Hotelrome.net Blog : A guide to news and events in Rome

Our Blogger: Rhodora

The cost of life, as everyone knows, is getting more expensive everyday. Therefore, for those who can’t say no to shopping, buying becomes more and more difficult.

To combat this problem outlets were created , and now they make up a key part of the Rome shopping industry.

In the last couple of years three very big outlets were born in a neighbourhood of the town, where its possible to find all kind of brands with the lowest prices ever- especially during the January sales.

Fashion district outlet is in Valmontone – 40 km from the centre of Rome, and with it’s 150 shops its the biggest outlet in the Rome neighbourhood. It is even continuing to grow today and you will soon find other shops there – as well as a theme park that will be ready in 2010. Besides clothing shops you will also find electronic shops, such as Trony, one of the most well-known electronic retailers in Italy.

Meanwhile, Castel Romano Outlet, which is just on the entrance to Rome, is an outlet built in the form of castle, with 110 shops of prestigious brands and fashion, which ranges from clothing to accessories, from the house to sport. There are discounts of up to 70% (Asics, Nike, Levis, Guess, Mandarina Duck).

However, the newest outlet to be born near Rome is called the Soratte outlet, which opened just a couple of months ago just on the feet of the Soratte Mountain close to the national park. Here you will be able to spend days shopping in the green hills of a national park. Besides the shopping, a good thing to do until the end of January is ice skating, which is completely free. And why not stay at Lucci Hotel? Our staff can direct you to all the best shops free of charge!!

 

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.

New Year’s is the high peak of the winter season in Rome, as in any European city, and that’s when everybody seems to want to travel. However, for a budget traveller, the rates may sometimes seem out of reach… The solution? Well, wait a week or two and travel in January instead!

In a city like Rome you don’t need to worry about getting bored in any time of the year, and least of all in January – at least if you happen to be a shopping freak! And even if you weren’t, if you happen to be in Rome, the promised ad of the shoppers, during the winter sales, you may just get crazy anyway… The famous sales of Rome start this year on the 14th January, which is a Sunday just to make sure nobody will have to miss the event!

The places to go, depending on your personal style and preferences, are innumerable: for high fashion, head for the Spanish steps area, Via Condotti and Via Frattina (metro line A, stops Spagna or Barberini); for stylish every day wear take the miles-long shopping street Via del Corso starting from the Venice Square (bus 40 from Termini station) or Via Nazionale near Termini; if you want the same look but on slightly lower prices, try the neighbourhood of Prati near the Vatican (metro line A stops Ottaviano and Lepanto). For a more ethnic look, and actually for anybody who wants to spice up their style with something extravagant without having to spend a lot, you can find marvellous pieces of clothing and accessories on the many famous markets of the city, such as the Porta Portese in Trastevere on Sunday mornings (bus 75 from Termini station) or the Via Sannio market next to the Saint John’s Basilica (metro line A, stop San Giovanni). Or, for a less Italian but maybe more comfortable shopping experience, try the new, huge shopping center of Parco Leonardo in Fiumicino with more than 200 shops, an enormous cinema and dozens of restaurant, bars and even a disco! To get there, first take the metro B from Termini to Piramide, then from the Ostiense station at Piramide get a local train to Parco Leonardo.

To save your pennies for the main thing (that’s shopping!), try the fabulous winter rates of these fabulous hotels: the popular Hotel Des Artistes which offers great value for your money, the budget-but-classy Nice Hotel or the three star My Hotel, all near the Termini station and therefore with perfect bus and underground connections with all the shopping venues of the city!