5 THINGS TO KNOW (THAT I KINDA WISH I’D KNOWN) BEFORE GOING TO ROME

Some of you know (and some may not) that I recently went to Rome for a few days during my trip to England. It was a fast paced, fun filled four days and I’m still sorting out photos and trying to remember everything that happened and that I did. Upon returning, I realized that there were some tips and tricks I sure wish I’d known before I left, and I thought I would put together a quick little checklist of my own and post it before I start getting into the nitty gritty of my psyche. I realize that there are a lot of these types of lists out there, and honestly, everyone’s experience in Rome is going to be different. Not everyone runs into the same obstacles. For example, I’ve seen some that mention a language barrier, which isn’t a problem I ran into – probably because I stayed in densely populated tourist areas like Rome and Pompeii. That said, ciao and grazie go a long way, even in Rome.

These are just a few things that I realized upon my travels, and a few little tidbits and insights that I wish I’d had before I left. Maybe they will help you.

 

1. Travel is expensive, if you don’t know what you’re doing (and I rarely do)

I wouldn’t call myself a ‘connoisseur’ of cheap travel – I like soft beds and fluffy pillows and AC and breakfast included. I’ve never stayed in a hostel (I’ve seen too many horror movies to every actually try), and I’ve never surfed any couches. I think as a woman in these times, there’s always something nagging at me in the back of my mind (my mom’s voice, probably) and telling me to be careful, don’t stumble off the sidewalk. To an extent, this is not a bad thing. Safety is important, no matter what country you’re in. Any large, international city comes with its own set of risks, and the United States is not excluded from this. There are dangerous places and people everywhere, so it helps to be alert and on guard. For example, I always carry a cross-body bag that zips when I travel, and I keep my passport zipped up tight in the pocket closest to me.

That said, if you’re looking for cheap, hostels or couch surfing are probably the way to go. From what I’ve been told, space in hostels is limited, and privacy is near nonexistent.

However, if you are a cautious little bird like me and aren’t prepared to go that route, there are a couple ways to maintain a sense of privacy and modern comfort without compromising your wallet too much.

Book through Ryan Air. Dumb cheap travel, but keep in mind it’s cheap for a reason. They WILL leave you behind if you are late. If you are already overseas and you are traveling inside of Europe, don’t bring your luggage. Pack LIGHT – a small backpack with some throwaway underwear and a couple tops. Seriously. You only think that you’re going to wear all the crap you bring, but I am here to tell you – you will not. LEAVE IT BEHIND.

Scour booking.com, Expedia, Travelocity, Trip Advisor, etc for a decent place to stay. These sites tend to have loads of guest reviews that can help you in your decision making. Don’t automatically nix out guesthouses, either. They only sound like hostels – oftentimes they aren’t. We stayed in a very small, very cozy guest house in Rome called Rome Rainbow Guest House. Bare bones, but inexpensive and close to everything we needed – food included.

2. Don’t try to see everything. You will not be able to. You will want to, and you will get to Rome with the pipe dream that you’re going to see everything the city has to offer in a few days. Lol, no.

Before you get to Rome, I would suggest writing down one thing per day that you are there that you absolutely must see. For me, the Colosseum, the Vatican (which includes the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica, so if those are on your list, you can combine them into one tour of the Vatican), and Trevi Fountain (this needs to be on everyone’s list) were all on my list.

TIME MANAGEMENT. It is your best friend.

3. Street tour guides will try to rip. You. Off.

They surround the Vatican and all the hop on/hop off bus stops like a flock of vultures waiting on road-kill, it’s unbelievable. You can easily book your own tour of the Vatican (you can pick a time and avoid waiting in that monstrosity of a line: https://biglietteriamusei.vatican.va), and audio guides are seriously your friend. Also, as a side note, most basilicas in Italy are free, so if you’re looking for some churchy things to do that don’t include the Vatican, there are many, many other alternatives. That said, the Vatican isn’t crazy expensive and is well worth the 23 euro price (this is full price ticket/audio guide). It’s also doable in half a day – but it’s easy to get swept up and it can become an all-day affair before you realize it. If a full day in the Holy City is not your plan, just keep an eye on your watch and try not to spend more than five minutes lingering in any one room. I know it’s hard, there’s lots of beautiful things to see!

4. Street peddlers are everywhere, and they are annoying.

They will try to sell you hats, scarves, selfie sticks, battery packs, and other random crap every chance they get. Whether you’re taking pictures of the Colosseum, waiting on a bus, walking the streets, or having dinner (yes, they will come up to you if you are seated outside), they will try to sell you something. You can be polite, but a firm no, grazie is best. They will usually take the hint and leave you alone until the next one comes along.

5. Bring. Backup. Battery packs. Seriously.

This was an ongoing saga for me. At some point, my iPhone battery decided that it no longer cared to function properly, and tended to die in a couple of hours. For most people traveling, their phone is their camera – I am no exception. I do carry a digital camera (a canon powershot SX500 IS 16mp to be specific), but for quick, stealth snaps (like in the Sistine Chapel), I use my cell phone more often than not. Your best bet is to buy a good battery pack from Best Buy, Target, Wal-Mart, or any cellphone store or online retailer like Amazon, where you can compare prices and customer reviews before you go. You might be inclined to buy the cheapest one you can find – don’t do this. The cheap lipstick style tubes on eBay and Amazon are what I’ve found to be garbage, as is the junk they are trying to sell you on the streets in Italy. It may cost you $20 and above for a good backup charger, but it will be well worth the investment, trust me.

6. BONUS SIX. Relaaaax. Seriously. Just relax.

You’re in beautiful Rome, taking in all the sights, and you’re worried you’ll never be back. You want to seeeverything, so you make the mistake of cramming everything into a couple of days. By the end of it, it’s a blur, your feet hurt, and you didn’t get nearly as good of a secret photo in the Sistene Chapel that you wanted. I know the feel, because I tried to do it. Heck, I climbed Vesuvius and then demanded a stroll around town and dinner.

The most important advice I can give is to simply relax, enjoy your vacation, and consume la dolce vita  – the sweet life.