3 months in Rome, but which 3 months? I also have a few other questions....?

Question

1. I have the opportunity to spend 3 months in Rome, but I'm not sure which 3 months to choose. Can you help me decide? It doesn't matter what time of year, I'm just thinking not the summer months (I know there will always be a lot of tourists, but there's 10X more in the summer...right?).

2. US $4,000 will be more than enough for 1 person for 3 months (excluding airfare) won't it? Take into consideration that I'm going to stay very inexpensively...no 5 star hotels and fancy restaurants every night.

3. I don't really speak Italian. Right now all I know how to say is hello, goodbye, thank you and help. I picked up this 10 disc language program, I'm not expecting to be fluent by the time I go but will I get buy with what I will be able to learn from language CDs?

4. If I go, I will be going alone. I'm young (only 19, though by the time I go I may be 20), but I do have common sense. I've looked up crime statistics and it seems like the biggest problem Rome has is petty crime (such as pick pockets) and that violent crime (such as rape and murder) doesn't happen very much. Can you give me any advice on this subject? As somebody who has been there, do you think that if I use my head (as in not walking down dark alley ways by myself) I will be okay by myself?

Thanks for the answers! I've wanted to go to Rome for the longest time :-)

Answer 1

hi!! i'm italian, i live near rome..

i suggest you to come in march, april and may when the weather is hot but not to much and there's not to much turist like in summer.. the language is not a problem because the 70% of the people speaks english..

our price are very high also for us we're sorry :(

for you're accomodation you can search an hostel "ostello della gioventù" where you can find a lot of young boy and girls that are tourist like you.. our hostel are cheaper..

or you can try to do a twinning with an italian girl..

you can stay 3 month in she's house and than she can stay 3 month in you're house... that's gooooood!!!!

A turist guide all for you, it's amazing isn't it??

i think that the crime is in all the word, unfortunately we have also rumenia criminals that ruin our reputation..

however Rome isn't very dangerous you have only to don't go out alone in the night and hold tight you're ag (bag) when you're in a bus-metro-train

http://www.romaexplorer.it/roma/hotel_ro...

ostelliroma.ostellidellagioventu.org/a...

it.hostelrome.com

ostelliroma.ostellidellagioventu.org/a...

www.romanhostels.com/it/bb-roma-centro...

www.italian.hostelworld.com

what else.. calm down and enjoy you're stay darling

you are wellcome!!!!!!!!

kissssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

p.s sorry for my english i hope that you understand

Answer 2

hostels are chaper, yes, but make sure you end up in one with cooking facilities, because eating out everyday, that is really expensive, and 4KE won't be enough.

if you stay at home with italian people you will learn some italian quicker. try here (brevi periodi means temporary)

http://roma.kijiji.it/f-Case-in-affitto-...

best months are from march through june for the weather, but you'll cross Easter holidays so of course it will be packed. but if you stay there for 3 months you can manage to avoid the big crowd.

apart from the dark alleys, you should stay away from men offering you drinks, lifts or else. as you said, use your head and you'll be safe.

Answer 3

Wow, that sounds like so much fun! I studied in Rome for six months and it was awesome. I think the end of summer is the best since it's still warm and there are less tourists running around. I'd say Late August to October. It starts to get pretty cold in November over there.

$4,000 is actually not not that much even if you stay at hostels. It's aan expensive city and you'd have to stretch you  money pretty good b/c I just remembered that the exchange rate is horrible. Expect to stay at really icky hostels if $4K is your entire budget. Check hostelworld.com for hostel rates and you can gauge your budget from there. I'd try to eat at places off the side streets, panini stands, and even hit up de per di grocery stores. The restaurants in the really busy touristy streets are expensive and the quality of food is not that great. The authentic restaurants will be better off the side streets. That's true for Rome, not so much for other parts of Italy.

Although some people in Rome don't speak too much English, most people there will. Learning the basic words and restaurant ordering will be enough. Bring a small quick reference translation book around with you. Remember "quanta costa questa" (How much is this?) before you commit to anything, at least a handful of people will try to cheat you everyday because you are a foreigner. It's not to say that there are not honest people there, but be careful.

As far as pickpocketing, just make sure that you be cautious and always look alert when you are standing on a bus or subway. When your eyes wander, you are definitely look more suseptible to being pickpocketed. Buy a travel pouch that buckles around your waist and can be tucked under your clothes. If you can swing it, try not to carry a purse around. If you have to have one, make sure it has a zipper and it is small enough so that someone can't just slash the bottom of your purse. This is extreme, but just don't carry to much cash in your purse and keep your passort in your travel pouch. I always felt pretty safe and I never got pickpocketed but know of many people who have.  I felt safe in Rome even at night but I was there for awhile. It's ok to walk in alleys because Rome is full of them but please just be careful at night. I wouldn't go around walking down unfamiliar paths at night unless you are with someone. You can  email me if you have any more questions. You'll have so much fun!

Answer 4

Hello! 1) you could choose March, April and May, or April, May and June. The weather is usually fine, it is warm but not too hot and you're right, in the summer there are really too many tourists. September and October are also good months (but not so November, which is grey and rainy).

2) I think it's enough. If you rent a room in a flat you could pay 400-500 euros a month. You can also find easy someone to give English private lessons.

3) if you can speak some expressions, it will be enough. You will emprove there without problems. Many Italians speak a little of English, and you can teach someone a little English for learning Italian.

4) what you think is totally correct. There are pickpockets but Rome is relatively sure, more than lots of others big towns in the world. Dont go out with jewels, be careful for your wallet on buses and subways, and you won't risk. However, for a young woman it could be a little dangerous to walk alone in the night (in some quarters). But if you get some friends to go out with there will be no problems.

Sorry for my bad English.

Answer 5

Mmm, I think 4,000 $ aren't enough for 3 months in Italy...you can stay in flat with some other girls to reduce the money you're going to spend...don't stay alone in Rome! It's very big, it's easy to lose the way...

Almost all in Rome is expensive but if you don't buy food in the center it's okay!

When I was in Rome (only 5 days) I spent about 300 euro.

But it's a very nice city and in 3 months you have the opportunity to visit it all.

The 3 months? September, October and November.

Bye!