Rome can be said to be built on world trade. Many goods traveled to and from Rome and that is one of the reasons that all roads lead to Rome. This shopping tradition continues on today. However for the budget conscious Rome is not the best place to shop as it is more expensive then Milan or Florence.

There are four major retail networks in Rome and these are La Standa, Upini, Coin and La Rinascenta. La Standa deparment stores have the reputation as being the cheapest of the four and La Rinascenta is the most expensive of the lot so plan accordingly. You can always find goods of the most outstanding quality in these department stores however if you want to save a little money it is a good idea to hit some of the smaller shops in the area.

The most expensive streets to shop in Rome are Sistina, Gregoriana, Frattina and Borgognona where stores such as Armani, Gianfranco Ferre, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Valentine, Rocco Barocco andTrussardi are usually found. However if you are looking to negotiate or find a bargein on any of these streets do not bother as you simply will not be taken seriously.

The central shopping district for the entire city of Rome is Via del Corso and many of the common brands that you will find in America can also be found here as well. To continue your shopping experience you should also check out Via del Tritone, Via Barberinini, Via Vittoria, Via Nazionale and Via Cola di Rienzo as many of these streets are shopping havens.

If you are looking for a bargain then be sure to check out the shops near the Termini station as the people who live around that area are not the richest and the shops cater to the locals more then the tourists. I am sure you will find a bargain in this area. A note of caution though is that this area is frequented by beggars and thieves so always be careful and do not travel alone or at nighttime when you can get easily disoriented.

A great place to find whatever you may be looking for is the Rome flea market which takes place at Mercato delle Puici and is only open on Sunday mornings so this option is not the best for the hurried tourist or traveler that is just passing through.

The most shopped for items in Italy are leather goods and men and women’s clothing. Designer goods of Italian origin are not cheap but they are the cheapest in Italy and if you can find a good discount store you might walk away with a bargain. Shopping can be a fun way to spend part of your vacation. Just keep in mind that it is always best to keep safe in this city and keep watch of those around you because where ever there are tourists there are sure to be thieves and beggars.

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.

Rome like most cities in Italy is not known for its nightlife. Italians it seems like to take things at a bit easier pace then other European cities. A typical night out would be with a group of friends having dinner together until midnight. Now I am not saying that this is the case all the time and certainly not the case for some in the city of Rome. I am just warning you that if you expect a kicking nightlife here you may be a bit disappointed.

However if you do insist on going on and tearing up the city these are just a few of the places that I would check out.

Alexanderplatz
Via Ostia 9, Rome, Italy 00153 •
Tel 06-39742171
This is one of Rome’s oldest jazz clubs. The crowd here is both local and foreign as many world famous jazz musicians play here. This club is also equipped with a full restaurant and bar  so you are sure to enjoy yourselves here.

Allen
Via Velletri 13, Rome, Italy 00198 •
Tel 06-8412212
This is one of the best places to dance the night away. This club is one of the longest running and most well run discos in the whole city. For those that are interested there is mostly house music, ambient or hip hop that is played here so be prepared for that experience.

Caruso Café de Oriente
Via di Monte Testaccio 36, Rome, Italy 00153
Tel 06-5745019
This is the place for all your salsa dancing needs and this club definitely attracts all of the locals as well. Much of the music is live Latin American music with some DJ’s mixed in the week.

Salotto 42
Piazza di Pietra 42, , Italy 00186 •
Tel 06-6785804
This club is unique in that it is located directly across from Hadrian’s temple. The walls are decked out with old books and art work and the place is filled with comfy sofas and chairs which makes it ideal as a cocktail bar. The crowd that attends this club is in the thirty something range so please keep that in mind before you decide to go. This place does have a bit of reputation of being a bit high brow for most people.

Romans do not share the love of the nightlife that many other European cities and countries might be known for. Rather I have found that because of the hectic pace of the city during the day that the city seems to take it easier at night. This is both a good and a bad thing depending on how you want to spend your vacation.

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.