I’m not that good at writing, so I’ll keep it to bulleted points with ratings and short notes where applicable.
Background: I was headed to a wedding in Israel and decided to stay over in Italy for a few days to tour Rome. This was a five-day trip in February 2019.
Flights:• EWR to FCO on Norwegian
- This was a paid ticket
- I was a bit worried about flying with a low budget carrier, but they didn’t mess anything up on this flight
• Here I flew FCO to TLV and TLV to FCO on Norwegian
• FCO to EWR on Norwegian
- This was a paid ticket
- On this flight Norwegian ‘accidentally’ dropped off my carry-on bag (which I originally refused to check until they refused to let me onto the plane with it) at FCO and did not route it to EWR. It took 5 days for them to find and deliver it. They refused to offer any compensation. Luckily the ticket was purchased with my Chase Sapphire card so I was able to get $500 for my troubles.
Hotel:• 47 Hotel - 4/5
- Nice and clean hotel, with decent size rooms and close to the ghetto (less than a five-minute walk). Only issue was on Shabbos when the hallway lights went on every time we left the room.
Method of Transport:• Local trains and busses
• Uber
Food:• Friday Night- Chabad- 4/5
- This was a one-hour walk from our hotel. We took a cab at the zman so we only had to walk back. It was a beautiful experience.
• Shabbos Lunch- Su Ghetto- 2/5
- The food was rather bland
• Yotvata- 4/5
- Delicious pasta, gnocchi, and “chocolate pizza”
• BaGhetto Milky- 4/5
- Delicious pizza and pasta- desserts were very plain
• Alice Pizza- 3/5
• Cremeria Romana- 4/5
• Boccione- 4/5
- Their ‘donuts’ had to make do for breakfast, since Italians don’t do that meal of the day
• Bar Toto
- Not kosher but has CY milk so good for coffee
Activities:• Outdoor market- 1/5
• Villa Borghese- 3/5
- Nice gardens, park, fountains, and villa (would consider it “extra” if you have limited time in Rome)
• Doria Pamphili Gallery- 3/5
- Beautiful villa with lots of art (would consider it “extra” if you have limited time in Rome)
• Rick Steve’s walking tour of the city- 4/5
• Campo di Fiori- 4/5
• Spanish steps- 3/5
• Pantheon- 3/5
• Trevi Fountain- 4/5
• Piazza Navona- 5/5
• Various statues, embassies, fountains, etc
• Villa De’Este- 3/5
- Day trip from Rome- basic villa with beautiful gardens and fountains- has some singing fountains (would consider it “extra” if you have limited time in Rome)
• Jewish Ghetto tour with David Walden- 5/5
- Would’ve used him for all tours if I could afford it
• Castel Sant'Angelo- 3/5
- Old castle inhabited by various Popes (would consider it “extra” if you have limited time in Rome)
• Rick Steve’s walking tour of Ghetto- 3/5
• Rick Steve’s walking tour of Ancient Rome- 3/5
• Colosseum- 5/5
• Roman Forum- 5/5
• Arch of Titus- 4/5