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

Every country is different, here are some tips that will help you to have a more enjoyable experience in Italy:

• Assuming you can buy tickets for public transportation directly on the bus / tram.

Most big cities in Italy (Rome, Milan, Naples, Florence) require you to buy your bus/tram tickets before boarding. And not just that, but most bus stops will not have a ticket machine next to the stop. Rather, you’ll need to find a newspaper stand (edicola) or a tobacco shop (tabaccaio) to purchase your tickets.

• No validating train tickets

Depending on the type of train ticket you buy, you may need to validate it or otherwise you pay a fine. This will be indicated on the ticket.

• Assuming that cars and scooters will leave you to go first while crossing the streets

Even when they are bounded to, many drivers will not stop to let you go first and scooters will never do it (they have no obligation).

• Expecting to be waited on very attentively in a restaurant or store.

Many restaurants will be “understaffed,” (few waiters working many tables) They probably won’t ask “how are you folks doing?”, if you like the food, if you want a refill (this concept doesn’t exist) or other general “friendly” requests that are in reality superfluous to your main dining experience – they just don’t have the time. So, sit back, be patient, and flag down your waiter when you need something, but be patient in knowing they are probably working very hard.

• Tipping.

You don’t need to tip in Italy. Italians will only leave a tip for exceptional service (anniversary dinner in a Michelin-starred restaurant) or will leave the change when paying cash because it’s easier not to wait for the waiter to make change .

• Thinking you have to order an antipasto, primo e secondo at every meal.

Most Italians don’t eat an antipasto, primo, secondo and dolce at every meal – you don’t have to, either.

• Not respecting meal times, especially at lunch time.

Most restaurants and bars have specific opening times, and they will close in the afternoon. If you have a late breakfast, visit museums through lunch and hope to get a bite to eat at 2pm or 3pm, you’re going to find a very limited selection.

.

• Ordering before paying, paying before ordering in a bar.

Many bars require that you get a receipt (scontrino) before ordering, especially if you see the cash register (cassa) sitting apart from where you’ll pick up the food or coffee, and you don’t see immediate table service.

• Touching fruit & vegetables with your bare hands in a street market or supermarket.

In a supermarket you should see plastic gloves and bags near the scales or throughout the fruit/veg section. Use them. In an open-air market, you won’t see these gloves because you are not expected to handle anything yourself – the people working in the stall will do everything.

Our staff will kindly help you to learn all that you need about Italian culture. See you around!

Marcelo

Janiculum, or Gianicolo in Italian, is the second highest hill in the contemporary city of Rome and separate from the famous seven hills of Rome. The Aurelian wall made it’s way up the Janiculum hill in order to include inside the walls of the city the water mills that were used to grind corn and make bread.

Locals often come here for a walk as the park provides a welcome escape from the hectic streets of the city. There are also some activities for children to enjoy here like an authentic puppet theatre.

Many tourists head here just to see the magnificently beautiful view of Rome from the top of the hill, however there are other interesting things atop this hill…..

The largest monument on the janiculum is the Garibaldi monument, an enormous equestrian statue of Giuseppe Garibaldi, honouring the italian patriot’s heroics on this hill in 1849.

Another monument can be found here, a formal arched memorial with the inscription ‘Roma o Morte’ (Rome or Death), honouring the other Italian patriots who died in the Italian independence wars between 1848 and 1870.

And one more magnificent thing to see is the Fontana dell’Acqua Paola, a monumental baroque fountain built in the early 17^th century by pope Paul V.the fountain was built here to celebrate the reopening of an old roman acqeduct, originally created in 109 AD by emperor Trajan. The fountain was named after the pope.

This is one of the most beautiful and interesting places to visit in the eternal city and it is worth your time to take a look. To reach the Janiculum Hill from the center of the city, Hope you enjoy.

Our Blogger today: Liam

Our Blogger: Raul

There are some practical issues that are common to all tourists visiting the eternal city. Most of them are impossible to know if you haven’t been to Rome, so here we show you a couple of things you might like to know before arriving.

Be aware of pickpockets

Rome is not a violent city. The only real danger are pickpockets. Be ware of them on the subway, or generally, wherever you find yourself in a crowd. They might steal something from your bags or backpacks or try to rip your purse to get what’s inside.

Be aware of taxi drivers

In Rome you cannot wave a taxi. There are two ways to get one: either you catch one from a taxi parking place (they’re located strategically, but that doesn’t mean that you’re garanteed to have one near) or you call one. A couple of numbers to get a taxi in Rome are 063570 and 064994 (add 0039 if you’re using a cell phone with a non-italian SIM card), but since the automatic system that manages the calls is not bilingual, you might need to ask for help if you’re not fluent in Italian. By the way, once you get a cab be aware of the drivers! Make sure they use the meter to calculate the fare.

Get a Roma Pass

The Roma pass  is a special ticket that costs 20 euros and gives you access to the public transportation system for three days and to two museums you can choose from a list. The possibilities include some of the best museums in Rome, like the Museum in Villa Borghese, the Capitoline Museums and the Colosseum. In case you decide the Roma pass is not for you, there are other options (that include only transportation, though). The BIT is a ticket valid for 75 minutes, the Daily ticket costs 4 euros, the three-day ticket costs 11 euros, and the week-ticket 16 euros. Tickets can be bought in all the subway stations, newsstands, and Tobacco Shops.

A final word on airports

It might sound silly, but make sure you know the airport where your plane is departing from. There are two airports in Rome: Fiumicino (also known as Leonardo Da Vinci airport) and Ciampino. If you are staying in a hotel near Termini station, like hotel Des Artistes or Yes Hotel, arriving to any of them is not difficult at all: there’s a train called the  Leonardo Express  that goes to Fiumicino from Termini and leaves in the minutes 22 and 52 past the hour, starting at 5:52 with the last train at 22:52. For Ciampino, there are a couple of bus companies that will take you from the station to the airport. The ride takes half an hour, depending on the traffic, and the prices are 4,50 or 6,00 Euros.

Now, if you want to save a couple of euros after a shopping spree in Rome, you can take a train to  Fiumicino Airport from Tiburtina subway station. The ride takes twice as long, but the ticket costs half the price than that of the Leonardo express. Your cheap option for the Ciampino airport is a bus that will take you from Anagnina (the last station on the red subway line) to the airport. That option should cost 2.20 Euros altogether, but make sure you get the right departure times so you won’t have problems getting there on time!

Last, but not least, make sure to get a room in a well-located hotel, near the most famous attractions in the city, Hotel Des Artistes and Yes Hotel are two great options!

What to do in the most romantic city in the world?

 

A question that can be easily answered. Just walk down any Roman street and you will quickly see that Rome is the most romantic city in the world.  Everyday you will see couples hand in hand, staring into each others eyes, kissing a whispering “Ti amo” from dusk till dawn. Many come to Rome for romantic vacations, such as honeymoons, wedding proposals, and anniversaries. Between gorgeous lookouts, intimate piazzas, panoramic bars, and the general ardour of the natives, Rome is one sprawling romantic setting.
There are many romantic things you can do. You can take your lover for a gentle row around Villa Borghese’s idyllic lake, surrounded by trees and temples. Boats can be rented from 9:30am to sunset daily. Getting there is not difficult. Simply take Buses 116 and 490 from Termini station.

 

The Pincio is also worth a visit if you are on holiday with your special someone.The Pincio gardens have secluded corners, umbrella pine bowers, and spectacular stone balustrades overlooking the rooftops of the centre of the city and across to St. Peter’s. Recommended during the lingering glow of sunset, or at night. To get to the Pincio just take the metro line A in the direction of Battistini and get off at metro stop Flaminio.

 

 

Another place to go that can’t be left out would definetly be Ponte Milvio. Get hold of your padlock chain it to the bridge and throw the key away to make sure you will be together forever. 

 

Campidoglio hill is also definetly one of the most beautiful settings at night. With it’s beautiful intricate design imbedded in the piazza and overlooking Piazza Venezia and the Roman Forum you can’t go wrong with this one. After a Romantic day and a romantic day together, the best thing to do is come back to a beautiful hotel.

 

When most people get to Rome they usually want to take a day trip to Pompei. However Ostia is much closer, easier to get to and in a much better state of preservation. The mosaics and frescoes are in very good condition considereing the amount of time and centuries worth of weather they have had to contend with.

 

 

 

This port used to be extremely important to the the city of ancient Rome. It was used to ship many good essential to the city’s inhabitants like grain and other common foodstuffs. However another harbour was built at Fiumicino and yet another at Civitavecchia. This eventually lead to Ostia losing it’s importance as Rome’s only commercially important harbour.

Eventually the city was abandoned. The ancient structures that were left over were recycled and used again to construct other bulidings in Rome. The marble was also torn off and used to make quick lime.

 

 

 

The directions to Ostia aresimple and its relatively close to Rome. You can get there very easily by metro and then change over to a train. You take line B ,the blue line on the metro, and you get off at Piramide metro stop. From there you take the train going to Ostia Lido. The journey takes about 55 minutes and you can use a metro ticket for the trip. So a day pass or even a seventy five minute ticket for one euro will suffice. So a maximum of two euro there and back is very cheap.

The site is closed on Mondays and on the 1st of January, the 1st of May and December the 25th. At the moment the site is open from 9 in the morning till 6 in the evening and you have to be out by 7. Tickets cost 4 euro including entrance to the museum.

Go have a look around at some well preserved buildings and curiosities of ancient Rome and even if you don’t want to go see some old ruins at least you know how to get to the beach.

Rome Public Transport :Rome Airports, Rome Metro and Buses
In Rome Italy there are two international airports : “Ciampino� and “Fiumicino�.

Ciampino is where most low cost companies fly to and from.It is situated 20 kms south east of Rome along the Appian Way and close to Castelgandolfo. You will be able to get to Termini station and your discount hotel Yes Hotel Rome easily by shuttle bus that leaves every 40 mins after a flight landing.

Fiumicino, also known as Leonardo Da Vinci, is the main Rome airport and is located by the seaside 35 kms north west of the city centre, close to Ostia Antica. You will reach Rome city centre in 30 mins by direct train that leaves from inside the airport.
Metro (underground train)
In Rome the Metro is the fastest form of transportation around the city. The main Station in Rome for both Metro and Railway services is Termini. The railway platform has been in use since 1864.
The Termini Railway Station is situated in the centre of the city of Rome and is open from 4 am to 1 am
From termini station you are able to travel to any part of Italy.
To simplify things even more, there are only two lines in Rome, Line A (Red Line) and Line B (Blue Line)
Termini is connected to both lines. Termini station is surrounded by many good value hotels such as My Hotel Rome which is only 10 minutes walk from the station. There is a Non-Stop train Service for the transport from Fiumicino Airport to Roma Termini and back.
Buses
For those who are new to Italy, you may find that the procedure may be a little different, especially those who are travelling from London. All journey tickets must be purchased prior boarding.
You must purchase a single or return ticket from a tobacconist or newsagent. Tickets cost as little as one Euro and are valid 75 minutes. If you stay over a few days then a weekly pass is advisable, and in order to make the most of Rome we suggest you get a Roma Pass so you can visit museums of your choice too.

Some come to Rome for the tourist sites and name-brand shopping, however strolling amung the italians and bargaining with street vendors is a different view into Roman life. Between the antique arches of Port San Giovanni and the modern three-story department store Coin lays a street, Via Sannio, daily lined with street vendors until 2:00 in the afternoon, besides Sunday.

For a list of street markets throughout Rome, click here.

Here along Via Sannio the daily market of San Giovanni is a prime location to find a myriad of treasures and inexpensive goodies and is conveniently placed near Nice Hotel where luxury and budget are also ‘nice’-ly blended. The assortment of booths offered through the market lend to everyone’s desires of bargains. There are typical items such as cheap knock-off brand name sunglasses and purses along the street. Several booths are crowded with shoes of every style, from cheap, comfy to stylish, name-brand. A couple booths are tucked into the rows leading into the market where artists offer their hand-made objects; for example, one artist who makes on-site his uniquely designed leather items: purses, belts, jewelry and accessories. A majority of the booths where the outgoing vendors call out offering assistance to all passerbys have jeans, sweatshirts, and t-shirts hanging from the tented roof and covering nearly all open space. Nevertheless, if you are not looking for casual clothing, continue along the earth path to the very back where long tables are piled high with second-hand items for as little as 1 euro. And for those of you with higher quality taste, leather jackets are sold for excellent prices. As for those of you with cultural taste, there are several booths containing imported items of jewelry, clothing, and accessories. In addition, basic items may be found such as sewing supplies, socks, undergarments, books, and some household goods. Remember to bring cash and your bargaining spirit.

Arriving at this market is extremely easy, from Yes Hotel Romel walk to Termini 2 blocks, take underground Metro A and exit San Giovanni, to see the specific location on the Rome map click here. Although, if you prefer to ride the bus in order to watch the outside activities, bus 714 and 16 from Termini station will take you directly to the port of San Giovanni. For further tourist and accomodation information, please visit our hotels in Rome portal