Trenitalia (the main operator of trains in Italy) has inaugurated the new fast “metropolitan railway”, cutting out distances and time spent for journeys. This means several popular destinations in Italy can now be reached much more quickly from the capital, Rome, and to it.

The new trains are divided according to their velocity:

Frecciarossa – 300-350 kph;

Frecciargento – 250-285 kph;

Frecciabianca – 220 – 230 kph.

AV Fast trains take just 3 hours and 30 minutes from Milan to Rome, reducing the journey by almost two hours. The service is covering several other destinations throughout Italy, such as Venice, Verona and Bari and it’s a major result in the field of transport because Italy was lagging behind the rest of Europe for far too long (just consider the TGV in France and the ICE in Germany).

Services will now be more frequent and Trenitalia promised a fleet accurately designed, with comfort, air-conditioning, and high standards of security. Carriages are also designed to make less noise.

During the launch period a 10% discount off the highest price is offered for these new AV services and new fares have been introduced in the framework of flexibility and competitiveness.

Can’t you wait to have a ride? While travelling, why not stop in Rome at Yes Hotel, just a stone’s throw from Termini (train) Station. Being so well located, using national and local transport connections has never been easier.

Rome has got it all. For the young, the old, families and couples. Whether you are backpacking or you are here for an extended stay. If you are interested in architecture, history, and have a passion for food then this city is definetly for you.

However these are not the only distractions that can be found in this ancient giant of a city that needs several lifetimes to be explored and discovered.

There are also several different periods of history all captured in time and preserved and which can be seen literally in the hundreds of buildings monuments and churches. Renaissance, Baroque and ancient imperial buildings stand side by side and it seems that the town planning of the city was an afterthought.

 

Large piazzas and shopping streets attract tourists and locals alike. Gelato and pizza are the order of the day and coffee seems to be drunk like water.

Traffic seems to be flowing constantly and scooters are everywhere. Sirens are always wailing and hooters are blaring at every traffic intersection.

However all is not chaos and noise. Solace can be found in the Villa Borghese park and in the other green areas found in the city. If the kids are with you then their energy can be spent rollerblading are using the bicycles that are available to hire in the park. If you are feeling especially brave you can hire a segway and go for a spin in Piazza del Popolo.

 

Trastevere is a popular night spot crowded with bars and clubs and where the partying carries on into the wee hours with total abandon. Another area which is popular with the younger crowd because it is close to the university is San Lorenzo. There are also many winebars and pubs crammed into this spot.

Shopping here is like breathing. You have to do it. Via del Corso, Via Condotti, Piazza di Spagna and Via Nazionale are just some of the more well known of the numerous places you can go to sate your appetite and shop to your hearts content. Prada, Gucci, Armani, Versace and Bulgari are all here.

 

When you feel like a break from the city the beaches are not far from the city and they are really easy to get to with public transport. Wind surfing, kite surfing and the good old surfboard can be used along the coastline too. The Abruzzo National Park is also not far away.

There are many trails to go hiking and mountain biking and there is also so much climbing that can be done here. In winter it is also great to go skiing here as well as in Campo Felice which is closer to Rome than the park if you have less time.
 

 

The Province of Lazio, in which Rome is located is a perfect place from which to make your daytrips too. As it is situated roughly half way between the north and the south of Italy.

The main train station,Termini, located near our hotel, is perfect for this as trains from all over the country arrive and depart from here. The Leonardo Express also departs from here directly to Fiumicino airport ( Leonardo da Vinci ). There are also many bus shuttles that also depart from the station to Ciampino airport.

Well now that you have decided where you are going all you have to do now is make up your mind when. Looking forward to seeing you in Rome. Have a safe trip.

In a couple of days I will be off to London and getting to do what all of you guys do, go on holiday. Its only when you have to do something yourself that you begin to realise all the details involved. The big issue is organising transport.

 

 

 

Hopefully this bit of information will help you out when you have to make a decision. So I am going to be flying out of Ciampino to Stanstead. I am using Ryanair so I have decided to get a Terravision bus ride from Termini to Ciampino. It takes about 55 minutes but they guarantee to get you to your destination on time. A one way journey costs 8 euro and a return is 14 euro. I have decided to get a return ticket for travelling on both sides. Here and in London. This is the most painless way for me to travel as it avoids having to connect busses with trains etc.

The other way you can get to Ciampino would be to use the A line on the metro. You go all the way to Anagnina and then you get a Cotral bus from there to Ciampino. You can also get a train from Termini that takes you to Ciampino town and then get a bus from there to the airport.

 

Getting to and from Fiumicino is far easier. The Leonardo Express takes you directly to Termini from the airport. It takes around 30 minutes and costs you 11 euros. You can also book a taxi from any hotel in rome either to Ciampino or Fiumicino if you have a lot of bags with you.

A couple of days later he got a licensed taxi from St Peter’s to the hotel and paid 8 and a half euro. The next day he got another licensed taxi from the same area and was told the price was 15 euro. Please make sure that the taxi you get is a licensed one. Then make sure that the metre is set correctly. After that find out if there are any costs for bags. They only usually tell you once you get to your destination. Which is a bit annoying.

Unfortunately this problem is not a new one and people are constantly being taken advantage of and being ripped off. The rates for a taxi from Fiumicino airport to Rome are 50 euros. From Ciampino airport to Rome the cost is 40 euro.Both prices are capped and the maximum number of passengers is 4.

Of course there are also licensed taxi drivers that take a chance too. Sometimes its not always easy when you arrive at the airport and its late, you are tired and all you want to do is get to your room and go to bed. Just please be aware that this problem exists and try to avoid it if you can.

The most reliable means of transport would be the the underground, that is the metro, especially during rush hour, since it is not dependent on the traffic, which can at times delay quite a lot the buses. The underground “network” is very simple: just two lines, A and B crossing each other in the city center at the Termini central station. The line A will take you for example to the Vatican City and the line B to the Colosseum. And when changing lines at Termini you can stop for some shopping right there inside the station, which has great facilities!

At Termini, up on the ground, you can also catch a number of buses or trams to any part of the city, like the number 40 or 64 for the Vatican or Venice Square, the 75 for the famous Porta Portese market, or the bus H to the historical neighbourhood of Trastevere. In the big square in front of the station there’s also an information point of the city transport company ATAC. Also have a look at their web site to find your bus for any destination. Mind you though, for the tickets you’ll need to go to a tabacco shop, they don’t sell them at the info booth. Inside the station and practically at every street corner you can find tabacco shops or news agents that sell tickets, “biglietti”.

As for the city bus tickets, there are different solutions, depending on the lenght of your stay, for example a daily and weekly ticket that comprehend all the city transport, even the underground.

For last, a fair warning before you hop on: beware of the pick pockets, they’re incredibly clever and work especially the lines most used by the tourists, so hold on to your bag or purse!