Rome, Italy

Recommendations

Stay...

Sheraton Roma Hotel and Conference Center. If you don't mind staying outside of the central downtown tourist areas, you might consider the Sheraton Roma Hotel and Conference Center. The hotel offers shuttle service several times each day to Piazza Venezia.
Hotel Quirinale. This hotel has been around since the 1800s. Rooms are clean, but basic. The location, near the Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps, is the real appeal. Breakfast in the dining area and evening cocktails in the lobby add to the guest experience.

Eat...

Hostaria Antica Roma. This restaurant, located on the Appian Way near the Catacombs, is a "must visit" while in Rome. The historic setting is particularly special, the food is delectable, and the owner warmly welcomes everyone as if they are family members. The attention to details and effort made toward ensuring your enjoyment is unsurpassed. The historical location on the Appian Way makes is a great place to dine anytime, but especially on Sundays when the road is closed to traffic and you can walk part of the Via Appia.
La Scaletta degli Artisti. This comfortable restaurant is located on a beautiful, quiet street near Piazza Navona. The restaurant opened 50 years ago and was run by Mama, who called it a “gastronomic bijoux”. The menu still has many choices to suit almost every diner. Part of the restaurant’s true appeal is that the menu does not come in 6 languages for the tourists (you can easily manage the menu with a few Italian words and pointing at your selections), and, it is open during the afternoon hours when most others are closed (in case you have not yet adjusted your jet-lagged internal clock to local time).

**Be sure to make your lunch and dinner reservations early if you are traveling to Rome during a holiday. Only a limited number of restaurants will be open on those days and those few will be very full. You can make reservations from the U.S. at the Diningcity.com website.

April is a great month to visit Rome. It is a comfortable temperature for walking and you can always stop in a museum or café if there is any rain.

Wear sturdy shoes for walking on cobblestone streets or slick marble walkways. Bring a light rain jacket if it looks overcast that day.

Only take official taxis (white with the Rome logo and a taximeter inside). Unofficial taxi drivers will meet you in the airport and offer a ride, showing you a badge to assure you they are “official”. They can be quite aggressive. Instead, find the taxi stand and get in line for the next available taxi.

Get your Euros at the airport when you arrive. You will generally get a better rate at the ATM and will then have money for the taxi and tips at the hotel.