Decaf in Rome; Borghese tickets; Roma pass

[piratesmate123]

Three questions:

Can we get decaf coffee in Rome? We don't drink caffeinated coffee - [i prefer to get my caffeine from chocolate :)] Or, do I need to bring decaf for my husband?

 

Also, I went to the Borghese site - to get tickets to the museum, I only see a phone and fax number. I wasn't able to find a place to click to order the tickets on-line.

 

If I get the Roma pass, do I have to use the free admission to the first place I go? I'd rather save the freebie for the most expensive museum, which we won't see for a few days. Or, can I go to the Borghese (near our hotel) and use the Roma pass to pre-pay for the Borgese Gallery we will reserve for a few days later?

 

Thanks everyone. Linda

[tomko2]

http://www.ticketeria.it/

 

I haven't tried to book tickets through this site because we are just going to (perhaps foolishly) wing it when we get to Rome.

 

What is the Roma Pass? How do you obtain one?

 

Have you found a site with a good street map of Rome? We are staying at the Cavalieri Hilton just up on a hill overlooking the Vatican. They have a shuttle service to the centre of town but I am trying to find a good map so I can get our bearings.

 

Thanks

Kathy

[BarbaraB2]

I reserved tickets online, to the Borgheses Museum, two years ago and had no problem with them. If I remember correctly, they issue you a confirmation code and you pay when you arrive at the museum. HOWEVER, you MUST be there at least 1/2 hour before to pick up the ticket and there will be a line. The museum opens it's doors every two hours to allow a new group of visitors in, and escort the others out. You are taking a chance by not reserving ahead of time as the museum is rather small and it will take only a certain number in at a time. I saw people get turned away. Also it's a good idea to get the headsets for the best experience but you'll need a picture ID to rent it.

Enjoy this wonderful museum. We did!

[piratesmate123]

Thank you for the information.

 

As far as maps of Rome, I found the best ones in the DK Eyewitness Travel Rome book - your library should have a copy. In the back, they have maps of each section of town with many of the highlights listed. I used an enlarging copy machine to enlarge each of these maps. They also have a street finder (i.e. Via Corso is on map #2, block 2A).

This book also has even more detailed maps of each neighborhood, listing piazza's, palazzo's, etc. I may take this book with me to Rome.

 

Another useful book was Knopf guide to Rome with the pop-up maps - similarly, it gives a small section of town with highlights diagrammed. About $8.95. The DK book gives more detail (up to you whether this is a good or bad feature).

 

I also went to Barnes and Noble - they have a large, tear-resistant, water-proof map of Rome with tourist spots (about $6.95) in the map section. I love to travel with a good map!

 

Thanks for the lead on the head sets. I'm going to fax the Borghese today from work.

 

Do a google search for Roma pass - discounts on admissions and free use of metro/bus for several days.

Linda

[tomko2]

Linda, thanks for the info on the maps and Roma pass.

Kathy

[nomars_girl]

http://www.ticketeria.it/

 

I haven't tried to book tickets through this site because we are just going to (perhaps foolishly) wing it when we get to Rome.

 

What is the Roma Pass? How do you obtain one?

 

Have you found a site with a good street map of Rome? We are staying at the Cavalieri Hilton just up on a hill overlooking the Vatican. They have a shuttle service to the centre of town but I am trying to find a good map so I can get our bearings.

 

Thanks

Kathy

 

the roma pass will get you free admission to the first two attractions that you visit that are on the list and discounted admission to any of the other attractions that are included (the Vatican is not included). Our freebies were the Coliseum and the Borghese Gallery. You also can bypass the ticket lines at the coliseum if using it for the free admission. If you see only those two, the cost of the pass is worth it. You can get it at the airport or at Rome Termini. It also includes a transportation pass good for the buses and metro for three days.

 

We stayed at the Cavalieri Hilton. It is a beautiful hotel, but it is out of the way. Their shuttle bus only runs once an hour and it takes a break from late morning to early afternoon. We only used it once since it was very inconvenient. With our Roma pass, we walked down the hill and grabbed a city bus.

 

I was able to pre-reserve the Borghese gallery on the website. We went at 9 AM on a Wednesday and then boarded our ship that afternoon. It was worth the visit.

[tomko2]

the roma pass will get you free admission to the first two attractions that you visit that are on the list and discounted admission to any of the other attractions that are included (the Vatican is not included). Our freebies were the Coliseum and the Borghese Gallery. You also can bypass the ticket lines at the coliseum if using it for the free admission. If you see only those two, the cost of the pass is worth it. You can get it at the airport or at Rome Termini. It also includes a transportation pass good for the buses and metro for three days.

 

We stayed at the Cavalieri Hilton. It is a beautiful hotel, but it is out of the way. Their shuttle bus only runs once an hour and it takes a break from late morning to early afternoon. We only used it once since it was very inconvenient. With our Roma pass, we walked down the hill and grabbed a city bus. "

 

 

We are staying at the Cavalieri Hilton (pre-cruise) and the Hilton Airport (post-cruise). I understand everything at the hotel is quite expensive so we plan to eat in town. Did you happen to see anywhere to buy alcohol nearby?

Thanks for the info on the Roma pass; we will definitely get it.Thanks again

Kathy

[NAS-KARR]

re your de-caf question........I'm a good coffee lover and I can't say I ever heard anyone asking for de-caf or hearing any waiter or waitress asking a patron if they wanted a de-caf. Maybe in a hotel restaurante they may offer it but out in the streets..NO. Ital coffee is thick and black as coal.

Here's to ya e CIAO,

[Andym]

Of course you can get decaffinated coffee almost anywhere.

[cruisemom42]

In Rome, the most common way to ask for a decaf coffee is to say "Caffe Hag" (Hag is the most well known brand of decaf coffee in Italy .... sort of like asking for a Kleenex in the US). It is pronounced "Cah-fey Ahg."

 

You can also ask for a "Caffe Decafinato."

 

Either of those should work. You should be able to get decaf pretty much anywhere!

[ehogan]

We are huge coffee drinkers, and I generally only drink decaf. You can order decaf pretty well anywhere in Rome, you may not hear too many people order it, but it is available.

 

As far as the coffee experience, Italian coffee is the best on the planet, even MacDonalds serves a decent cup of coffee here. Our most favourite places to drink coffee:

 

D'Angelos on the Via della Croce (just off the Spanish steps). If you stand at the bar, an espresso is only about 1 Euro, a capuccino 1.5. Wonderful "cornettos" filled with chocolate or cream filling. If you sit down, your cost can triple.

 

The cafe in Piazza Santa Maria in Trastavere (across from the church) -

try their Cafe Viennese (great, with whipped cream on top)

 

P.S. (Interesting fact learned from our tourguide - Starbucks is not allowed in the country). We drink Starbucks exclusively at home, but I can tell you I sure didn't miss it in Italy!

[Lainetique]

I was also concerned about the decaf situation, as I had been told you can't get decaf anywhere in Europe. So I was happy to find out when we were recently in Spain, France, Italy & Greece, that you really can get decaf anywhere. I had at least 2 decaf cappucinos every day. They were available in every restaurant, bistro, bar, you name it.

Have a great unjittery trip!

[piratesmate123]

Thanks so much for the info about decaf coffee in Europe. I worked very hard a few years ago to give up caffeinated coffee (caffeine in chocolate doesn't count ;) ). There are so many other vices I'd rather indulge in!

 

Just a note - I was trying very unsuccessfully to order tickets to the Borghese Gallery. I finally realized that I needed to unblock the popup blocker when I tried to order tickets - it worked. I also wrote them a separate e-mail and they actually wrote me back so I would be able to e-mail and order tickets that way also.

Linda