Steve’s Travel Blog

We visited Rome, Italy last summer.  I was very excited to go there, have fun, and also have some great pizza and pasta.  I have to say that I am totally disappinted in Pizza/Pasta department.  Rome is a tourist trap bar none.  If you eat at any of the touristy places, e.g. piazzas, expect to spend an arm and a leg for food, or get crappy food. Unfortunately that is how it is.  During our Rome trip, I think the worst pizza we had was at Piazza Narvona (sp?).  It was worse that $2 frozen pizza that we get back home.  My daughter is a pasta freak, and she liked the pasta there (ok that is positive) although I found them atrocious.  But that is only me.

So don’t expect miracles in Rome.  Stay OFF the tourist route, and see where locals dine, you may then get some good pasta and pizza - in fact you probably will.  Have a safe Rome Trip!

Articles Vault | Visiting Rome - Areas in the historical center - When you travel to Rome, The Pantheon is a site you must visit. Come get your Italian cappuccino, pasta or pizza in one of its many neighbouring restaurants and relax in front of this magnificent wonder of the world. …

Silver Creek 78250: Dinner Report: Rome’s Pizza… - As we had not engaged in a proper meal in hours, we decided to call into the newly opened Rome’s Pizza, and order up some to-go snackage. Before I get to the vittles, I need to report a serious issue at this newly swamped intersection …

High Performance Herbivore: Vegan Ironman and Ultrarunner Athlete … - I just can’t get enough of Italy, so this weekend I find myself in the eternal city of Rome. I’ve only been here a few hours, and already I’m in love. Besides the beautiful people, beautiful buildings and beautiful language, … Then it dawned on me that it is really only the American version of pizza that has a mandatory layer of cheese. I suddenly felt very yankified in my assumptions; and felt even more so when I went inside and asked the well-set woman …

House Everything: Seeing Rome Again - And while eating Baci chocolates, munching on original Italian pizza and trying out some genuine leather shoes along the way, we would walk going to the famous Spanish Steps and just sit down there to enjoy the sight. …

Pizza Evening in Rome. San Lorenzo Student Quarter | Torre di … - Discover what other students are doing in Rome. This is part of the student live at Torre di Babele. One of the many school activities organized by ou.

Child-friendly city guide - Rome | Travel Blog - Mr & Mrs Smith … - Not only will your child be greeted with a slice of ‘Pizza Bianco’ to munch on while you wait your turn, but you won’t be disappointed with the selection of pastry – or the pizza. Once you’ve bought a slice, …

Restaurant deals: The big fat master list | Forklore - Rome’s Pizza: The Austin branch of this minichain is running an everyday offer to buy a large pizza and get a second large at half-price. Good. Even better, kids 10 and younger eat free with the purchase of adult meal Tuesday and …

Excellent pizza in Rome…off the beaten path - friday night…though apparently it’s often busy at la gatta mangiona (hence the need for reservations). i’d still say that the pizza’s good enough to justify the underwhelming service. as for baffeto 2, i’m not that big a fan as i find …

Eating Out in Rome - Pizzerias and trattorias are definitely the most popular places to dine in Rome: informal, economical and with speedy service, they are home to ‘pizza alla romana’, which has a thin crust and a crispy edge, as opposed to the soft raised …

Dreaming of Rome - It’s probably because we ate pizza and pasta everyday (my favorite foods) - but seriously I’ve always had passion for history and you have so much of that there. It’sa pity we were not able to visit Rome while we were living in Europe. …

a taste of life in Rome - Ferments here and there, talks, politic talks, and more talks, while pizza is being served and wine is being poured and people try to live run to work, people run home, people run to keep up with finding ways to cope, and most of our …

Cheap Things to Do in Rome - If all this sightseeing is lightening your wallet a little too much, you can recoup your losses with some low-cost dining. Stands selling pizza or tripe sandwiches, a local delicacy, abound and that quintessential Italian treat of …

Where is THE BEST pizza in Rome ? - To answer this question would require eating a number of times at every pizza place in Rome, and…

Commercials You Hate !!!!! : Pizza Hut goes to Rome… to fool … - Author: smittykins Subject: Pizza Hut goes to Rome… to fool “REAL ITALIANS!” Posted: 04 Feb 2009 at 12:09am. Originally posted by Ad nauseous I hatea thisa ada, it’s a so a fakea. Mama Mia! I wanta somea spaghetti! …

Whenever we have traveled to Cancun, Mexico, we never felt in any danger from crimes.  One time we ran into a drugbust roadblock on the way down to Tulum with machine-gun totint cops, but that is as bad as it got.

Cancun maybe getting a bad wrap due to the overall crime wave in Mexico.  Besides some petty crime, the whole police and business establishment in Cancun must ensure that the tourists are safe, and of course they do.  Any negative publicity (like with the American girl in Aruba) would simply kill the business.

It should be noted that Hotel Zone is incredibly safe.  When you get out, of course things might get a bit dicy.  So stick to tourist areas, use common sense, and stay safe!

Some related reading for Cancun Crime:

Associated “Content Producer” Delete-Happy with Reader Comments … - Looking for a lovely beach vacation, it is recommended that you avoid Cancun. It does not seem the risk with organized crime murdering so many people. Find a safer place to vacation at. Cancun, Mexico needs to solve their violent …

Violence Touches Tourist Areas in Mexico, Puerto Rico - But this week there were two disturbing cases of violent crime in the region, including the murder of an anti-drug official in Cancun and the slaying of a pregnant tourist abducted near Fajardo, the marina and boating …

3 found dead in SUV outside of Cancun, Mexico - Kansas City Star - More than 5000 homicides linked to organized crime were reported last year amid a battle among the world’s most powerful drug cartels for territory and resistance to a two-year government crackdown on the cartels. …

Mexico grills Cancun police chief in slaying probe - World … - President Felipe Calderon told Excelsior newspaper in an interview published Monday that more than 6000 people were killed in organized-crime-related homicides in 2008. It was the first government confirmation of the …

3 found dead in SUV outside of Cancun - World - Wire - Kentucky.com - The corpses of a retired brigadier general and two other men were found Tuesday in a sport utility vehicle abandoned on a highway outside of Cancun, the resort’s mayor said. All had been shot many times.

Who would not want to enjoy a holiday at Cancun? - This is something that seems to be true of most places where there is a constant movement of tourists and where it is difficult to really pin down a crime on a person. It is therefore important for you to understand that you need to …

Organized crime in Mexico knows no limits! - In reference to the grenade attack on the El Debate news office reported yesterday, the El Universal editorial, Alliance against crime, asserts in part: Organized crime knows no limits. It isn’t enough to operate with large margins of …

We just booked to fly with Ryanair (has cheap flights) from Paris to Rome (one way), and Rome to Eindhoven (near Amsterdam).  We are paying 40 europs per person on each leg of the trip.  The only problem is that the airports are out of the way, so do check before you finalize (Eindhoven is one hour away from Amsterdam, and the Paris airport is 1.25 hours away).

There are also lots of handling fees (bags euros 20 per bag), child insurance, etc. etc. So you have to take the total price into account and the lost time due to farther airports.

 Here is an interesting post about Ryanair’s cheap flights to America.  How can Ryanair make a profit by charging only £7 for one-way flights to America? It’s ridiculously cheap.

Andalucia Travel Guide There are several low-cost airlines that fly to Almeria from the UK, one being Ryanair.

Looking for cheap travel in Europe in general? Top Tips for a Cheap European Travel has great advice for cheap travels in Europe.

I am really not for all-inclusive resorts in Mexico. Why? because I like my own food, and cannot stand eating restaurant food day in and day out.  Having said that, it is great to just be served and spend all the time playing (and not going out in the heat for shopping).

Based on my experience, if you can stand having the restaurant food everyday, then all-inclusives are really cheap. The reason is that they get deals from airlines, so the package is not a lot more expensive than you getting a flight, renting taxies, eating out, etc. etc.

Do I recommend it? Yes, to some people.

Here is a good tutorial on all-inclusive traveling.

I am currently in the market for a cheap car rental deal in Europe.  I am planning to visit Europe with family this summer (peak season, yikes).  I was just talking with a good friend of mine about cheap car rentals in Europe and he recommended Renault’s Eurodrive. 

Sounds great so far.  Brand new zero mileage cars picked up at major Euro airports, fully insured at $40+ a day!! Wow.  The only hitch is that you have to keep the car for 21 days.. I am only going for less than 2 weeks, so maybe I just return it early and pay for 21 days.  It is still cheaper than other options which I hear about which are $100 per day (I have been told).

Another good thing about this program is that you can pick up at any of the covered airports and return at any other airport. Sweet.  

Before you start your vaction, make sure to pick up some travel secrets which will help you save a lot of money. (Travel) knowledge is power.

 Check out these links for more info:

http://www.mmmonline.org/ski-car-hire/ provides info on car rental for ski trips in Europe.  Check out some of the Alps’ stunning scenary, ski resorts and extreme sports.

Another great way to travel in Europe is via flights (I am discovering this), and then you have to really look at finding bargains (which are out there).  Discount Air Travel provides info and tips on finding cheap airline deals.  There is even a refrence to flight auctions that I need to check out.

If you rather travel by train, consider Eurail Pass.  Rail Europe has been your European rail expert for over 60 years.