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Your Travel Guide to Rome

Rome is an enchanting place that has been attracting tourists for its rich cultural heritage and brilliant historic monuments. In the ratings of Condé Nast Traveler’s 2004 Reader’s Choice Awards, Rome grabbed the coveted second spot on the list of top ten European cities.

Some quick helpful facts about traveling to the city. You need to have a valid passport to enter Italy though you do not need a visa if the duration of the stay is less than 90 days. However, there is an exception to this rule for some specific countries. Since the summers are hot and dry, you should visit Rome between October and March. Book yourself at a hotel that is close to the historic district. The ideal place would be Hotel de Russie, situated between the Piazza del Popolo and the Spanish Steps that are worth seeing.

Plan your itinerary well in advance, especially the places you definitely want to visit. The ideal mode of discovering Rome’s heritage is on foot, as it gives you the flexibility of covering the locations at your own speed. The other option to save cost is to use the Tram Bus system that links the entire city and also the nearby areas. And if you are looking at convenience, you can always opt for a private tour. Make sure you have taken a pair of comfortable shoes. Carry minimum weight while going around the city. The city has many eating joints around the tourist attractions so you can appease your hunger pangs any time you want.

The city is full of tourist attractions and it is a real tough task to decide which of them are a must see. Your local sightseeing plan for a given day could look like this. Start with the Coliseum that is a popular tourist attraction. Since the visiting hours change through the year, make sure that you confirm the timings beforehand. To make this awesome experience more realistic, they have an hourly conducted tour by guides in the guise of gladiators. The next important stop, the Roman Forum or Foro Romano, is just across the street. The Roman Forum, the heart of the Roman Empire, is standing tall even after 2000 years! You would be fascinated by the involutions of the Roman architecture. There is no entry fee here and you can also avail the facility of guided tours.

The next stop, The Pantheon or ‘The Temple to all Gods’, was built around 125 AD and is one of the best-preserved buildings in Rome. Built by Emperor Hadrian, many famous personalities like Vittorio Emmanuel II and Umberto I (the kings of Italy) and the one and only Raphael are buried here. There is a nine meter opening in the concrete dome which the only source of light in this monument. It takes you back in time to the glorious days of the Roman Empire and you cannot stop imagining being a part of the Romans, as it existed then. You would get goose bumps dreaming of the kind of clothes they would have worn, their language, gestures etc. You can have this extraordinary experience through the year except Christmas when the Pantheon is closed.

By the end of the day, there is just one more place to see that cannot be missed. You can easily spend three hours visiting The Vatican and its collection of artifacts that chronicle the Catholic Church’s history. If you have time, you should let Michelangelo’s Pieta, which is housed in St Peter’s Basilica, amaze you. The Vatican museum has even more splendid antiques, including the Egyptian mummies. You should not miss Sistine Chapel that has The Bible painted on the ceiling by the legendary Michelangelo himself.

Well, whatever you chose to do, get to befriend your hotel concierge first since he can be the best source of updated information.

February 12th, 2008 Posted by admin | Travel, foreign travel, travel tips, vacation | no comments

Frequent Flyer Miles: How Does It All Work?

If you are a frequent traveler you might have considered enrolling yourself in a frequent flyer program but you might be wondering how it all works.  Put simply, frequent flyer programs allow flyers to earn free miles of flight for every mile traveled.  Most people who must travel a lot for their jobs or for other reasons such as visiting family, a frequent flyer program is a very smart choice. 

Frequent flyer programs are somewhat easy to understand.  For each mile that frequent flyer customers travel, they earn a mile of frequent flyer miles.  The catch is that they must travel on the airline that they signed up with.  For example, American Airlines frequent flyers do not earn frequent flyer miles if they travel on a Delta flight.  This is why it is smartest to choose one airline and stick to it, rather than trying to accumulate frequent flyer miles with numerous airlines.  The more you travel, the more miles you accumulate and the more you are rewarded.  Many airlines have levels, such as silver, gold and platinum, to signify the status of frequent fliers.  The more one travels, the higher in rank they will rise.  If your airline is affiliated with a hotel or rental car service, miles may translate into points, which can be used towards airline tickets, rental car prices, or hotel stays. 

Once you have accumulated a certain amount of miles, you will be able to redeem them for rewards.  Airlines typically have an 800 number where customers can speak with representatives who are familiar with the frequent flyer program.  This provides convenience for customers who are looking to redeem frequent flyer miles or for customers who may have a question or concern about the program.  When redeeming miles for free airline tickets, each mile accumulated is the equivalent of two cents.  Therefore, in order to purchase a $200 airline ticket for free, a customer would have to have 10,000 miles accumulated, each worth two cents each. 

If you do enroll yourself in a frequent flyer program, keep in mind that many programs have a frequently issued newsletter to keep customers abreast of new promotions, offers and partners.  There also may be postings on the airline’s website or the frequent flyer program website, if the program has its own website.  Also be sure to keep track of the points and miles you have accumulated on your own, in case the airline has a mishap with its system. 

So how did the frequent flyer program begin?  In the early 1980s American Airlines initiated the frequent flyer program by introducing a program that rewarded people for frequently flying on American Airlines.  The airline used its database to track customers’ travel and keep track of how many miles were covered, this let them know when rewards were to be given.  After beginning the program American Airlines teamed up with Hertz Rental Cards and Hyatt Hotels to make it even easier for customers to earn rewards.  Soon after other airlines followed and competed with one another to have the most appealing frequent flyer program for its customers.  This was beneficial to frequent fliers because it created competition between airlines to create the best program, making it better for customers. 

After the programs became hugely successful in the United States, the programs expanded to international airlines as well.  Some American airlines will team up with airlines in other countries to form alliances.  This makes it easier for frequent flyer customers to travel abroad.  If a frequent flyer is flying in a country where their airline is not available but their airline’s partner airline is available, the customer’s frequent flyer miles can transfer over from the miles flown on this flight.

The main goal of the frequent flyer program was for airlines to develop and sustain solid relationships with their customers.  Frequent fliers will most likely develop a loyalty to their particular airline and will make sure that all their flights are aboard the airline’s planes.  Word of mouth is one of the most successful marketing techniques and by gaining loyal, satisfied customers, airlines are increasing the chance that those customers will tell their friends and family how happy they are with the airline.

January 24th, 2008 Posted by admin | Travel, foreign travel, travel tips | no comments

Finding the Best Deals in Hotels

When it comes to choosing a hotel for your vacation, it often becomes an issue of low cost and convenient location.  More often than not, particularly when traveling to major tourist areas with popular attractions, the closer the lodging is to the destination or attraction, the more expensive it will be.  That is why the best way to save money on lodging is to stay in an outlying area.

Unfortunately, this might mean that you will spend more time driving to your destinations, which inevitably means more money spent on gasoline.  It is important to asses all of the factors in order to make sure that staying in more distant hotel will really cost you less money. 

There are several ways to save money on lodging without compromising the quality of your accommodations.  For example, paying for a membership in AAA or a similar auto club also provides you with discounts on hotel rooms, as does being a member of the military or being a senior citizen.  When booking a hotel room, make sure you ask about discounts that may be available.

Another tip for finding lower cost lodging is to try shopping early for your hotel room.  Often, hotels will reserve a block of lower-priced rooms, available on a first come, first serve basis.  Getting the best lodging deal is often based on timing and planning ahead.

Saving money on a hotel room means next to nothing if the place is a pigsty, or unsafe.  Shopping for a budget hotel does not mean you have to settle for a hotel that is dirty, poorly run or in a dangerous area. 

Fortunately, the Internet makes it so easy to find great deals on quality budget hotels.  The Internet cuts the time it takes to research lodging down to a fraction of what it used to take.  Most hotels, even budget properties, have websites and feature photos of the property, rooms, and the surrounding area.  It has never been easier to research the lodging that you are considering, especially if you have never stayed there before.

Don’t forget to research the area in which the hotel is located also.  Be sure to check out things like restaurants and attractions within walking distance of the hotel.  Amenities, especially on vacation, are important.

On the Internet there are a number of review sites available where those who have stayed in various hotels can share their experiences and their opinions of the hotels.  These review sites are invaluable for travelers, especially if you are going to a place for the first time.

In addition, the Internet hosts a number of travel web sites where travelers and tourists can locate and compare lodging based on their particular need, such as for their individual dates of stay and destinations.  These web sites provide several ways to search, including distance from an attraction, price, and star level.  The only thing that you need to bear in mind when using such a web site is that comparison web sites only showcase properties that pay a fee, so using a particular site does not necessarily ensure the best price for your trip.  For locating the best deals online, it is best to refer to several web sites in order to get a real idea of the lowest prices available.

January 22nd, 2008 Posted by admin | Travel, activity vacation, family, foreign travel, travel tips, vacation | no comments