The traffic in Rome is very dangerous and hectic and one way to get yourself hurt is by getting into a heated argument with a local regarding a traffic violation. Italians are not known for being calm, cool and collected by the way so it is never a good idea to get into an argument with them if you can avoid it.

Staying safe also involves not drinking too much. Drinking too much will most likely make you much more vulnerable to the very seedy people that prey on people who indulge in too much alcohol. So keep sober and this will most definitely keep yourself safe.

Would you go down a deserted alleyway at night at some major city in the United States or where ever you may be from? So then do not do the same for this city as well. You do not know what is down that alleyway or quiet street so do not venture alone anywhere near these areas.

Carrying too much cash around you is just asking for trouble so do not do this as well. Make sure you spread your money in different places on your person such as a wallet, money belt or even a sock would be a good place to keep money. Be creative when hiding money on your person and do not carry too much but carry enough to get back home to your hotel if you should encounter a thief. Also do not carry all your debit and credit cards with you as well. Store these in a secure locations such as a hotel room safe or other secure location.

Speaking of hotel rooms sometimes it is better to get a pricier hotel room that has more of a central location then a quiet out of the way hotel. This is because those quaint out of the way hotels are usually far from anything that many people want to see and therefore can be in dangerous neighborhoods.

I would also recommend that you purchase some really good quality travel health insurance from reputable sources. Make sure you do not buy your insurance from someone you have never heard from as they are most likely a fly by night company that is just out to take your money.

Staying safe while traveling can be done and many people do it on a daily basis. However using some common sense and good judgment you can keep  yourself safe and have a more enjoyable vacation.

Rome is perhaps chaos personified. The hussle and bussle of the city make it a vary vibrant and interesting place to visit and live. Every waking moment seems to be awash in cars, pedestrians and the all so popular vespers that occupy the streets of Rome. If you are visiting this city or the first time this experience can be a bit daunting to say the least. So therefore it is vital that before you visit this city that you become aware of how to get around.

By Subway

Perhaps one of the best ways to explore Rome is through the Metropolitana and can be found through the signs that display a big red M at most entrances. For a ticket to ride the subway it is relatively cheap only 1 Euro. These tickets can be purchased at all of the tabacchi or tobacco shops. You can also find tickets to the subway at many newsstands and most stations sell them as well so it should be easy to obtain a ticket to ride.

By Bus and Train

The Roman bus system is operated by the Azienda Tramvie e Autobus del Comune di Roma or ATAC. A ticket also costs 1 Euro and is valid for 75 minutes of use where you can get on and off as many buses that you wish. You may also use the subway with this ticket as well so it is actually quite a deal. Getting around Rome by bus is slow and painful as most buses are very crowded.

Also try to avoid the “wallet eater” or route number 64 which is very popular with tourists and pickpockets . Because many tourists travel on this route there is a greater chance that your wallet or purse will be stolen and that would certainly ruin your vacation.

For those that are staying for a longer period of time there are several options for you. There is a one day pass which costs 4 Euros and a weekly pass which costs 16 Euros and these tickets can be purchased at Stazione Termini. There is even a tourist pass which lasts for three days nd costs 11 Euros. Obviously you want to pick what ever option is best for you and how long you are going to be staying.

In order to get the routes that the busses take the best and only way that I know of is to pick one up at the bus information center at Piazza dei Cinquecento. Now you must keep in mind that these routes change all the time and most likely the map will be out of date but it should give some idea on how to navigate the city. The only routes that maintain pretty consistent are numbers 75 and 40 as these routes are also frequented by the many tourists that come.

By Taxi

Do not even bother with hailing a taxi as they will not come to your beckoning. Rather the best way to get a taxi is to have your hotel call you one or you can call one of these numbers yourself which is 06-6645 or 06-3570 or 06-4994. Either number will get you a taxi to arrive where ever you are located be it a restaurant, hotel or even a famous landmark if they can get close enough.

By Car

I would not recommend driving in Rome under any circumstances as the drivers are a bit wild and I honestly think you need to be born there to be able to withstand the traffic. Although recently some laws have been proposed to make the driving a bit safer I would still stay away from it. If you do choose to rent a car I would try to pick one up on the outskirts of the city and only drive in the countryside where the traffic is a bit saner.g etting around Rome can be very easy if you know what you are doing and how to get around. otherwise the traffic and people can be very overwhelming especially if you are not all accustomed to big city living.

Italy is world famous for producing some of the best food that has ever been conjured up. Rome is perhaps the apex of this statement and because of this it is very easy to spend far more than you have budgeted for your stay. It is just so easy to indulge in all of the fine food that is served in this food that you can easily lose your entire budget in this one city. However with some planning and some of my tips you should be able to save your wallet some money and still enjoy yourself as well.

When having your morning coffee or any coffee for that matter make sure you are always standing up. It always seems to cost more if you choose to sit down while eating at your local café. Also a great tip would be to make your own lunches and breakfasts for the day by visiting the local alimentary or food store. Catering yourself a meal can save you a lot of money and you still have the benefits of eating the great food that comes from the same farms that are served at the most expensive restaurants.

 You can choose to eat lunch at a trattoria if you wish but the cheaper alterative would be to visit a local wine bar. A wine bar serves small sandwiches and appetizers that will definitely help fill your stomach while saving your wallet. You can even pick up a cheap slice of pizza in Rome as Italy is well known for producing the best pizza in the world. This will save you lots and will certainly enhance your experience in Rome. Also make sure you make lunch your primary meal of the day because many trattorias have a cheaper lunch menu then at dinner time. 

I would definitely avoid the tourist areas of the city as you are most definitely going to be over priced for the quality of food you will receive. And if you really want to waste your money be sure to eat American style food as this is some of the most expensive food that you can find in the whole of Italy. In order to save some serious money it would be a good idea to find a local budget saver guide that has an extensive listings of restaurants in the area as this will most likely save you some money as well. 

Eating out in Rome does not have to be a very expensive affair and you can save yourself some money if you follow these simple common sense tips that I have given you. The food in Rome is well known because many of the restaurant owners have a farm of their own in the countryside so they know about producing high quality food. With this dedication comes a menu and experience that many people do not experience in their lives but it is very worth it in my opinion.

Rome as a city should be savored and not rushed through as many tourists have the tendency to do so. For many the best time to go to Rome is when you are young and still a student. Let’s face it this is really the best time to go as you are not tied down by any commitments you may have when you get older.

However Rome is not one of the most cheapest cities in the world to stay. In fact it can be very expensive to stay for an extended period of time such as three months. This is especially the case if you are not prepared and have not planned ahead. Fortuntately for you I looked into obtaining a apartment in Rome on a budget and have some really great options for you.

The best place to look when you are planning on going for an extended period of time is on the Internet. This really saves the hassles of dealing with a realtor and pestering you may receive because you are using their services. Check out what area of Rome you want to stay in the most and then start your search from there. To do this I would first visit roma-hotels.com as they seem to have the most options and their listings are of quality places to stay. This site covers a wide range of available apartments that should really help with those strapped for cash.

The second site I would visit would be the CEA Global Education Solutions website because this is a website that is geared towards exactly what you are going for. I mean it is best to go for a company that caters to your specific needs. If you are older then this is not the website to use, rather go for a company that caters to your age group and I am sure you will be more satisified.

Lastly the website that I would recommend tor students wishing to stay in Rome is studentville.it which seems to have some of the best apartments and is again geared towards what you are going for when you visit Rome. Not only do they cover Rome but this website covers the entire country of Italy so you can stay in Florence or any other city that you want.
Each person has their own reasons for wanting to live in Rome for a longer period of time. I
know many art history majors and history majors stay in this city in order to finish research on a masters degree or do a senior thesis. Regardless of your reasons for wanting to stay in this city these resources that I have pointed out should help save at least a little money to make your life that much easier.