
The Way We Travel | Rome, Italy

Exploring Rome: A First-Time Journey
During our three unforgettable days in Rome, Italy, we immersed ourselves in history, culture, and a little bit of shopping. We marveled at the Vatican, stood in awe of the Colosseum, and wandered through the city’s charming streets, stopping at iconic landmarks like the Trevi Fountain. One of the most unexpected and beautiful moments was witnessing a wedding take place on the Spanish Steps—truly a scene straight out of a movie.
Planning Our European Adventure
Since this was our first visit to Europe, we opted to book our trip through a travel agency. Many friends recommended Costco Travel for its affordability and convenience, and it did not disappoint. They handled our flights, hotel bookings, and transportation from the airports, even providing vouchers that made navigating our trip seamless.
Rome was the final stop on our three-country, nine-day tour, which also included London, England, and Paris, France. Each city offered its own unique charm, and by the end, we felt like we had sampled a little bit of everything—like a travel “tapas” plate.
The Culinary Experience: Hits and Misses
One of the biggest challenges we faced was finding great restaurants. While we certainly didn’t go hungry, our dining experiences were a bit hit or miss. Next time, we’ll dedicate more time to researching food spots in advance. In hindsight, I wish I had taken notes while watching Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy!
Travel Tips & Insights
- Sightseeing Tours: Many attractions offer tours that allow you to skip long lines. For instance, while Vatican tickets are available on-site, booking a tour in advance lets you enter as part of a group at a scheduled time—bypassing the wait.
- Concierge Wisdom: Always introduce yourself to the hotel concierge. Their local knowledge can be invaluable when planning activities, dining, and transportation.
- Safety: When you’re out and about, keep your eyes peeled for people who might try to take advantage of tourists. Always keep your bags in sight, even your backpacks.
- Tap to Pay Everywhere: One of the biggest surprises was how widely accepted Apple Pay and contactless payments were across Rome. It made transactions quick and easy.
- Duty-Free Shopping: Buying souvenirs and luxury items at the airport can be more convenient than navigating duty-free refund processes in the city. Now we understand why so many travelers prefer shopping before departure.
Looking Ahead: Italy 2025
We’re already planning a return trip to Italy in early 2025! Florence is at the top of our list, but Milan and Venice also sound intriguing. If you’ve been, we’d love to hear your recommendations—any must-see spots or hidden gems?
Exclusive Photos from Our Roman Adventure – April 2023
Food and Drinks in Rome, Italy
From the web . . .
The Spanish Steps (Italian: Scalinata di Trinità dei Monti) in Rome, Italy, climb a steep slope between Piazza di Spagna at the base and Piazza Trinità dei Monti, dominated by the Trinità dei Monti church, at the top.
The monumental stairway of 135 stepsis linked with the Trinità dei Monti church, under the patronage of the Bourbon kings of France, at the top of the steps and the Spanish Embassy to the Holy See in the Palazzo Monaldeschi at the bottom of the steps. The stairway was designed by the architects Francesco de Sanctis and Alessandro Specchi.
Vatican City, officially the Vatican City State (Italian: Stato della Città del Vaticano;[g] Latin: Status Civitatis Vaticanae), is a landlocked sovereign country, city-state, microstate, and enclave surrounded by, and historically a part of, Rome, Italy.It became independent from Italy in 1929 with the Lateran Treaty, and is a distinct territory under “full ownership, exclusive dominion, and sovereign authority and jurisdiction” of the Holy See, which is itself a sovereign entity under international law, maintaining the city-state’s temporal power, governance, diplomatic, and spiritual independence. The Vatican is also a metonym for the pope, the Holy See, and the Roman Curia.
With an area of 49 hectares (121 acres) and a population of about 764 (as of 2023), it is the smallest sovereign state in the world both by area and by population.[21] It is also the second-least populated capital in the world. As governed by the Holy See, Vatican City State is an ecclesiastical or sacerdotal-monarchical state ruled by the Pope, who is the bishop of Rome and head of the Catholic Church. The highest state functionaries are all Catholic clergy of various origins. After the Avignon Papacy (1309–1377) the popes have mainly resided at the Apostolic Palace within what is now Vatican City, although at times residing instead in the Quirinal Palace in Rome or elsewhere.