JourneyEtc

Rome, also known as the Eternal City, is a very popular tourist destination. If you are planning a visit to Rome, you want to make your stay as enjoyable as possible. While simply visiting this beautiful city is going to be memorable, there are a few things that you should keep in mind if you want the perfect vacation.

1. Planning

No vacation is going to be without its hitches, but if you plan accordingly, your stay in Rome can be nearly perfect. When booking, see if you can get discounts. Check with your travel agent about any specials that you may be able to use to save money. Also remember that booking ahead is the best way to save. Hotels and airlines often offer lower rates for those who book at least six weeks or more in advance. During your planning stage, make a list of things that you want to see and do while you are in Rome. You should note that the Vatican Museum is not open on Sundays and other places may be closed on specific days of the week as well. Plan ahead for the places that you want to visit and take time to do a bit of online research and find out what days you can visit them and during what specific hours of the day.

2. Sightseeing

You should expect to see crowds virtually anywhere you stay in Rome. This is after all a very popular city. Unless you plan to visit during the dead of winter, there will likely be large crowds everywhere you plan to go. The streets near the Vatican City like Via del Corso are relatively narrow and those walking around will be a bit crowded. It is important that you plan accordingly for the crowds. If you are planning to visit a museum at a specific time for instance, leave your hotel a bit early so that you have plenty of time to beat the traffic. If you find the crowds to be too overwhelming, there are plenty of peaceful areas that you can visit in the city’s residential regions. Trastevere is a smaller area that has plenty of restaurants and activities so if the Rome crowds are too much for you to bear, take a little break and explore the outlying areas of the city for a day.

3. Shopping

You will, of course want to shop. There are so many designer stores, leather shops and antique markets in Rome that it is literally a shopper’s paradise. One thing that you should remember is that it can be a bit difficult to tell if you are getting a good deal in some of the shops. Impulse purchases should be avoided, particularly if you really want to get a good deal. Instead of buying on the spot, take some time to shop around just to make sure that you are getting the best deal. Rome is filled with designer labels and wonderful boutiques where you can buy just about anything you want but there is no reason that you should overspend. Shop wisely and be aware of scam artists that may be trying to sell you knock-offs posing as designer labels.

4. Getting Around

There are many taxis in Rome and most of these are wonderful ways for you to get around in the city. If you are not planning to rent a car, you may need a taxi from time to time. They are relatively inexpensive and can be very easy to find in most cases but you will need to be a bit cautious of some of the taxi drivers. It is recommended that you always have small bills on you when using a taxi service just in case the driver cannot break a larger bill. Most trips will cost you around 10 Euros or less so keep these smaller bills handy. It is also important that you learn a few key phrases in Italian or at the very least have a pocket translator handy so that you can effectively point your driver to your destination.

Overall, plan to have a wonderful time on your Rome visit. Keep in mind that unless you are planning to stay for several weeks, you are not likely to be able to take in everything that you want to see. Make a list of the top places you want to visit and then add others as you have time. By planning early and being careful, there is no reason that your visit to Rome cannot be one that you remember fondly.