Yes Hotel Rome Travel Blog: The Rome travel guide

By following this simple tips you may have not a story to tell about a taxi driver that has left you with a wallet excessively empty.

Before taking a cab ask our staff about how much a fair price will be for the desired destination,  which helps you to avoid unpleasant situations.

It is true that our hotel is just around the corner from Termini Station, but also half a block from Piazza Indipendenza. The point is that from Termini you pay a supplement of  2 euros more, that you save instead from the stand at Indipendenza square.

There are two airports in Rome: Fiumicino and Ciampino. There is an official rate for taxis which is from our Hotel 48 euros to Fiumicino and 30 euros to Ciampino. This price applies for a maximum of four persons and four bags.

Any trip to the historic centre should show up as Tariffa 1 on the meter. Tariffa 2 applies beyond the Grande Raccordo Annulare and it is charged at a higher rate. Make sure that the driver has set the right Tariffa while traveling to the Roman centre.

Rome taxi drivers prefer to use taxi stands. You might be able to flag a taxi down, but it is a rarer occurence than in most cities. Romans know they’ll find a taxi stand in all the major piazze.

Official cabs are white, have a taxi sign mounted on the roof, have an insignia on the driver’s door reading “Comune di Roma,” have an official number and a meter. You want an official cab. Do not use the touts at Termini Station.

The meter starts at different rates depending on the day and time, as it follows:

Monday –Saturday from 7am- 10pm the meter starts at €2,80

Sundays and Holidays the meter starts at €4,00

Night fares from 10pm-7am, the meter starts at €5,80

Supplement from Termini Station plus 2 euros.

* Each piece of luggage with the following dimensions cost (cm 35×25x50) €1,00 each..

If you feel you have been cheated by a taxi, the driver’s license number is written on a metal plate on the left door on the passenger side. Make sure you get a receipt or ricevuta and write down the name and number printed on the plate. In addition, you should also take note of which cab company you used .With this information, you can file a complaint with the cab company and should be able to receive reimbursement.

And remember that our staff will assist you with all the information you may need. See you soon.

MARCELO

If designer clothing is what you look for but want to have a have a discounted price from the retail price, there are plenty of outlet shops located in the vicinity of Rome. Shopping in outlets not only give you the same quality pieces that you normally find in boutiques but you can find them in a very discounted price. These pieces are last season ago or some are a couple of seasons ago so you might not be able to find here the latest trends in the fashions magazines, but then again, fashion comes and goes and then comes back again. And if you find a very classic piece that can last for a couple of years.

The closest designer outlet shop, located just half-hour car ride from Rome is Castel Romano Designer Outlet. This outlet carries high-end brands like Burberry, Salvatore Ferragamo, Valentino and Roberto Cavalli, just to name a few. There are other shops that are middle ranged and sport clothing like Nike and Puma, so the choices for different shoppers are endless.

Other outlets shops are located a bit further from Rome, some 2-3 hour car ride to the direction for Florence. One of the most celebrated outlet in Italy is the biggest Prada outlet which carries the exquisite Prada pieces from accessories to Ready-to-wear with discount from 30-70%. Another outlet located about half hour car ride is The Mall. This outlet carries top designer shops like Gucci, Fendi, Dior, Balenciaga, Tod’s and Bottega Veneta, to name a few. Discounts ranges from 30-70% off the retail price from the boutiques. During sale seasons in January and August, further reductions from the outlet prices are applied. Some shops even put up last item bins or racks that has really impressive discount prices!!

Our Blogger: Joseph

Our Blogger: Arianna

While people are visiting Rome is not unusual that they ask for a shopping centre where to buy clothes and souvenirs. Unfortunately (or fortunately) inside the city we don’t have such big mall; they are located quite far and sometimes it’s not so simple to reach those areas using the public transportation.

But in the city there it’s possible to visit free open markets where you’ll find many bargains- maybe not brand clothing but there, besides getting a good price you’ll get as well a glimpse into the most picturesque romanity.

The most famous street market one is Porta Portese but it’s open only on Sundays. During week days your best option is Via Sannio, where you’ll find cheap clothes, past seasons stock, military articles, camping, hunting and fishing stuff.

This market is actually open every day from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm and it’s closed on Sunday.Most of the stands from Via Sannio in fact moved on Sunday to the Porta Portese market.

Some curiosities: generally in Sannio street you can buy the “ brand clothes” with substantial discounts in comparison with the usual prices but be careful: in fact most of the things you see there are actually good imitations of famous designer’s ideas.

But not everything is counterfeit, on Via Sannio you’ll find too many second-hand things: a great chance to get a vintage piece of wardrobe that will add a unique touch to your look.

What might be special for foreign tourists is the atmosphere of this tangle of stands: colours, voices and characters who live together inside this small world.

Some colourful characters you can meet at Via Sannio are: the tree of junk, Sylvan the dirty, Gino the musician, Joao the Philippin, Mustafa the optician, Ric and Jan the leather-goods dealers, Mara the seller of sleepers, Fidel the revolutionary, Lella the ragwoman, Tarcisio the infamous, Jimmy the graphic artist, Ahmed and Anal the Libyans, the crazy hatter, Max the business man.

For more information about this peculiar urban celebrities you can check out :

http://www.ziofringuello.com/viasannio.html

Hotel Des Artistes and Yes Hotel are the best in accomodation in Rome. The knowledgeable staff and the high standards of service will make your stay in the Eterna City memorable, and their great location will allow you to explore many hidden angles of the “real” Rome, like the market in Via Sannio.

Directions: from Termini station line A until San Giovanni in Laterano and then you’ll see it just on the corner.

 

Euroma2-Shopping Mall

Italy is a country of contrasts,  and no matter how much you earn you will be always attracted by the beautiful shopping malls full of fascinating fashion shops and pretty products. Another mall, or commercial shopping center has been open in Rome these days. It claims to be the the biggest shopping center in Europe, claims also to be one of the most elegant and fascinating.

So, what is EUROMA2 ?

Well, tastes differ…I personally found it a bit kitch, and maybe too luxurous, maybe with a bit less of style than in times of Michelangelo, but it has a lot of positive and practical features too.

Some historical outline of Euroma2 project. This mall makes part of Central construction plan that the municipality of Rome has sought  as a compensation in 2003 in the construction of parks  Volusia  and Pratone Valley in this area. Located in between the Pacific Ocean Avenue, by the Steet Cristoforo Colombo and street of Decima, apart from Euroma 2, there will be also be constructed two tower buildings designed by architect Purini, high around 120 meters, and will become a new headquarters of the Ministry of Health.

There will be also outlets for the house articles, electronics, sports and personal care shops. A beauty centre and a hairdresser alternate by an erboristeria, a laundry, and two jewellers, perhaps even Fendi. The shopping center will host  also a bank, Carifac, Cassa di Risparmio di Fabriano and Cupramontana.
The management of Euroma 2 is in the hands of the Scci, Société des Centres Commerciaux Inc.

So, let’s talk about practical sides of this shopping mall. First of all, in one place you will find 230 different shops, especially some brands that were not presented in Rome a year ago, like H&M are expanding their market in the central Italy and already have captured many hearts and pockets of Roman shopaholics. Also there are present Zara, Nuvolari, Oysho, Bershka, Stradivarius, Pull & Bear Ottics.

This center has a large supermatket IPERCOOP where you can find a variety of products from agriculture to high-tech at very reasonable prices.These 230 different spots represent boutiques and restaurants situated on three stores, multilevel parking for 4000 posts. To cut the symbolic openning band was invited a famous show girl, ex Miss Italia Cristina Chiabotto. 

You will find a mega center of electronics TRONY, which was assalted by the customers on the openning day of the 23rd June 2008 with many and many incredible offers and discounts. And last but not the least…

LUXUROUS SALES

July the 5th 2008 to August the 15th 2008

Openning hours Monday 12-22,

Tuesday-Sunday 10-22

If you are an architect, or an arts researcher (why not study masterpieces or monsters of modernity in cement and metal), or maybe  you are a raffinated shopper, who is in love with Italy and Rome, then your credo is Time is Money, and you value quality-price equilibrium solutions, then do not hesitate plan your trip to Rome, book fashionable YES Hotel by Termini Station, and then visit the Luxurous and Fashionable Shopping Mall Euroma 2.

Although most people don’t really think of Via Cavour or the surrounding areas as a place to go shopping, the prices and quality are really decent and only steps away from Yes hotel Rome or Des Artistes accommodation in Rome. Down Via Cavour there are quite a few small clothes shops. Most of these sell belts, ties, shirts, jackets, pants and shoes.
The prices are usually quite reasonable. You can expect to pay between 10 and 15 euros for a 100 % cotton shirt. If the quality is a bit higher around 20 to 25 euros. Pants are pretty cheap too around 27 euro for wool pants.
Most of your money usually gets spent on shoes. However in Via Filipo Turati you will find loads of shops almost all devoted to clothing. Shoes are as low as 25 euros and jeans will also cost as much. Don’t expect to find well known brand clothing here, just the normal everyday street wear or casual clothing.
Another great place to go shopping for clothes is at Upim. There is one in Via Giovanni Giolitti. Just on the other side of Termini Station and another one located near Santa Maria Maggiore. This is a decent clothing department store. They have everything from casual clothes, children’s clothes and work wear. The prices are pretty reasonable too.
The only articles of clothing I would suggest you buy from the street vendors are the ties. They are pretty, cheap around 5 to 7 euros, depending on where you go. There is nothing wrong with them. I bought three myself and they have a variety of great colours too, and same with the hand bags : plenty of choice from trendy to more classic.
Shopping in Rome doesn’t always have to be super expensive and the clothes don’t have to be adorned in every brand name imaginable and until end of january sales are on. After you have bought your basic clothes in some of the cheaper shops you may have some money left over to get the one expensive accessory in Via Del Corso (high street fashion) or Via Dei Condotti (exclusive couturier shops) located near our Bed and Breakfast De Cappuccini