Cost: $569 PP Flight and Four Star Hotel (Bundle Deal through Travelocity, Straight Flight on Delta to Rome, Layover in Paris on the return flight)

Dates Traveled: November 24-29th
Fun Fact: Thanksgiving week is one of the cheapest times of the year to travel.

Transportation: I rented a car to drive down to the Amalfi coast and to tour Pompeii, but for most of our stay we used the subway to get around town. The cost is around $1.50 each way. The cost of the rental car for four days was $25 in total. Don’t ask me how. I stumbled upon this deal while at the Leonardo da Vinci International Airport in Rome. I found it on Priceline Rental cars after I was having a difficult time picking up my rental from a different car company.

One last thing. If you plan to drive in Europe, I highly suggest you get an international driving permit from your local AAA office. It will save you a bit of hassle at the checkout counter.

The keys to our room in the Almafi Coast area

Where to stay: My suggestion to remember that a rating of four-star in the states is more like a three-star in some foreign countries. Also, read the reviews as far as safety, location and ease of getting to public transportation are concerned.

Drawing from The Mausoleum of Hadrian, usually known as Castel Sant‘Angelo

As a side note, if you don’t plan on exploring the suburbs I highly recommend that you DO NOT get a rental car!! People in Italy drive all over the road and they don’t care that you are in your lane! It was quite a scary experience. I will never drive in the city of Rome ever again. Once we reached the southern region of Italy I thought it would be better, but the streets are narrow and people just park any kind of way. Play it safe and take the train whenever possible.

My view of the Vatican from inside The Mausoleum of Hadrian, usually known as Castel Sant‘Angelo

Rome and Pompeii- Italy 🇮🇹 4.5 Stars

Falling in love with people in Italy is the easiest thing to do. Not the people in Rome (or should I say the tourist in Rome), they are rude and horrible. But once you get outside of the city it truly is a whole new world.

The boutique hotel we stayed at near the Amalfi Coast

I would recommend spending 1-2 days in Rome and the rest of your stay should be divided up in other parts of Italy. Italy has much to offer, shopping in Milan, Wine Country in Florence, the beautiful coastline in the southern region and the best food is NOT in the touristy areas. Go where the locals go.