Rome Post-cruise hotel and tours

[PBtravel1]

Hi,

 

We'll be arriving in Rome on 06/10 after 12-day Greek Isles cruise on Crown Princess. I'm planning to fly back home the next day. We've been to Rome before (3 days pre-cruise) and stayed in the lovely hotel in Termini area and found the location too far from the historic center.

 

What area should we stay this time? Can somebody recommend a good hotel? How far is from Pantheon to Colisseum? What are our options for transportation and tours? I'd like to take a walking tour rather than stay in the car (e.g. Rome Cabs). However, I'd like to get to Rome fast rather than take a train and public transportation in Rome. We took a train to Civitavechia last time and it's certainly doable but will take most of your day.

Can somebody recommend good walking tour? There are so many to choose from.

 

Thank you for your help,

Polina.:confused:

[texancruzer]

Good hotel: www.hotelmozart.com Right down from the Spanish Steps. We stayed 2 nights precruise. Loved it and will stay here again :)

 

Good Tour (walking or otherwise) www.angeltoursrome.com They have Vatican tours, Coliseum tours, Pantheon tours and a walking tour. Click on Tours once on their website. We did a private tour (just guide,dh and myself) of the Vatican in the morning and the Coliseum/etc in the afternoon. Awesome - awesome day !!!!

[CintiPam]

We love to stay in "Old Rome", the Pantheon/Campo de Fiori area, great for dining and strolling.

[PBtravel1]

Thank you very much for your help.

[cruisemom42]

The Pantheon area is probably the most central to everything if you are walkers. The Forum is about a 20-minute stroll (faster if you are a quick walker). Trevi Fountain is 5 minutes, and the Spanish Steps are another 5-8 minutes beyond that. Piazza Navona is just a 3-5 minute walk in the other direction.

 

It is also an extremely pleasant area to be in the evenings. Plenty of good restaurants everywhere (just avoid the main piazzas which have higher prices/more touristy fare).

 

Some hotels that are very well rated include the Albergo del Senato (pricey but WELL worth it for a splurge.....besides how can you put a price on sitting on the rooftop lounge and looking over at the Pantheon only yards away?), the Albergo Santa Chiara (less expensive and less ambiance but still in a stellar location), and the Albergo Cesare (least $$ of the 3 and usually has some good deals, recently renovated in a historic building, and partway between Pantheon and Trevi).

 

For walking tours, try Context Rome. They really get below the surface facts that you can get in any guidebook. Their tours are limited to 6 people, so it's almost like a private tour (although you could get a private tour too if you want). http://www.contexttravel.com/rome/tours/our-walks/

[Susan-M]

We took a train to Civitavechia last time and it's certainly doable but will take most of your day.

 

To say that it will take most of your day is an exaggeration, unless you get lost along the way.:) It took us 2.5 hours to get from our hotel in Rome to the port in Civitavecchia. We took a local bus from our hotel at Piazza Navona to the Termini, train to Civitavecchia (they run every 1/2 hour), and walked from the Civitavecchia station to the port entrance. A private driver will probably cut an hour off of that time if traffic is moving well.

[KCcruisin07]

It is 2.6 km and would take 26 minutes walking. Fun tip: go to Google Maps, enter Rome, then in directions there is a space for by car or walking. (There is also a camera view.) But if your time is limited I love the idea of a walking tour with a guide because they provide so much information and can quickly get you from point to point. (If you had more time, meandering about would be fun.)