Priority Club Connect Blog

This is one entry in a series of blog posts written by Priority Club Connect members. Learn more about AyrMiles, the author of this post.

Whenever I’m on a plane, I’m astonished to be surrounded by so many incredibly important people. You’ve seen them too – the Blackberry can’t be switched-off until the very last minute (or even slightly later) and as soon as the seatbelt sign is off, they’re away – tap-tapping on their laptops as if their jobs depended on it (perhaps they do?). Then, as the wheels touch the runway, out come the Blackberries again – woe betide the cabin crew trying to interfere with the management of MegaCorp!

I suspect, of course, that they’re not terribly important people at all but just can’t admit this to themselves. What are they doing at 35,000 feet? Certainly not the usual office activities – games on Facebook, catching-up with friends on MySpace or searching the Internet for a new job… Perhaps that’s the answer – they do so little at the office they have to catch-up in the air.

Sleeping on a plane. Can you? I can’t and I’m very jealous of those who can. It’s a great ability – oblivious to the turbulence, the foetid neighbour, the stuffy cabin, noisy children in the row behind who keep kicking the back of your seat… Oh to be gently (or not so gently) woken by the bump of landing.

Given that I neither work nor rest, play is the only option. An iPhone has opened my ears to a world of podcasts and music in the air to accompany or supplement newspapers and books. I realise most people have had music on the move since the Walkman first appeared but the whole thing passed me by until last year. There is, by the way, an art to making the newspaper last until the nose turns towards the arrival gate - it come with practice.

On the subject of work, rest and play – these are surely the basic activities in any hotel. The hotel companies don’t seem to realise this – they think we’re there to work, rest play and read hundreds of pieces of paper/cardboard about other hotels, the frequent guest programme, the complaints procedure, the spa, the “wellness” suite (I look forward to finding a “badness” suite one day), the frequent guest programme (again, in case we missed the leaflet hung on the outside of the door).

It becomes a ritual – clearing all this junk off the desk and putting it out of the way again every evening, just as the cleaners had carefully laid it all out again earlier…

This is one entry in a series of blog posts written by Priority Club Connect members. Learn more about ynleung, the author of this post.

I LOVE movies and have always loved them.  I remember movies I saw as a child and forever will cherish embedded memories of teen years hanging out at movie festivals. Before I travelled, I saw the world through foreign movies and planned my escape!  Favorites are now collected, replayed annually and moved from format to format with each tech change.

Recently watching “Up in the Air” I realized that so many of my favorites involved visuals or stories capturing a travel experience at some unique moment in my life.  So I decided to make a list of movies having some meaning for me just to see if there really was a thread.  Not a question - maybe more than one thread!

An early love was “Paris Blues” with Sydney Poitier, Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, Diahnne Carrol, Paris boites in the 1960s and incredible jazz.  I relive the excitement of a teenager in Paris without parents, loving the music and safely spending nights on the seamery side of the Left Bank with friends.

Remember the “Accidental Tourist” with William Hurt and Geena Davis?   OK so I travel all the time – have since childhood but I really don’t love it.   He was a travel writer who hated change and travelling so wrote about how to survive both.  Definitely my mantra! 

“Bagdad Café” likely was the music but being abandoned in the middle of unknowns and having to find a way back to safety and sanity is a frequent travel experience although usually in a foreign airport not a southwest café.

My quick list found 17 movies even without all those awful Chevy Chase “Vacation” movies that replicate so many family vacations – hey, it’s my blog entry and I can editorialize!

Add to my list below.  What are your favorite travel movies and if you don’t mind the exposure – why do you love them?

Accidental Tourist
Bagdad Cafe
Paris Blues
Up in the Air
Midnight Express or Bridget Jones Epistle 2 Drug mule in Thailand
The Wedding Banquet
Casablanca
TransSiberian
Lost in Translation
Out of Africa
Babel
Vacation…
Las Vegas
The Tango Lesson
The Big Blue
Lara Croft – all of them
Indiana Jones

This is one entry in a series of blog posts written by Priority Club Connect members. Learn more about ewhamond  the author of this post.

How I Manage to Stay (Mostly) Healthy While Travelling
I love to travel -- a lot. This year, I -- along with my intrepid travel partner, my husband – will be flying over 150,000 air miles, touching down on 4 continents, and before it’s over will have logged about 80 hotel nights – and that’s just based on our currently booked reservations. We tend to throw in a lot of “last minute” local travel when we are scheduled to be home, doing “staycations” at hotels in nearby cities.  This amount of mileage and/or hotel nights is likely nothing to the road warriors among you, but our travel is all personal. I only wish I could get paid to do it professionally!

That being said, my husband and I do try to maintain a healthy lifestyle, even when we travel. That can be a challenge depending upon where we go, and what kind of willpower wars we encounter, but we’ve come up with some strategies that work for us so I thought I’d share them. We’ve found the key for us is to maintain a balance between having a routine and (mostly) sticking to it, while still allowing for some wiggle room (a decadent dessert; skipping a morning workout for a morning lazing on the beach; etc.).

Make “Being Healthy” A Priority – and Take Advantage of What is Available

Our number one rule: we don’t throw away all the hard work we do at home exercising and eating right just because we are on vacation. This was actually a hard lesson to learn, as so often we want to treat travel like it is a reward – and all rules go out the window because of it. But it is important to maintain a reasonable exercise regimen while traveling (and yes, the time out sightseeing counts; however, so do the extra calories you are consuming sampling the local fare!).

Try to keep some semblance of an exercise regimen while you’re away; don’t make travel an excuse to slack. Most hotels today have at least a passable exercise room that you can take advantage of; many of the InterContinental brands actually have beautiful workout facilities. Or maybe your hotel has a gorgeous pool that you can do laps in. Take advantage of what is on offer!  You’re paying for it, after all. Research this before booking so you know what to expect once you get there.  Most of my exercise at home is gotten by walking or running outside, so I find it a real treat to be able to run on a springy treadmill in an air-conditioned workout room, complete with plush towels at hand to blot away the first signs of sweat on my brow and unlimited quantities of ice cold water at the ready. I am ecstatic when we stay at the odd hotel that has cable-ready TVs on their workout equipment. You’d be surprised at how quickly time can fly by when you watch some trashy daytime TV while you sweat! To me, these amenities are part of the treat of being on vacation.

If the amenities on offer at your hotel aren’t up to par, or maybe there isn’t any equipment at all on-site, you still have options. Many hotels will also partner with local gyms to offer guests discounted day passes; ask the front desk when checking in what your options are. Maybe there are trails nearby or reasonable roads to go for a walk or jog on. Check out sites like mapmyrun.com before you leave home, looking for routes posted by others in the vicinity you will be staying in.

You might even look into purchasing a small set of resistance bands explicitly to use on the road. These are relatively light, pack up quite small, and can be used in the privacy of your hotel room.  This way, you always have a backup plan and a way to get your exercise in – no excuses!

Back Away from the Cinnamon Rolls
Look, I love sugary, carbohydrate-laden breakfast foods as much as the next gal – maybe more! –and I am certainly not knocking the lovely Holiday Inn Express cinnamon rolls specifically (OK, maybe just a little bit…), BUT…being on vacation is not a license to completely forgo your healthy eating habits at a buffet breakfast just because it’s “there”, it’s “free”, or because you’re “on vacation”. Try to make sure you have a reasonably healthy breakfast that will keep you going until lunch (or beyond).  If you are able to look beyond the myriad temptations that are laid out in front of you (mmm, Frosted Flakes!), most hotel breakfast spreads include healthier options too such as yogurt, whole grain breads, eggs, oatmeal, and fresh fruits. In addition to being better for you, these items will keep you satiated longer than the not-so-healthy options – which mean you’re less likely to make bad choices at your next meal as a result.

Be Realistic – and Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
Even if your typical routine at home means you’re running 10 miles a day at home four times a week, don’t expect that you’ll really be able (or want!) to keep that up while you’re on the road – especially if the environment you’ll be in just doesn’t make that a realistic goal (think: business meetings 12 hours a day, or a lesser-equipped hotel in the middle of Asia during monsoon season). You are on vacation, after all, and you should be putting a good amount of time into relaxation, site seeing, and experiencing the local culture. Plan ahead, know your limitations, and give yourself realistic, achievable goals. And, don’t get too down on yourself if you crack and have to eat a cinnamon roll one breakfast. I’ve been known to, myself – though if I do slip, I do try to make up for it by maybe doing an extra run on the treadmill in the exercise room. Not too hard a task since I find being able to work out in one a treat to begin with!

This is one entry in a series of blog posts written by Priority Club Connect members. Learn more about iristina, the author of this post.

When I travel outside Michigan, I am often surprised by how many people think Michigan is a cold weather state where there is almost always snow on the ground. I have created a collection of seasonal Michigan photos from my in-state travels showing that our state has more than snow. It starts with snow; however, that’s not all! Since a picture is worth a thousand words, I’ll let my pictures do the talking.

January
Tahquamenon Falls in the UP (Upper Peninsula)

February
Snowmobiler’s paradise!

March
My backyard

April
Falls alongside the road in the UP

May
Pictured rocks in the UP

June
Frankfort ~ One of the best locations for Michigan sunsets

July
Beautiful day on Lake Michigan in Muskegon!

August
South Manitou island accessible by boat or ferry

September
Bay Harbor ~ south of Petoskey

October
Jeep ORV riding White Cloud/Newaygo area

November
Button buck ~ campground in the UP

December
Double J Resort in Rothbury

This is one entry in a series of blog posts written by Priority Club Connect members. Learn more about dmillerfe, the author of this post.

I am a Project Engineer for a communications company.  Work takes me on the road more than 40 weeks a year.  However, I am home almost every weekend.  I usually have the luxury of staying the weekend if I desire, when I will be returning the following week.

August, vacation season is winding down; we are seeing less families in the airports and at our hotels, making them a touch quieter.  I was very lucky this summer, my current project is only 400 miles from home, allowing me to drive back and forth weekly instead of fighting the security lines and dodging toddlers in the concourses.  My current project is in a prime vacation spot in Northwestern Michigan, very near the lake.  This means I am sharing the hotel with primarily families on vacation, and it does keep me smiling watching the youngsters cavort and frolic in the pool.  Even if their screaming in the halls after I have worked all night has the opposite effect.  It’s all part of being a Road Warrior.

If I’m not fighting security lines, I am dodging the Orange Barrels that grow like weeds this time of year in the Northern Midwest.  Life on the road, I really cannot imagine making a living any other way.  I spent eight years in the Marines where I traveled quite a bit, and became a Field Technician after separating.  It seems like I have spent most of my adult life on the road.  I am grateful to PCR and IHG for allowing me to be a member of the online community, seeking my input.  I average 150-180 nights a year in hotels, so I have learned the ins and outs and have come to appreciate certain amenities.

This is my first attempt at blogging; hope I haven’t bored you too much.  May your security lines be short, your roads be smooth, your flights on time, and your beds comfy.

This is one entry in a series of blog posts written by Priority Club Connect members. Learn more about iristina, the author of this post.

My husband and I spent a week in New Mexico in early spring this year. We drove over 800 miles, making a big loop southward from Albuquerque. Here is a sampling of some of our experiences.

Albuquerque
Lodging: We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express (HIX) in Old Town when we arrived, and at the Staybridge Suites (SS) at the airport before departing. We liked the HIX; however, I would probably not choose the SS again.
Dining/local: We shopped and dined in Old Town. The jewelry prices were better than we expected. Turquoise is very common in NM; however, we found that prices for tanzanite and mother of pearl were also very competitive. We dined at Casa de Fiesta, which is right in the center of Old Town. The service was very good, and the food was acceptable. Parking in Old Town is $3 for the day, or you can park free on any of the streets for up to two hours.

Since Socorro is only 1-½ hours south of Albuquerque, we made a large loop southwest and enjoyed the scenery along the way. This is a photo of a natural cave on Highway 117.

Socorro
Lodging: We redeemed points for a stay at the Holiday Inn Express Socorro, which we thought was the best lodging choice in town.
Dining/local: We visited the Historic Plaza about a mile from the hotel, which consisted of only a few shops and restaurants. Even though there were only a couple shops, we found the best NM souvenir prices in Socorro and made a couple purchases. We dined at Socorro Springs Brewing Company, located next to the HIX. The service was lousy; however, the food and beverages were very good. We had a local brew and wood fired pizza.

We enjoyed a nice drive on portions of the Geronimo Trail and Lake Valley Back Country scenic byways on our way to El Paso, TX, where we stayed at the Embassy Suites for one night.

Las Cruces/Old Mesilla
Lodging: We had planned to stay at the Hilton Garden Inn; however, at the last minute, I learned that the pool area was closed, so we switched to the Staybridge Suites Las Cruces where we were very happy.
Dining/local: We dined at La Posta in Old Mesilla (SW outskirts of Las Cruces), because I had read that local residents chose it as the 2009 Reader’s Choice award for the second year in a row. The food, service, and décor were all good. There are plenty of shops and restaurants in Old Mesilla, and there were outside vendors and musicians in the park the day we were there. You can find more information about Old Mesilla at: http://oldmesilla.org/index.html

Alamogordo
Local: We visited the White Sands National Monument on the southern outskirts of Alamogordo. The cost is $3 per person and well worth it. You can camp and hike, although we only visited for a few hours. It was a beautiful sunny non-windy day when we stopped. If you are planning a trip to the area, be sure and check the following site for road and missile testing closures and updates. Click on the “things to know” link. I-70 and the monument had been closed at the end of the week before our arrival for missile testing.
http://www.nps.gov/whsa/index.htm

Ruidoso
Local: Ruidoso is a resort town, and we found some of the best shopping here. There were many local vendors selling local handmade items. My husband purchased a nice turquoise pocketknife here.

Additional info:

• Once you get off the interstate, you can drive for hundreds of miles in NM without seeing a restaurant or a gas station—be prepared!
• You can download a NM scenic byways map here: http://www.newmexico.org/map/bywaymap.php

Happy Travels!

This is one entry in a series of blog posts written by Priority Club Connect members. Learn more about kchristian, the author of this post.

Over the years driving in Europe has been given a romantic image; be it zooming along the coastal roads of the south of France with the wind in your hair or racing to be the first to bring back the latest Beaujolais Nouveau.  But having just driven a mammoth journey from Bath to Canyelles in Spain via Clermont Ferrand, Carcassonne and Montsegur in France let me set you straight – there is nothing romantic about driving in Europe.  Due to my slight dislike of flying we have been forced over the years to drive various routes around the continent in our quest for sun, sea and gourmet delights.  I would like to share with you some tips we have picked up along the way...

1. When in Palermo do not freak out when you pick up more outriders than a presidential convoy.  The local moped riders are actually doing their part for the environment when they turn off their engines and hold on to your wing mirrors while you weave in and out of the narrow streets.  It really is best to just go with the flow and perhaps attach some flags to your wings and pretend you are royalty.
2. If when driving to the south of France your SatNav tells you it is taking you via Charles De Gaulle stop the car immediately and find the nearest gare and take the gloriously quick SNCF the rest of the way.  For reasons known only to the makers of the demon possessed boxes the little computer in your SatNav thinks going around Paris is the quickest way south from Calais.  What it does not take in to account are the hours you will spend queuing on the Boulevard Peripheque, crawling past some of the most uninspiring areas of the normally stunning city.
3. SatNav related again – when in Italy turn off your SatNav when you come to one of the many tollbooths.  Something you may not know is that the owners of the tollbooths have bribed the SatNav manufacturers so that your normally ‘trusted’ friend will keep taking you round in circles meaning that you continuously have to pay your couple of Euros as you go on and off the auto-strada.  It may not sound much but trust me if you ever drive to the wonderful walled town of Lucca make sure you have plenty of Euros with you.
4. Watch your speed limit.  Ten years ago the French and Italians did not care what speed you did on the auto-route and auto-stradas; in fact the nicer your car the more the Italians encourage you to show off your cars power.  Driving down to the Tuscany was a delight, the roads were quiet and even doing 125mph (yes miles per hour not kilometres) you could guarantee that someone in the latest model Ferrari would shoot past like you were standing still.  Nowadays they have sucked the fun out of continental driving.  France especially is now very strict when enforcing its speed limits with cameras sprouting up even in the sleepiest of French villages.  On our way down to Spain I was greeted by a sign displaying my car registration and Trop Vite; I was only doing 5km over the speed limit so I am hoping it was only a warning and I won’t return home to one of their notoriously high speeding fines.  If you still have a need for speed the Germans seem to still enjoy the feeling of watching the needle quiver its way to the top of their speedometer. (Although as a disclaimer for myself and IHG – speeding is dangerous and you should always stick to the limit).
5. Ultimate tip – drive like the locals.  Don’t stop to allow pedestrians to cross at crossings; yes it will go against everything your driving instructor told you but if you do stop the driver behind will beep and the pedestrian will look at you as though you have two heads – it’s just not the done thing.  In towns don’t dawdle, don’t admire the sights, just drive, quickly and if you can without using any indication of the direction you want to go in.  And most importantly of all discover the joy of beeping your horn as loudly and as often as possible; think of it as a game and score yourself points for usage and inappropriate use (bonus points if you beep at someone even when you were clearly in the wrong).

So with these tips under your belt, a map book on your lap (leave the SatNav in the glove box) and the desire to explore places that you would miss if you flew to your destination, jump in your car and head to the nearest port.  For even with its many foibles there truly is nothing quite like driving through Europe – the places you see and the people you meet will make it an adventure to remember.

This is one entry in a series of blog posts written by Priority Club Connect members. Learn more about Glen_H, the author of this post.

What’s your ideal week-long break away from home? Not the destination itself, but the place in which you stay? Until the past couple of years, I’d always been a hotel man myself – never really saw the point of self-catering – but when we started at looking at a vacation in the UK, I thought it might be a good idea to try out a “country cottage” for a week – especially as my parents, our perennial house-sitters, were happy to look after the house, but our the animals were becoming a strain on them and an obligation.

For a start “cottage” is a misnomer as many properties are very large – we (me, large wife, small family and two dogs) listed out what we wanted of a property (yes, even before location) and found that we agreed we needed plenty of room and a large communal area to dine and relax. After that, sea views would be good, but inside mattered more than outside. Quickly we found many places fitted our needs and the top tip for newbies is absolutely go for properties sleeping at least 1.5 times the number in your party at a minimum – this way you are not crowded.

In year one we settled for a converted meeting room in the grounds of a 12th Century pub in Cornwall, with the kitchen being the biggest room I’ve ever enjoyed, last year we had a similar experience with a newish property with magnificent views over Loch Lomond in Tarbert, Scotland, and in a few short weeks we are off to stay near the Yorkshire Moors at a seaside place once owned by the UK leisure magnate Billy Butlin.

So what makes these holidays work for us? Yes the space, but also the convenience – we can eat when we want, enjoy the preparation of the food – a ritual has become the evening food preparation and dining with convivial conversation and good wine – we have huge amounts of space and the ability to do what we want, when we want – and the freedom to bring the dogs along too – something that is not very easy in the UK hotel industry. As for cost, a decent property will cost you in rent about the same as two hotel rooms.

We still very much enjoy hotel breaks abroad, and occasional leisure nights away in hotels in the UK, but self catering accommodation – well I’ve found it in my 40’s and wish I had done so sooner – and please don’t tell me it’s an age thing, and that I’ll be buying a caravan next – that simply is not going to happen – no way!

This is one entry in a series of blog posts written by Priority Club Connect members. Learn more about jbiesecker, the author of this post.

39 years ago, I had an opportunity to visit Rome as a 19 year old serving in the military.  This was my first return and my wife Joan’s first visit.  We arrived at Rome Fiumicino Airport early Friday morning.  We found the Rome  Tourists Info desk in terminal 3 (International arrivals) and purchased 2 Roma Passes for 25 Euro each.  These passes provide 3 days of unlimited regional public transportation and two free museum/attraction visits.  Additional museum visits and other activities were discounted 20% or more.  Your 3 days begin at first use so you are free to pick when to start using these passes.  If you’re wondering, none of the numerous bus and train transportation choices from the airport to town were covered by this pass, the regional train we took told us the Airport was outside the City zone for free travel.  Visit Roma Pass web site for more info and what sites are included –  www.romapass.it

We picked the Express by Holiday Inn, Roma – San Giovanni for our stay.  This property is south of town but offers easy access to regional train and subway service and rooms were only 10,000 points a night.  Easiest way to get there is to take the Regional F1 train from Fiumicino Airport (station is accessed from Terminal #3) to the Rome Tuscolana station (5.5 € each) and I recommend you purchase your return ticket now to avoid the hassle later.  Tickets are valid only after applying a validation date stamp so don’t forget to validate one at the yellow validation printer on train platform before boarding train.  I’m told the on board agents are not always considerate to foreigner’s ignorance of the validation rules.  The hotel’s web site says to get off at the 8th stop but I found the Tuscolana Station was actually the 9th stop.  Stop #8 is Osteinse station so if you are watching station names, your stop would be right after this one.  There is no elevator service at Tuscolana station so if there are problems navigating steps with your luggage, consider using other transportation options to hotel.  I recommend you Google the satellite map for this station and familiarize yourself with the station and the 7 minute walk to the hotel.

Hotel staff was friendly and helpful with local information and directions.  Rooms and beds are smaller than you would find here in USA but this is common through-out Europe and if you like to shower with a face cloth, remember to bring your own, these are not common bath accessories for Europeans.  Also, free internet access is not a common amenity in Europe, daily access was around 10€.

Subway station “Ponte Lungo” on line A is about a 10 to 12 minute walk from the hotel.  Rome has a subway “Metro” system consisting of Lines A and B that generally make an “X” across the city intersecting at Termini Station which is the main transportation hub in the city.  You can take a regional train from Tuscolana Station to Termini Station (every ½ hour and included with transportation pass) but we found the subway more convenient.   At Termini station, just outside the north end, there is a Tourist information booth that will provide you the transportation options for every site in the city.  Our choice for the first day was to purchase a ticket for one of the many private Hop on/Hop off, open top busses that cruise through the city offering you easy access to most of the city attractions or if you choose not to get off, a 1.5 to 2 hour bus tour of the city.  These buses run from 8:30 AM to last circle departure around 8:30 PM.  We choose a bus service that included a second tour route that provided access to the Appian Way and Catacomb sites outside of town.  Their regular 30€, both bus tours, 48 hour ticket was 20€ with the Roma Pass discount and provided unlimited access the two bus routes for a full 48 hours so in our case, we bought the tickets at noon on Friday, they were good until noon Sunday.  We rode the Rome bus for its full circuit to get an idea of where the sites were and what we wanted to see. Back at Termini Station, we looked over our list for sites not covered by the tour bus and got from the Tourist center which public bus and subway lines served those.  Later that evening, we used the tour bus for a night tour of the city under the lights.  Saturday morning we took the Appian Way and Catacomb bus tour.  Plan on at least 4 hours if you intend to hop off and visit some of these sites.

St. Peters Basilica at the Vatican is free to visit but you need to pass through metal detectors so lengthy lines can form if they are busy.  There also is a free tour of the crypts under the Basilica and an 8 € tour to the top of the Dome.  The lines for these two tours form to the right of the main church entrance, after security so if you are early and the lines are short, suggest you do these first before entering the church.  If you want to visit the Sistine Chapel, you will need to purchase a 15 € Vatican Museum ticket.  Entrance to the Museum is at the far north end of the Vatican property.  To get there, walk out the north side of St. Peters Square and fo llow the Vatican wall all the way around until you find the Museum entrance.  It’s only 1 ½ blocks from Line A - St. Pietro Metro station.  If you do the Museum tour first, you can gain entrance to the Basilica without going back through security screening by taking the exit door on the right at the back side of the Sistine Chapel.  If you rented a self guided tour player, you are forbidden from taking this exit, you must return the player back at the regular Museum exit.  If the Pope is in town, he holds a Public Blessing for all present in St. Peters Square every Sunday at noon.  This is a popular activity in Rome and the square was quite crowded so get there early.  Find a spot in the square where you can see the top row of windows in the building just north of the square, the Palace of Sixtus V.  For the blessing he will come to the second window from the right.    

How to get to various sites from Termini Station;

• Trevi Fountain – easiest access is via the Hop on/Hop off bus, it is a 15+ min. walk from Line A - Barberini-Fontana de.  Also can use Bus 175 6 stops to TRITONE/FONTANA TREVI
• Spanish Steps, French Church of Trinita dei Monti and a walk on Via Condotti shopping street  - Line A – Spagna station.  There is an elevator right outside the subway station that will take you to the top of the steps if you don’t want to climb them.   Visit the steps at night to get a different appreciation for them.
• Piazza del Popolo – Line A - Flaminio – Piazza del Popolo station, this was the main northern entrance to Rome
• Piazzale Giuseppe Garibaldi – Bus H 6 stops TRASTEVERE/MINISTER PUBBLICA ISTRUZIONE Building (2 stops after crossing the river) then cross the street (Trastevere) and take the 515 Bus 6 stops to P.LE G. GARIBALDI, a must visit for a great panoramic view of the city from one of the many hills, an excellent choice either day or night.
• Coliseum, Forum, Circo Massimo – Hop on/Hop off bus or Line B - Colosseo station
• Vatican, St Peters Basilica, Sistine Chapel & Saint Angelos Castle fortress where many popes took refuge – Hop on/Hop off bus is best, other options are Line A – Ottaviano, S. Pietro Station,  40 Express or 64 Local bus routes, get off at Piazza Pia by St. Angelos
• Pantheon – Hop on/Hop off bus or Bus 40 Exp., 4 stops get off at Largo ARGENTINA then walk north on Via della Rotonda.  Free admission to site.
• Piazza Navona – Hop on/Hop off bus or Bus 64, 7 stops to C.SO VITTORIO EMANUELE/S. A. DELLA VALLE, then walk north on Piazza Navona, there are 3 fountains here and a lot of artists in plaza during the week-ends.
• Santa Maria della Vittoria Church – Line A – Repubblica , Teatro Opera station.  Walk 3 blocks NW on Largo Santa Susanna to Via Settembre.  This is site of Bernini's Ecstasy of St Teresa of Avila statue.

You can enter start and destination points into a form on this web site and it will give you all public transportation options -   http://www.enjoyrome.com/tourist/cityguide/public.transportation.html

Some tips about Rome;

1. There are not a lot of public restrooms in the city.  If you come across one while visiting a historic site, museum or having a meal, consider using it.
2. When exiting the Metro just follow the signs directing you to “USCITA”.  Occasionally they were also marked “SORTIE”.  Entering the station follow the signs to the desired Line - A or B.  Trains are identified by the last station in the direction they are heading.  From the hotel to get into the city or Termini Station on Line A, get on train identified as “Battistini”, from the city you return to the hotel taking the train marked “Anagnina”
3. We visited in March so this was probably not typical for in season visitor traffic.  The subway was only crowded around the rush hours and there were very few lines, Sunday was the worst for crowds so we avoided the more popular sites this day.  The Public Museums are closed on Mondays so the Vatican can be quite busy this day.
4. Your Roma Pass provides 2 free museum visits (the Vatican Museum is not included).  The three site ticket for the Coliseum, Forum and the Palatinio ruins is 12€ so if you are planning to visit these, make sure you use this as one of your free visits.  The admission ticket is good for two days/unlimited visits so no need to rush through the 3 sites.  The other museums are 8 € or less.  The many churches in town are all worth a visit and many offer something historic to see.  You are usually allowed to use cameras but without a flash.  Visits are free but most ask for a donation.
5. If your stay is longer than 3 days, a One Day Public Transportation pass cost 4€ and you can buy them from the self serve ticket machines in the subway station or ticket booths.  The ticket machines are touch screen, offer an English language option and are easy to use.
6. If you use the city buses, the bus stops list what buses stop there and where each one goes.  The Metro intersections are clearly marked “M” on the posted route so this helps if you are trying to connect to the Metro.  Be aware that the bus does not stop at a listed stop unless you press the STOP button or someone is waiting for pick up so you need to have an idea where you are in the city and if you are trying to count stops, this may not work.
7. Near the Rome – San Giovanni Express by H.I. there is a full service grocery store located on Via Tuscolana just north of the tracks for all your snack and refreshment needs and a great Pizza and Pasta restaurant at the intersection of Via Tuscolana and Via Assisi.  The locals tend to eat a late evening meal so we found most restaurants didn’t open for dinner until 7 PM or later.  Expect a service charge added to the bill, usually 10%, and 10% tips are customary.
8. If you have a hotel reservation in center city, other transportation options from Rome Fiumicino Airport to Termini Station in town are a direct train - Leonardo Express for 11 € and bus service for 9 €.  http://www.rome-airport.info/in.html

We enjoyed our trip to Rome and didn’t find it difficult to navigate the city.  Hope you have a similar experience.

If you're interested in seeing more photos from our trip, please click here for Our Rome Trip photo album.

Jim & Joan Biesecker