Rome

Danny and I had the pleasure of going to the beautiful city of Rome in April, and except for the plane ticket and the hotel room we were able to stay on a pretty good budget. We got off the plane (we flew all night) and we were 8 hours ahead, so my husband said not to sleep until it got dark (it helped your body to get rid of jet lag quicker). We spent most of our 8 day trip just exploring the sights and the ancient ruins of the city. We are already starting to plan our next trip and I am So Excited that I wanted to write down some of the things we learned. So here are a few tips that will make your first trip and our 2nd trip easier.
The first thing you should know about traveling in Rome is the subway system is the cheapest and most efficient way to get around the city. If you are going to use multiple stops during the day we suggest the all day pass (every time you have to change subway stations it costs 1 euro, and it usually took two stops to get to your destination) which only cost us 4 euro. Another thing to be aware of is to plan which sights to see together, and this will save you tons of travel time. For example, you can see the Roman Forums and the Colosseum together, they are in close walking distance. If you want to see the Spanish steps, they are in close proximity to the ritzy Italian stores, and the Trevi fountain and the Pantheon were within walking distance too. The exciting part of walking is that you also get an idea of the Italian culture around you and see the people in everyday life.
Eating can be one of the most expensive things to do in Rome. My suggestion is that you don't eat near any of the major attractions! They are more expensive and the food is more geared toward tourists. We would walk a few blocks down from the major attractions and then look for a spot to eat. A few tips: if they offer a counter service versus sitting at the table and being waited on, I suggest you just stand at the counter and get your food; it is the same as the table service and they don't charge you for being waited on. Then you can walk and eat or find an obliging park bench or wall to sit on and enjoy the views knowing you saved money for more trinkets for your loved ones. Another thing to be aware of is the price of water. We actually purchased a water bottle with a purifier in it before we left on our trip, and even though the bottle cost us about $40 it was well worth the investment. Water can be more expensive than wine there, and you can save tons of money by filling your bottle at the many water fountains instead of paying outrageous prices somewhere else. I am sure there was nothing wrong with the water fountains, but the water does come out of the fountain looking a little cloudy so I wasn't taking any chances!
One other thing, you HAVE to take the time to see the Vatican City, but I would not plan anything else to do on the day that you go there! There are many museums with priceless works of art that you will be sad if you missed, and they placed the Sistine Chapel at the end of this maze of different museums. We spent about five hours there just looking at the art and sculptures kept there (take a few breaks, there is so much to see that it gets a little bit overwhelming). And make sure you take a book with you, or it might be a good time to splurge and get on a tour of the museums. There is so much art and it is all labeled in Italian, so unless you are fluent in the language or an art history buff you are going to miss a lot of important stuff. Once you are finished with the Sistine Chapel you must go to St Peter's Basilica, which is very close to the exit of the museums. Make sure you see La Pieta, one of Michaelangelo's most famous sculptures, where Mary is holding the crucified Christ. It is one of the most moving pieces I have ever seen.
Whatever you do, have some sort of plan as to what you are going to do everyday that you are in Rome. Many people just come to see the sights, and don't realize how much there is to see and how overwhelming it can all be. If you have a plan of your must-sees on your trip, then you can make sure to see them and still have time to stop and get your shopping done and take the time to appreciate where you are. Make sure you also throw a coin in the trevi fountain (behind your left shoulder of course!) because this means that you will once again find yourself in the eternal city! One more thing, there are many attractions that are now visible at night, and if you want to see Trevi fountain, the Pantheon, the Colosseum and other attractions all lit up at night and with far fewer crowds it was definitely worth missing a little sleep to see it!