Holidays in Rome

How much Italian do I need to learn to enjoy a visit to Rome? None, really, but whatever you can pick up will help more there than many other West European countries. At the least, pick up a phrase book a couple of months before you go and spend some time with it. The more off the mainstream you go, and the more inexpensive the restaurants and hotels, in Rome the more at least some Italian becomes helpful. Italians are almost as mono-lingual as Americans. You don’t need any Italian to stay in a $400/night hotel and eat a $200 meal! You’ll enjoy yourself more and enjoy the food more below that level, the more Italian you know. But entire sentences aren’t necessary – words/phrases/sign language and knowing the names of menu items and dishes are very helpful.

In any event, we’ve always found most Italians quite helpful and considerate. Learn to say “Prego” (‘praygo ‘- please) and “Grazie” (‘grahtsiay’ – thank you) and together with a smile you’ll get around Italy, and particularly Rome, just fine. Money is tight, so how can we have a great time in a capital city like Rome on a limited budget? Well, like anything else, more money can help you enjoy yourself more, but doesn’t guarantee satisfaction. I know people that spend $400 a night for a hotel but never get ‘into’ the places they visit.

Money can sometimes be an impediment. While you want your hotel clean and conveniently located, if you’re out seeing the sights the size doesn’t matter. Take a simple Italian style breakfast, eat picnics for lunch, and save your food dollars for the evening meal and the wonderful Italian foods. Save one of the rolls or slices of wonderful bread from dinner. You’ve probably paid for it anyway and have that for breakfast with a $2 cup of coffee at a local bar, presuming your hotel doesn’t include breakfast, and if it’s inexpensive it may not.

In Rome, in particular, walking is cheap and easy.  The important parts of the city are compactly located.