So my husband treated me to a very nice birthday treat to Rome, Italy last week! I REALLY appreciated it and what a fantastic treat it was! But of course I’m going to give you my honest opinion of what I thought of the entire trip to Rome, Italy…..
The Flight:
So we wanted to try Alitalia, which is Italy’s own airline. We were going for the whole Italian experience so we started with the plane. First off, don’t take Alitalia! Just don’t! It’s dirty, they’re rude, it’s unorginized, but you do get one drink and one little thing of bisquits. Wow…..
Romes Airport:
Just about the same as the airline, dirty, rude, and unorganized! If you’ve ever been through US Customs or UK Customs, then you know that one thing is for certain; those places are organized and they have lines and signs that clearly state where you are supposed to go. Not Rome’s airport. Oh no, it was Chaos! Was this going to be a reoccuring thing in Rome, I thought……
Romes Train:
A little bit better…..sigh of relief! Easy to buy the tickets, the system is also in English so it was easy to understand. Easy on the train, easy off. The views outside of the train on our way into Rome reminded me of Mexico. Dirty, trash every where, shacks on the side of the train tracks, overgrown weeds and grass by the train tracks that made you wonder if the stations we passed were even in working condition, but the amount of people waiting for the train showed us, that yes, it was.
The train station in Rome is fairly big and is also next to the bus station. They also have your basic car rental places in the station as well as a bank where you can get money.
Taxis:
First, and foremost, do NOT take a taxi that does not have a sign on the door with their taxi number as well as a taxi sign on the top of the car; these are official taxis.
We did not know this as we came out of the train station and got in an unmarked taxi. Though he ended up being a pretty nice and decent guy, he charged us double for what a ‘real’ taxi would of charged us. We learned our lesson!
Even if you don’t have to, take a taxi just once in Rome so that you can experience of the utter chaos and un-organization of the road systems there! You ever heard of ”Mr Toad’s Wild Ride”? Yep, that’s what the experience of taking a taxi in Rome is like! Wild! Once again there is that word ‘unorganized’……
The Rome Cavalieri (our hotel):
Ahhhhhh, finally some organization, cleanliness, and fantastic service with a smile! This place was magnificent! It is on top of the hill overlooking Rome and the view is spectacular! This is what high maintenance is all about! The rooms are wonderful and have everything to offer and the beds and pillows are like sleeping on marshmallows. You get what you pay for here that’s for sure!
When it comes to eating at the hotel, I recommend eating in town, the menu here is ridiculous and expensive! For two cocktails it cost us about $50 American dollars. They have two of their own very nice Mercedes bus that transports the hotel guests back and forth to town and the hotel. My advise; get the concierge to recommend a great place that is more of a locals restaurant and have them make a reservation for you. We were pleasantly surprised with their recommendations every time!
The Food in Rome:
AMAZING! I recommend Ristorante Clemente Alla Maddalena! This place is FANTASTIC and they treat you like queens and kings. 
Make sure you make a reservation at this place, it’s one of the best in Rome and the prices are right.
Every where you go there is food, and every thing we tasted was wonderful. Rome is a place for eating so make sure that you lose a few pounds before you go!
Rome As A City:
Rome is beautiful! Crowded, but beautiful! There are streets and pathways that go throughout the city with little nooks and crannies that you can walk down where you’ll always find a boutique or a quaint little restaurant. If you love shopping you’ll love Rome.
Your typical tourist spots like the Vatican (which is so massive that I can’t explain with pictures), or the Colosseum, the ruins, the Spanish steps, The Pantheon, or any of the church’s in Rome are great to visit, but are very crowded on any day, but worth it! I love to just walk around Rome or just sit and watch people and absorb the culture and all it has to offer.
Rome is old, the women feisty, and the men think they are all fantastic lover’s! This you will see in their attitudes, the way they carry themselves, the way they treat you. The people of Rome can be rude, but in general they are good people and always fun!
I recommend buying a couple of books about Rome before you go so that you can plan your trip accordingly. Go on Trip Advisor and find a recommended hotel that has a great rating.
I like Rome, but I wouldn’t say that I love it. It is a great city, but I would rather go to Milan next time……but I do Love my husband for taking me first and foremost! He Rocks!
Until next time…..
