Rome remains consistently popular as a European destination and a mythological wonderland. You'll never forget the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican, your first glance at the Coliseum. Rome is timeless, and with tour promoters pushing low-price air/land deals to Italy's landmark city, why not do as the Romans do and hang in Rome?
Look to Tourcrafters (tel. 800/482-5995; www.tourcrafters.com) for a late fall and winter escape to the Eternal City. Starting from $499, you get round-trip flights out of NYC, four nights' accommodations in the centrally located Hotel Brasile, morning meals and hotel taxes and fees. Travel is valid from November 16 - December 15, 2005; then again from January 2 - March 15, 2005. Departures from other cities are available with the following add-on fares:
- Atlanta and Boston: + $50
- Washington, D.C.: + $60
- Chicago: + $100
- Dallas: + $105
- Denver and Miami: + $120
- Tampa and Orlando: + $130
- Phoenix: + $150
- Los Angeles: + $160
- San Francisco: + $162
Similar deals are available to other European cities as well, including Barcelona, Budapest, the Costa del Sol, Florence, Madrid, Paris, Prague and Venice.
Go-Today (tel. 800/227-3235; www.go-today.com) has a three-night "Rome Getaway" starting at $429 with round-trip airfare and hotel accommodations. Travel is good from November 1 to December 15, 2005 and from January 6 to March 25, 2005. If you prefer to go from September 7 to October 31, 2005, expect to pay approximately $629. Air taxes and security fees are not included in the price of the trip based on double occupancy hotel stays. You have a choice of several hotels which go up in price based on quality and location. If you want to go overseas for a pre-Christmas vacation, Go-Today has six-night special from December 16 to 23, 2005 starting at $729. Similar hotels are available and prices also go up accordingly. A three-night Thanksgiving deal starts at $399 for travel from November 23 to November 26, 2005. The Turkey Pasta is not included in the price of the package. Maybe the best Go-Today Rome deal is a six-night trip starting at $499. Travel is good from November 1 to December 12, 2005, and again, like all the above Go-Today vacations, you must book by August 25, 2005.
If you're looking to get away for longer than a week, Cosmos Tours (tel. 800/276-1241; www.cosmos.com) has a 17-day escorted tour of Rome, the Amalfi Coast and Tuscany starting at around $1,869 per person for round-trip airfare with double occupancy hotel accommodations. The trip at this price leaves December 8, 2005 out of New York. In addition to Rome, you'll stay in Sorrento and Montecatini. This trip is escorted, so you'll enjoy the luxury of a full-time guide and you'll see the Italian countryside from the viewpoint of a luxury motor coach. Plan on visiting Rome, Capri, Pompeii, Ravella, Florence and Orvieto among other Italian cities. Check out a detailed itinerary of this two and half week very encompassing tour by clicking here.
Perillo Tours (tel. 800/431-1515; www.perillotours.com) always comes through with deals to Italy. An eight-day/six-night "hosted" holiday means you have access to a guide at all times and gives you a full-day of an escorted tour around the city. Starting at $1,299, the trip includes round-trip airfare our of New York, Newark, Boston, Miami, Atlanta and Chicago, six-nights in a first class hotel, daily breakfast, hotel taxes, service charges, a welcome drink, a sightseeing tour, and a personal host to answer any questions you have. The $1,299 air/land price tag is good for travel on January 7 and 14, 2005. The slightly higher price of $1,699 is good for several dates in November, January, February and March. This tour visits Circus Maximus, St. Peter's Basilica, the Coliseum, and the famous Roman Forum. Hotels range from modern to classical in centrally located areas.
Talk about Rome on our Italy Message Boards today.