ITALY Readers's Tips - I just spent three days in Rome before heading off to other parts of the country and I would say that you don't really need to book things in advance if you are concerned about the wait in lines. would research tours for different reasons. would say that you might want to research tour groups at the different sites around Rome and pick the one that you think would give you the quality tour you are looking for and for the price you are willing to pay.There are tour guides at all the major attractions that will try to hussle you into thier tours.ome are decent and some are terrible.I didn't really research the tours ahead of time and in some cases, I wish that I would have. I would tell you places like the Vatican are worth a private tour because the tour guides that form groups right outside of the Vatican are quick (2 1/2 and hardly touch on all the history of St Peter's, and the Sistine Chapel, not to mention all the art inside the Vatican Museum. The colliseum tour guides standing outside do a pretty decent job. don't see a need to get a private tour for that one. Most importnantly, buy a good, detailed guide book that tells you about each attraction.Travel books for the entire contry are OK, but there are books out there that will cover things in depth.ake one of these along and read it on the plane or ahead of time.That way you will know what you want to get out of each place you visit.Hope this helps.

Just want to say I hated Rome, too dirty, people too rude and too expensive.Sorry but that's how I feel.Graffitti was everywhere, you could smell the sewage system everywhere.s much money is spent in Rome by tourist you would think they would have more pride in such a historical place. Oh I am so glad I am the first to respond to this.€£çò°àéè§ù£ì^€..ssage. have been in Rome 4 days now doing a home exchange. have visited Rome several times (the last was a few years ago. am so proud of the Romans for cleaning up their city. have never seen it looking so good.ou can tell they have a lot of pride in their city.he buildings have even been cleaned.raffiti Sure, in the alleys and on some walls but I will bet some of our U. cities have far more.irty What are you talking about Just what kind of a red light area did you go into Rude You are nuts.he Romans are friendly and go out of their way to help you..ven if they do not speak a word of English.mell the sewage We have not smelled any kind of odor other than the aroma of yummy Italian cooking.xpensive Compared to the U., yes, the rate is about 1. but that is Europe right now.ou should try Great Britain if you think the €/ exchange is high.lease stay home.ou are exactly the image of ugly American we are trying to escape. Linda, San Diego

I stayed at the collisuem area at a 4 star hotel.I got this information from Cheap Hotel Guide as a great place to stay.. If you didn't see the graffiti on every wall and building from the airport forward then you had on some dark shades.I

• Relais Ridola (Garden Hotel) - Matera, Lombardy

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