Holiday Thread

[Yinster]

Ah Roma. Eat as much gelato as possible.

We were in a big group and our leader booked a tour guide for the Sistene Chapel before we left here. Very informative indeed and it also meant we skip the queue twice. First ot get in and also then we went through a wee door on the right hand side at the end and went straight into St Paul's. In fact try and book everything before you go. It was the same for the Colosseum too. Skip that queue too.

Also if you wish go on public transport get a three day one so it is unlimited travel on the buses and metro and means you are not fiddling with change.

[TheyCallMeMrGlass]

Just booked a really great deal to Rome for Feb 2012.
British Airways flights, b&b hotel for 3 nights in good location........ £240 odd per person!!

Am very excited, have been wanting to go to Rome for ages!!!

Did you see my highlights and redlights in an earlier post Mesa?? I'm sure Diane will add more as she's going in a few months.

Can't wait to hear about your trip. I'm going in March and I'm booking it next week so will be interested about where to go. I was intending to go before Christmas but ended up going to Barcelona instead. Does anyone know how many days we would need to get a good feel for the place? Would 3 days be long enough? I've got some ideas from havingascreen but anything else would be lovely to hear about.

Also has anyone any suggestions as where to visit and what to do in Prague? I'm going there in February for 4 days with OH and 18 year old daughter.

Definitely 5 days for a relaxed visit. But if you like to be on the go most of the time, you can cover everything in 3 days including Ostia Antica which is a half day requirement. I think 4 days maybe ideal.

I mentioned Ostia Antica which is just outside of Rome or the outskirts. As I say you need half a day for this. Its a complete ancient roman port, incredibly well preserved (but of course its in ruins but much of its town's structure is maintained). Here you really get a sense of time travel, or for me it feels like I am walking into a ghost town, as not many tourists know of this place either. Its quite an experience, very tranquil too in an eerie way. We found ourselves in a ancient theatre all on our own. There is a picture of me somewhere standing on a large open theatre stage, arms open as if giving a performance to a completely empty auditorium, I'll try find it :)

And as well as the obvious attractions already mentioned, make sure you go into the Sistine Chapel when you are in the Vatican...its stunning. No photos are allowed in here, the guard will escort you out, if you try! This is where you will find Michaelangelo's great ceiling paintings of the Book of Genesis. Use the guide to know which painting to look at in sequence to get the story. The famous Creation of Adam painting is part of these. But dont stare too long in one go as you get bad crane in your neck!

Beware of a horrendous roundabout in central Rome which is I swear is the most chaotic and dangerous traffic spot I have ever seen in whole of Europe! We saw 2 minor accidents at the spot on the same trip. There isnt a moment devoid of car rage! It has been a few years since I been though, so maybe its improved but god its frightening even for a pedestrian.

[havingascreen]

Ah Roma. Eat as much gelato as possible.

We were in a big group and our leader booked a tour guide for the Sistene Chapel before we left here. Very informative indeed and it also meant we skip the queue twice. First ot get in and also then we went through a wee door on the right hand side at the end and went straight into St Paul's. In fact try and book everything before you go. It was the same for the Colosseum too. Skip that queue too.

Also if you wish go on public transport get a three day one so it is unlimited travel on the buses and metro and means you are not fiddling with change.

but in reality you can travel on the buses for free, we b*ght the passes and while they were good for the two free entrys, we didn't really need them on the bus

[Yinster]

but in reality you can travel on the buses for free, we b*ght the passes and while they were good for the two free entrys, we didn't really need them on the bus

In theory yes but they are suppose to do spot checks. Though i never ever had my ticket check on the bus.

[Mesa7719]

Thanks peeps for all the info....... mucho appreciato :-)

[weirdfilms33]

Stress! Stress!

My family and I are trying to book a holiday in the summer to California/south-west America and it's getting really tense trying to fit it around my exam time. I think it's OK at the moment. After all, if you're going to go to LA (Universal Studios and Six Flags included), drive along the Californian Coast, visit Yosemite, San Francisco, Phoenix Arizona, the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas you certainly have to get the timing right!

[Yinster]

After all, if you're going to go to LA (Universal Studios and Six Flags included), drive along the Californian Coast, visit Yosemite, San Francisco, Phoenix Arizona, the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas you certainly have to get the timing right!

That is some schedule indeed, Weirdy!

[McG]

Stress! Stress!

My family and I are trying to book a holiday in the summer to California/south-west America and it's getting really tense trying to fit it around my exam time. I think it's OK at the moment. After all, if you're going to go to LA (Universal Studios and Six Flags included), drive along the Californian Coast, visit Yosemite, San Francisco, Phoenix Arizona, the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas you certainly have to get the timing right!

Apart from the stress, sounds great!

[Ms Thrifty]

You will all need a holiday after that lot!

[mandmc10]

but in reality you can travel on the buses for free, we b*ght the passes and while they were good for the two free entrys, we didn't really need them on the bus

In theory yes but they are suppose to do spot checks. Though i never ever had my ticket check on the bus.

They DO check bus tickets in Rome! I saw them this September! And some tourists were in trouble ....Not me...so don't know how it ended.... My advise - p*y.... the transport is CHEAP in Rome...