budget travel – Page 10 – The Wknd Travel

N9 Friends in Europe: ROME – 6 Days Around the Italian Eternal City – Rome at Night, City Walking Tour & Departure [Part 3 of 3]

In the last few blog posts [Rome Part 1 & Rome Part 2], I shared with you our first few days around Rome. My friend and I have been to a few notable places during these days and enjoyed our time in the beautiful city.

Today, I will share with you what we did on our remaining days and nights in Rome. Spoiler alert! I went around Rome at night with my uncle. My friend and I joined a free walking tour and enjoyed our last few days in the city. More information about these below.

ACCOMMODATION

Rome is one of the few key cities in Europe that is budget traveler-friendly. The city has affordable and reasonable accommodation rates far from the expensive per night rates in Paris, Amsterdam and Brussels. There are hostels available for less than €20 per night. These hostels even offer better and more-valued experiences than those from the other expensive cities.

My friend and I stayed at The RomeHello for 5 nights. We had a pleasant and memorable hostel experience with this high-rated and affordable hostel. We believe the hostel ticked all the boxes – cheap and reasonable rates, a central location, clean rooms and communal areas, friendly and hospitable staff, fun activities, tours and experiences and a traveler-friendly vibe. I wrote about our RomeHello experience in the latest Hostel of the Day feature; I hope you can check it out here.

GOING AROUND ROME

Going around Rome is easy. If you do not mind walking all day, you can practically visit all popular sights by foot. Another way to visit these spots is by taking the Metro Line A. This underground metro has stations dedicated to and near the popular Roman attractions.

Unlike in Paris where we used the Navigo card, my friend and I only bought single journey train tickets during our Rome visit. The one-way BIT Metro Ticket costs €1,50 valid for 100 minutes after the first stamp. This ticket is valid for 1 metro or train ride only. Take note that there are other available metro tickets such as the Metro Card, the Rome Travel Card and the 24-hour, 48-hour and 72-hour passes. We planned our itinerary well so we do not have to purchase these passes.

Day 4 – Rome at Night

Before flying to Europe, I messaged a priest uncle (my mom’s childhood friend) based in Rome and told him that I will visit the city. I gave him our schedule and was told that he will message me when the dates were near. I did not hear from him until our fourth day in Rome. I was in the hostel room, lying in my bed after a tiring but meaningful day at Vatican City when I got a message from him. I was asked if I was free for dinner and a night tour around the city. I immediately said yes and I got picked up at the hostel an hour after. My friend skipped this night tour with uncle.

We first drove to a residential street named Via Niccolò Piccolomini. Here, we saw an illusion where the Saint Peter’s Basilica Dome became bigger as we move away from it. It is against the usual phenomenon where something gets smaller if you move away from it. Too bad I did not take photos or videos about this illusion.

After that, we headed to Trastevere and had dinner at Hosteria Del Moro. Uncle treated me to a traditional Italian course dinner. We started with prosecco for aperitivo, fried zucchini for antipasti and spaghetti amatriciana for primi (first main course). We also had red wine on the side. Unfortunately, we were full and decided to skip secondi (second main course), contorni (vegetable side dish) and formaggi e frutta (fruit and cheese plate). We had tiramusi for dolce (dessert) and grappa for digestivo (digestive alcoholic drink). Uncle still had caffe (espresso) after dessert before the digestivo.

After dinner, we visited Saint Peter’s Square then went to outside of Castel Sant’Angelo, a mausoleum turned pope’s fortress and castle and now a museum. We continued the night tour to the Temple of the Gods – the Pantheon and Piazza Navona (again).

We dropped by Piazza Venezia (again), walked to the Trevi Fountain (Italian: Fontana di Trevi) and headed to the Spanish Steps. We passed by the Basilica of Saint Mary Major (Italian: Basilica Papale di Santa Maria Maggiore) – the largest church in Rome dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary – before heading to our final stop – the Colosseum (again). After this, uncle dropped me back to the hostel and we called it a night.

Thanks to my uncle for the sumptuous Italian dinner and for taking me around Rome during night time. The city looks and feels different at night; it has a different beauty and charm that people should aim to discover and explore.

Day 5 – Laundry DAY & City Walking Tour

We had a more relaxed fifth day in Rome. We started our day with the hostel’s buffet breakfast at The Barrel Bar and Grill by Tyler. After that, we did our laundry and waited for the clothes to dry up.

In the afternoon, we joined New Rome Free Tour’s tip-based 5:00pm City Centre Free Walking Tour. Our guide, Niccolo, toured us around the city center, shared the city’s history and politics and gave trivia about each place we visited. We went to the following places:

Spanish Square (Italian: Piazza di Spagna) – The Spanish Square is a famous square in Rome in front of the Embassy of Spain to the Holy See. It is also where the famous 135-step Spanish Steps is found.

Column of the Immaculate Conception (Italian: Colonna dell’ Immacolata) – This column is a monument that is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. According to our guide, the Pope visits this monument every 8^th of December and offers flowers to the bronze statue of Mary.

Via Condotti Shopping Street (Italian: Via Condotti) – Via Condotti is Rome’s most fashionable street. It is where branded shops and luxury boutiques are found; it is the perfect place to go shopping when in Rome.

Column of Marcus Aurelius (Italian: Colonna di Marco Aurelio) – This historic monument that is dedicated to the Roman victory in the Marcomannic Wars.

Navona Square (Italian: Piazza Navona) – Navona Square is a large square in the center of Rome. It used to be the place where Stadium of Domitian was built in 80 AD. It has 3 fountains – the Fountain of the Four Rivers (Italian: Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi), the Fountain of the Moor (Italian: Fontana del Moro) and the Fountain of Neptune (Italian: Fontana del Nettuno).

Pantheon – The Pantheon is an ancient Roman temple dedicated to the twelve Gods. Through the years, it has been converted into a Catholic church known as the Basilica of St. Mary and the Martyrs (Italian: Basilica di Santa Maria ad Martyres) and now as a museum. The Pantheon is known for its huge dome structure and its dome opening that allows the sunlight and rain to go inside the building. Entrance to the Pantheon is free of charge.

The Church of St. Ignatius of Loyola at Campus Martius (Italian: Chiesa di Sant’ Ignazio di Loyola in Campo Marzio) – This Baroque-style church is dedicated to St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus. It also features Andrea Pozzo’s tompe-l’œil (optional illusion of three-dimensional paintings in flat surfaces) paintings in the dome and ceiling.

Temple of Hadrian (Italian: Il Tempio di Adriano) – This temple is dedicated to deified emperor Hadrian, the Roman emperor from 117 to 138.

Galleria Alberto Sordi – Galleria Alberto Sordi is a famous shopping arcade in Rome named after Italian actor Alberto Sordi. It used to be called Galleria Colonna due to its proximity to Piazza Colonna.

Trevi Fountain (Italian: Fontana di Trevi) – The Trevi Fountain is a Baroque-style fountain found in the center of Rome. Designed by Nicola Salvi, this fountain is one of the most famous around the world. It is also famous for coin throwing which they say has different meanings depending on the number of coins you throw.

The walking tour ended at the Trevi Fountain. My friend and I had dinner at a traditional restaurant named Taverna del Seminario near the Pantheon. I ordered a whole of pizza capricciosa for myself and I was super full. After dinner, we walked back to the hostel and started packing our stuff.

Day 6 – Departure

Our 6^th day in Rome was just all about departure. We woke up early, prepared our bags and checked out of The RomeHello. We took a FreeNow ride to Rome Tiburtina Bus Station and waited for our FlixBus ride to our next Italian destination – Florence.

This pretty much ends our 6 days around the beautiful city of Rome in Italy. In case you missed our first few days, please feel free to check out our Colosseum, Palatine Hill and Forum Tour, Trastevere Food Tour and our Vatican Trips in the previous Rome blog posts.

Have you been to Rome, Italy? If yes, which is your favorite spot and why? If not yet but you are planning to visit, which spot are you most looking forward to seeing in person? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? Post them in the comments or feel free to send them to me via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for joining me and please look forward to the next Italy-related post. In case you missed it, before we explored Rome, my friend and I spent a few days around Paris and Versailles in France. You can find all Europe-related content under the N9 in Europe category.

Before you go, I hope you can visit, like and follow my social media pages – Facebook page and Instagram. These 2 accounts are the best way to stay up-to-date with the new posts in this site. Thank you; I hope to see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

N9 Friends in Europe: ROME – 6 Days Around the Italian Eternal City – Vatican City, Necropolis Tour & Papal Audience [Part 2 of 3]

A visit to Rome is not complete without a visit to Vatican City. Out of our 6 days in Rome, my friend and I decided to spend at least 1.5 days in Vatican. Let me share with you what we did during our time in Vatican – Days 3 Part 2 and Day 4 in Rome.

In case you missed it, I already shared our Rome Days 1 to 3 Part 1 in a previous blog post. You can check it out here.

Vatican City

Vatican City is a small and independent city-state that is located inside the beautiful city of Rome. It is the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church; it is where the Pope, the Bishop of Rome, resides. The city-state is known for famous places such as the Saint Peter’s Square, Saint Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums.

To & From Vatican City

Vatican City is accessible to public transportation. People can take the bus and get off in the stops near the border gates. They can also take the Metro Line A, get off at Ottaviano Station and walk for about 1 kilometer to Saint Peter’s Square. The most convenient option to and from Vatican City is to take an Uber or FreeNow from your hotel or hostel.

Necropolis Tour & Saint Peter’s Basilica

My friend and I had one of the most unique experiences in Vatican during the Necropolis Tour. The tour took us down to the Tomb of Saint Peter under the Vatican Basilica. It also took us to the beautiful Clementine Chapel – a chapel dedicated to sepulcher of Saint Peter. The Excavations Office gave us the Tuesday 3:30pm tour schedule – perfect timing after our Trastevere Food Tour.

The necropolis tour is only available by request to the Fabric of Saint Peter (Italian: Fabbrica di San Pietro) – the institution in-charge of the conservation and maintenance of the Saint Peter’s Basilica. Visits to the necropolis and the necropolis tour schedule are set by the Excavations Office (Italian: Ufficio Scavi).

The Necropolis Tour costs €13 per person and takes around 1.5 to 2 hours. Tours are only limited to small groups – up to 12 per schedule and up to 250 people per day as per the website. Also, photos and videos are not allowed during the whole tour.

The tour ends inside the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican (Italian: Basilica Papale di San Pietro in Vaticano). Saint Peter’s Basilica is a Renaissance-style church built in the middle of Vatican City. The church is said to be one of the holiest shrines around the world and is built right above the Tomb of Saint Peter – the Catholic Church’ first pope.

Necropolis tour requests can be sent via e-mail to uff.scavi@fabricsp.va or scavi@fsp.va. Please check the Excavations Office website for the required details for these tour requests.

Papal Audience

The Papal Audience is held on Wednesdays when the Pope is in Rome. Pilgrims and visitors from all over the world get the chance to see and receive blessings from the Pope himself. The audience starts at 9:00am and takes about 1.5 to 2 hours.

Papal audience tickets are free of charge and can be requested from the Prefecture of the Papal Household as early as possible. These tickets, when granted, must be redeemed at the Bronze Door of the Apostolic Palace from 3:00pm to 7:00pm the day before the Papal audience schedule or from 7:00am during the day of the event.

My friends and I joined a scheduled Papal audience during our visit to Rome. We saw Pope Francis up-close & got blessed by His Holiness during the Papal audience.

About 1.5 months before our visit, I sent an e-mail to the Prefecture of the Papal Household and requested for tickets. I received the ticket confirmation 2 weeks after I sent the e-mail and claimed these tickets before our Necropolis Tour.

Papal Audience tickets can be requested via e-mail to ordinanze@pontificalisdomus.va. Please do not forget to mention where you are from, how many people are in the party, when is your preferred schedule and how you can be contacted.

Saint Peter’s Square

Saint Peter’s Square (Italian: Piazza San Pietro) is a large plaza found in front of Saint Peter’s Basilica. It is the place where several events, like the Papal Audience, are held. The square has the Obelisk of the Saint Peter’s Square found in the center. It is also surrounded by hundreds of columns and pilasters. Above these columns are statues of saints and popes created back in the 1600s.

Vatican Museums

The Vatican Museums (Italian: Musei Vaticani) are museums that house collections of the Catholic Church and the papacy throughout centuries. These collections include tens and thousands of sculptures, artifacts, artworks, and paintings made by notable people from the Renaissance period to the contemporary times. It also includes items (up to popemobiles) that were used by the previous popes.

The Disputation of the Sacrament by Raphael

Some of the notable artworks found in these series of museums are the Sistine Chapel (Italian: Cappella Sistina) – which has The Creation of Adam and The Last Judgement by Michelangelo (where photos and videos were not allowed), the Raphael Rooms (Italian: Le Stanze di Raffaello) – which has The Disputation of the Holy Sacrament and The School of Athens, and the Pieta by Vincent Van Gogh.

We got our tickets directly from the Vatican Museums for €17 per person; we also availed of the audio guide for additional €7 and paid a pre-sales fee of €4 per person. The pre-booked ticket and audio guide cost us €28 each in total. We stayed inside the Vatican Museums for 4 hours and we still have not seen all of it. We recommend allotting one whole day only for the Vatican Museums.

Where We Ate During Our Vatican Visit

After the papal audience, we walked to Trecaffè–Prati near the Vatican Museums entrance for late breakfast. We again had pistachio croissant and maritozzo paired with cappuccino. After this, we walked around Ottaviano area while we waited for our Vatican Museum entry schedule.

Before going into the museum, we decided to have lunch at Jollibee Roma – a taste of home! I ordered burger steak rice meal with drink for around €7. It was a bit expensive compared to Philippine prices. Taste-wise, I still prefer the ones we have here.

This ends our visit to the beautiful Vatican City.

Have you been to the Vatican City? Which was your favorite part of the city-state? Did you get the pope? Feel free to share your experiences about & previous travels to Vatican in the comments section below. Do you have questions about anything mentioned above? Do not hesitate to post them in the comments below. Alternatively, you may also send them to me via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thanks for joining me relieve the memories we had during our visit to Vatican City. In case you missed it, I also wrote about our flight from Paris to Rome with Air France, the hostel we stayed with during our time in Rome and our visit to the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, Roman Forum and Trastevere. Watch out for the third & final installment of this 6-day trip around Rome.

Before you go, can you visit my social media pages –Facebook and Instagram – and like or follow them? Thank you and see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

N9 Friends in Europe: ROME – 6 Days Around the Italian Eternal City – Arrival, Colosseum Tour & Trastevere Food Tour [Part 1 of 3]

My friends and I have always wanted to go to Italy. Last November 2022, we finally got the chance to visit this beautiful country. We spent 2 weeks around the key Italian cities of Rome, Florence and Milan. After exploring Paris for 5 days, my friend and I took an Air France flight to our first Italian destination – Rome, Italy. We explored this historic city for 6 days and 5 nights.

Allow me to share with you what happened, which places we visited and what tours we took on our first few days around the wonderful city of Rome, Italy.

Accommodation

Going Around Rome

Day 1 – Arrival

My friend and I arrived Rome–Fiumicino International Airport (FCO) at 4:40pm onboard Air France flight AF 1304 from Paris, France. We got our luggage after disembarkation and took the Leonardo Express from the airport to Roma Termini. This 30-ish minute train ride cost €14 per person. From Roma Termini, we walked to The RomeHello, checked-in and took a rest.

We went out for dinner and caught up with our college friends in a famous local restaurant near Roma Termini – La Famiglia. I got a whole pizza for myself and paired with a classic Aperol spritz. After dinner, we walked towards Gelateria La Romana and got authentic gelato for dessert. After dessert, we walked back to the hostel and called it a night.

Day 2 – Palatine Hill, Roman Forum & Colosseum Tour + Piazza Navona

We started our 2^nd day in Rome with a quick train ride from Repubblica Station to Vittorio Emanuele Station on Metro Line A. We then walked to a local place called Caffè Antica Roma for breakfast. We ordered maritozzo (a traditional sweet pastry filled with whipped cream), pistachio croissant and cappuccino.

After breakfast, we walked to our tour meet-up place. We got an English guided tour around Palatine Hill, Roman Forum and Colosseum (including Gladiator Gate and Colosseum Arena) with Enjoy Rome Tours for only €42 (at that time) per person. We visited the following places during the guided tour:

Arch of Constantine (Italian: Arco di Costantino) – This arch was built to commemorate Constantine’s victory at the Battle of Milvian Bridge that led to his takeover of the Western Roman Empire.

Palatine Hill (Italian: Monte Palatino) – Palatine Hill is believed to be the birthplace of Rome. Known as the centermost and most famous of the seven hills, this hill used to be Ancient Rome’s most sought-after neighborhood. High-profile businessmen, politicians and elites used to live in this hill.

Roman Forum (Italian: Foro Romano) – Situated between the Palatine Hill and Capitoline Hill, the Roman Forum was the place for trade, ceremonies and public engagements.

Colosseum (Italian: Colosseo) – The Colosseum is a world-famous amphitheater that used to host gladiator wars and public events. This elliptical structure is located east of the Roman Forum near the Palatine Hill.

Our 3-hour guided tour included a pass through a Gladiator Gate and a brief visit to the Colosseum Arena where the gladiator matches take place. It also included a visit to the higher areas of the Colosseum. The tour ended inside the Colosseum.

After the tour, we took an Uber to a local Roman restaurant named Osteria da Fortunata to have lunch. We ordered their house-special carbonara (with handmade noodles) and paired it with limoncello.

After lunch, we walked towards Piazza Navona – a large public square in the heart of Rome. We saw several fountain masterpieces such as the Fountain of the Four Rivers (Italian: Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi), the Fountain of the Moor (Italian: Fontana del Moro) and the Fountain of Neptune (Italian: Fontana del Nettuno). We also saw the Church of Sant’Agnese in Agone in the public square.

We dropped by Cremi Gelateria Artigianale and got gelato for dessert. After spending a few minutes in Piazza Navona, we passed by Piazza Venezia and saw the Victor Emmanuel II National Monument (Italian: Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele II). We continued our walk back to The RomeHello and joined the evening carbonara cooking class.

Day 3 Part 1 – Trastevere Food Tour

Our 3^rd day in Rome was as hectic as our 2^nd day. We started our day with The RomeHello’s €7 buffet breakfast. After this, we took a FreeNow ride to Tiber Island (Italian: Isola Tiberina) for our tour’s meeting place.

We joined Free Rome Food Tour’s tip-based Trastevere Food Tour. Trastevere is an old but beautiful neighborhood found on the opposite bank of the river Tiber. Centuries ago, this area, characterized by narrow streets, cobblestone pavements and ancient houses, used to be the place where the working classes lived. At present, it is now a neighborhood famous for its cafes, wine bars, restaurants and craft shops.

We met our guide and tour group in front of The Basilica of St. Bartholomew (Italian: Basilica di San Bartolomeo all’Isola) and started the walking food tour at 11:00 am. We were told to prepare at least €10 each for all the food and snacks we will have during the tour.

Allow me to share the places we visited and the local delicacies we tried.

Biscottificio Artigiano Innocenti – This is a family-run patisserie that sells sweet bread, cookies, tarts and pastries. Signora Stefania and her family bakes these treats daily in their large oven. We bought some cookies and tried them during the tour.

Supplì Roma – Supplì Roma is a fast-food shop that cooks traditional Italian dishes daily. They are famous for their pastas, pizzas and more importantly their supplì. Supplì is an Italian fried snack ball made of a rice and tomato sauce wrapped in egg and breadcrumbs. We tried the classic and cheese-flavored supplì.

Antica Caciara Trasteverina – It is a family-run cheese shop that sells locally-produced cheese and deli. They are also famous for selling locally-produced pecorino cheese. We tried their pecorino cheese and ended up buying at 100 grams of it.

Giselda Forno – We had our tour lunch break at Giselda Forno. We had pizza and pasta (I only had pasta) in this local café / bakery.

La Norcineria di Lacozzilli – After lunch, we headed to another cheese and deli shop named La Norcineria di Lacozzilli. We tried their porchetta – an Italian savory pork roast.

Bar San Calisto – Our food tour finished at this local bar. Bar San Calisto serves a must-try when in Trastevere – red wine gelato.

After the food tour, my friend and I went to Vatican City for something I will share in the next Rome blog post. This sums up our first few days around Rome. We have not been to a lot of places yet but we made sure that we enjoyed every single moment we have in every place.

This sums up our first 3.5 days around the beautiful city of Rome. Have you been to the city? If yes, which one is your favorite landmark and why? Share your answers and experiences in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about Rome or anything mentioned above? You may also send them to me via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for joining me in today’s first blog post about Rome. Please stay tuned for parts 2 and 3. In case you missed it, I already shared details about our visit to Paris and Versailles in France; I hope you can also check them out.

Before you go, if you want to be updated on the latest travel itineraries, hostel posts and flight reports, please like and follow my Facebook page. You may also follow me on Instagram. Again, thank you and see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Hostel of the Day: THE ROMEHELLO – Affordable, Hospitable & High-Rated Accommodation That Felt Like Home

After few months ago, my friends and I flew to Europe for a 3.5-week vacation. We visited 3 countries – France, Italy and Spain. Accommodation in Europe is expensive compared to here in Asia so we decided to stay in hostels throughout the trip. We explored Rome for 6 days and 5 nights and stayed with The RomeHello. Join me in today’s hostel of the day feature as I show you this affordable, hospitable and high-rated hostel in the heart of Rome, Italy.

The Romehello

The RomeHello is an affordable and high-rated hostel found in the center of Rome in Italy. The large hostel is located within a 6-storey building a few minutes away from Roma Termini. It has spacious communal areas in the ground floor and private and dormitory rooms found from the ground floor up to 5^th floor.

As of writing, the hostel has ratings ranging from 9.3 to 9.6 from over 17,000 reviews in Agoda, Booking.com, Hostelworld and Expedia. The hostel staff and management deserve all the praises and good reviews they received from these sites. Let us know more about the hostel, its facilities and amenities below in the write up below.

Location & Access

The RomeHello is located at Via Torino 45 in Rome, Italy. It is 150 meters by foot from Repubblica-Teatro dell’Opera Station in the Metro Line A. It is 750 meters away or 7-10 minutes by foot from Roma Termini Station.

The hostel has a central location and is near famous Roman landmarks. It is 10 minutes away by foot to the Trevi Fountain, 15 minutes by foot to The Spanish Steps, Colosseum and Piazza Venezia and 20 to 25 minute-walk to the Pantheon and Piazza Navona. It is also near cafés, restaurants, shops and even supermarkets.

Rome–Fiumicino International Airport (FCO) is 30 kilometers away and can be reached either by bus, taxi or the 35-minute Leonardo Express from Roma Termini. Rome’s other airport, Rome–Ciampino International Airport (CIA), is 15 kilometers away and can be reached either by taxi or shuttle buses from Roma Termini.

Room Options

The RomeHello is a hostel for all; it has both private and dormitory rooms. Guests who want privacy throughout their visit can stay in the private rooms while those traveling on a tight budget can choose to stay in the dormitory rooms.

The hostel’s private room configurations are as follows: double room, quadruple room, twin room, twin bunk bed room and triple room. All these private rooms feature ensuite bathrooms, mini fridge with water bottles, televisions, towels and toiletries, small tables and chairs, USB sockets in the bedside tables and cabinets.

The dormitory rooms are arranged in the following configurations: 3-bed mixed dormitory room, 4-bed mixed dormitory room, 8-bed mixed dormitory room, 10-bed mixed dormitory room and 3-bed female-only dormitory room. All dormitory beds feature bed covers, duvet, pillows, individual lamps, electrical and USB sockets, lockers under the beds and personal shelves. All dormitory rooms have in-room showers and toilets. Towels and toiletries are not included in these shared rooms.

My friend and I booked our stay with Agoda and got a bed in a 4-bed mixed dormitory room. We paid €89.26 each for 5 nights – €17.85 per night. My bank charged me ₱5,468.12 (including 1.85% foreign currency conversion fee) for this 5-night stay – roughly ₱1,094 per night.

We were assigned 1 single bed each in one of the ground floor 4-bed mixed dormitory rooms. The room had a bunk bed and 2 single beds. The room was spacious, clean and near the communal lounge and laundry room.

Guest Facilities & Amenities

The RomeHello has one of the longest lists of guest facilities and amenities in all my hostel of the day features. Check out the long list below:

Free Wi-Fi Access – All hostel guests have access to a free wi-fi connection available throughout the property.

Free Drink Coupon Upon Check-In – The hostel gives their guests a free drink coupon upon check-in. This coupon can be redeemed at The Barrel Bar & Grill by Tyler anytime during the stay.

Buffet Breakfast at The Barrel Bar & Grill by Tyler – Hostel guests can avail of a buffet breakfast at The Barrel Bar & Grill by Tyler from 8:00am to 10:30am for only €7 per person. Guests enjoy a selection of eggs, bacon, sausages, fresh fruits, cold cuts, cheese and cereals. They also enjoy a variety of drinks – coffee, tea, fruit juices and water – included in the buffet rate.

In-House Bar & Restaurant – The Barrel Bar & Grill by Tyler is the hostel’s in-house bar and restaurant. It is open from lunch until late night to cater to both guests and non-guests. Hostel guests get 10% off when they dine at The Barrel by showing their hostel access card.

In-Room Shower & Toilet – Dormitory and private rooms at The RomeHello feature in-room shower and toilet facilities. The showers are equipped with heating systems.

Air Conditioning & Heating Systems – All rooms are have air conditioning and heating systems which can be used depending on season.

Communal Lounge Area – The hostel has a spacious communal lounge area where guests can spend their idle time watching the television or talking to co-travelers. It is also the perfect place to meet and make friends with the other guests.

Shared Kitchen & Dining Area – The RomeHello has a shared kitchen for those who want to cook their own meals during their stay. They also have a dining area where people can have their meals.

Communal Shower & Toilet – The hostel has a communal shower and toilet that is open to all guests. Even guests who already checked out can still take a shower before they leave for their next destination.

Spacious Inner Courtyard – The property has a spacious inner courtyard where events are held. It is also a place where people can relax for some fresh air.

Games Area – The hostel has a ping pong table in the inner courtyard and a table football in the lounge area which guests can play with. They also have boardgames which can be borrowed and played with other people.

Snack & Drink Vending Machines – Fancy a snack or drink? You can get some in the vending machines located inside the shared kitchen or near the lockers.

Daily Hostel Activities – The hostel hosts daily activities which guests can join. It ranges from movie nights, community dinners to game nights, karaoke nights and drinking games. Do not forget to check-out the weekly activity calendar near the elevator during your stay.

Hostel Tours & Experiences – Aside from the daily activities, the hostel also hosts tours and experiences which guests can enjoy. Pasta and pizza cooking classes are held every Monday and Tuesday for €8 per person per class. They also conduct tip-based walking tours on specific days of the week. Make sure to check with reception if you are keen on joining these activities.

Luggage Storage – Guests who arrive before the check-in hours and guests who need to leave their bags after check-out can have their stuff stored at the luggage room at no extra cost. Please approach reception if you want to use the luggage room before check-in or after check-out.

Locker Rentals – Guests who cannot leave their valuables in the luggage room can rent the lockers in the communal lounge area for safe storage.

Luggage Weighing Scale – The hostel has a luggage weighing scale which guests can use for only €1.

Self-service Coin Laundry – The RomeHello has a self-service coin laundry at the ground floor. The laundry service is easy to use. These machines are mostly used during night time and are best used in the morning.

Hair Dryer & Ironing Facilities – All rooms are equipped with hair dryers. Guests who need to iron clothes can use the ironing facilities found inside the laundry room.

Computer Access – There are 2 computers in the communal lounge area which guests can use to plan their itineraries, book their next flights and accommodations.

Printing Access – Guests who need to print documents can have them printed by reception. Please reach out to them for the updated printing rates.

24-Hour Reception – The RomeHello’s reception is open 24 hours every day of the week. Check-in starts at 2:00pm while check-out is until 11:00am.

Multi-Lingual Staff – The hostel’s staff speak many languages – Italian, English, Filipino and a few more. Guests who do not speak Italian or English can still communicate with and ask questions to the staff at any time.

Daily Housekeeping – The hostel housekeeping checks and cleans the rooms and toilets daily. They make sure that the hostel facilities and rooms are kept clean and tidy.

Secured Room Access – The rooms can be accessed using a randomly-generated lock code that is assigned individually per guest.

Secured Hostel Premises – The hostel is equipped with 24/7 video surveillance system that makes sure that no outsiders go inside the guest-only premises. Also, all guests need to go past reception when they want to enter the hostel.

Lift Access – Guests who have large luggage do not need to worry about bringing them up to the higher floors. They can use the lift to go up to and down from their rooms.

Hostel Experience

I had an awesome stay at The RomeHello. I enjoyed every bit from check-in to check-out; I could have extended if my itinerary allowed me to do so.

The hostel ticked all the boxes for me but has specifically excelled in the following. First, their rates were affordable. The hostel provided more than what guests pay for per night. They had one of the best value rates within the city. Second, the hostel’s location was perfect for my itinerary. It was near Repubblica Station of Metro Line A; it was also near Roma Termini. The popular Rome spots were all 10-25 minutes away by foot. The hostel was also located in a small quiet laneway, excluded from all the city noise.

Third, the €7 breakfast buffet at The Barrel was exceptional. The buffet had a good spread of eggs, bread, cold cuts, sausages, bacon, cheese, fresh fruits and drinks. Fourth, the property had a long list of activities, tours and experiences that enhanced the guest’s hostel experience. I joined the pasta cooking class for €8; I knew how to cook the ‘real’ carbonara at the same time also met people from all over the world.

Fifth, the hostel managed to keep its cleanliness throughout the day despite all the activities and guests coming in and out every day. Lastly, The RomeHello’s staff were the friendliest and most hospitable ones I have dealt with during this trip. I met a few Filipino hostel staff and was instantly treated like their close friends. At some point, it felt home. The stay felt like I am in the Philippines because of them. Shoutout to the ate’s and kuya’s of The RomeHello – thank you for making my stay a memorable one!

On the other side of the line, I cannot think of anything which the hostel can or needs to improve on. If there is one thing I can comment on, it is the long list of activities they have. I did not have enough time to join all of them during my stay. I need to go back to The RomeHello to just join all the activities.

Will I recommend The RomeHello? YES! It is an easy 15 over 10 for me. In my opinion, The RomeHello is an epitome of a perfect hostel. The hostel has affordable rates, clean rooms and communal areas, friendly and hospitable staff, a central location, fun activities, tours and experiences to join and a traveler-friendly atmosphere. What more can you ask for? No need to think twice, book with The Romehello for your trip to Rome.

Do you have questions about The RomeHello? Feel free to reach out to them on the following platforms:

The RomeHello
Address: Via Torino 45 00184, Rome, Italy
Phone Number: +39 06 9686 0070
E-mail address: ciao@theromehello.com
Website: www.theromehello.com
Faceook: www.facebook.com/theromehello
Instagram: www.instagram.com/theromehello

Have you stayed with The RomeHello in the past? Care to share your hostel experience in the comments section below? Do you have any questions about the hostel or my experience? Feel free comment down below. You may also send these questions via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thanks for joining me in today’s Hostel of the Day feature. Please also take time to check out my previous HOTD features by clicking this. You’ll find my other hostel reviews about Le Village Montmartre in Paris, The Bed KLCC in Kuala Lumpur & Z Hostel here in the Philippines. Before you go, can you visit my social media pages –Facebook & Instagram – and like or follow them? Thank you & see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

PARIS MUSEUM PASS Review – Is It Worth It?

Paris Museum Pass – I have repeatedly mentioned this pass in my Paris (Days 1-2 and Days 3-5) and Versailles blog posts. My friend and I availed of and used this pass to enter different museums and monuments during our trip to Paris and Versailles last November 2022. Today, I will share with you my thoughts about this pass and whether it is worth it.

Paris Museum Pass

Paris Museum Pass is a tourist pass that gives access to over 50 museums, chateaux and monuments located in Paris and in the Paris Region. It allows access to famous sites such as Arc de Triomphe, Musée d’Orsay, Musée du Louvre, Panthéon, Sainte-Chapelle and Château de Versailles et de Trianon.

This pass allows the pass holder to visit as many museums, chateaux and monuments as possible (found in this list: Paris, Paris Region) for a specific cost and under a specific timeframe. The pass only allows single entry per site during its validity.

Cost & Validity

My friend and I bought our 48-hour pass for €52 each last November 2022. Prices have changed since then. As of April 2023, the Paris Museum Pass now costs €55 for the 2-day / 48-hour pass, €70 for the 4-day / 96-hour pass and €85 for the 6-day / 144-hour pass.

As per the website, museum pass savings / value is unlocked from the 4^th visit for the 48-hour pass, from the 5^th visit for the 96-hour pass and from the 6^th visit for the 144-hour pass. Please also take note that the count / validity starts from the time of the 1^st visit.

Please note that most museums and sites are free of charge for non-EU national visitors up to 18 years old and up to 26 years old for nationals of the European Union.

Where To Buy

Interested visitors can avail of the Paris Museum Pass in 2 ways – online and on site. Those who want to save time and paper can buy their Paris Museum Pass from the website. Those interested can choose from French, English, Spanish, Italian and German and will receive the pass in the chosen language. The museum pass will be sent via e-mail; it can be presented via mobile phone in the checkpoints.

Panthéon can be accessed using this pass.

Those who want to have a physical copy of the museum pass can buy the paper ticket from the Tourist Information Points found in major airports (CDG and ORY), train stations and even in major museums / sites. We bought our pass at CDG Airport Terminal 2F’s Tourist Information Point.

The Paris Museum Pass, once purchased, cannot be returned, exchanged, or refunded.

Advantages

Now that we know more about the Paris Museum Pass, let us look at the advantages of having this pass during your visit to Paris.

Fixed cost for all major museums and sites – The Paris Museum Pass already includes all the entry fees of the sites and museums listed in the website. Pass holders do not need to shell out additional euros to enter these sites.

Two must-see in Musée du Louvre. You can see both using your Paris Museum Pass.

Perfect for visitors with limited time in Paris – The pass provides visitors the chance to cover as many museums, sites and chateaux as possible during their limited time in the city.

Hassle-free and separate entry in selected sites – Pass holders need not to worry about long queues. Most of the sites have a special line for Paris Museum Pass holders. These special lines are often not crowded and provide immediate entry to the museum.

Special Line for Paris Museum Pass Holders

Great value for money – The Paris Museum Pass provides a great value for money for those who are visiting Paris in a well-planned itinerary. You can visit up to 5 sites in a day provided you have allotted ample time for all these places.

Disadvantages

The Paris Museum Pass also has some disadvantages. Let us discuss some of them below.

Some sites require reservations / timed-entry – Major museums and sites require timed-entry reservations which is almost like buying entry tickets for these sites.

Not ideal for long visits – The Paris Museum Pass is not for those who plan to stay longer in every museum / site or in Paris in general. This pass is not for you if you are the type of traveler who wants to explore in a calm and relaxing pace.

It does not cover all Paris landmarks – The pass does not cover other Paris Landmarks such as The Eiffel Tower, Opéra Garnier and The Paris Catacombs. You need to pay extra to enter these landmarks.

Pass is not for everyone – The Paris Museum Pass is not valid for those visiting below 18 years old for non-EU nationals and below 26 years old for EU nationals. It may also be not for backpackers or those who are travelling on a budget because it comes with a hefty price. There could also be other passes like the Paris Pass which suits your travelling style.

Tips to Maximize Paris Museum Pass

I want to share with you some tips on how you can maximize your Paris Museum Pass.

Check museum / site opening hours – Some museums and sites have extended operating hours a day every week. For example, Musée du Louvre is open until 9:45pm every Friday compared to the usual 6:00pm closing time on a normal day. On the other hand, Musée d’Orsay extends its opening hours to 9:45pm every Thursday, from the usual 6:00pm on other days. If you have the 48-hour pass and you started it on a Thursday morning, you can visit Musée d’Orsay on Thursday night, Musée du Louvre on Friday night and make time for other museums and sites during the day.

Be aware of museum / site closures – The museums and sites usually have 1 day in a week when they are closed. Musée du Louvre is closed every Tuesday, Musée d’Orsay and Château de Versailles et de Trianon are closed every Monday. Some of them are also closed during Christmas, New Year and other special holidays.

Château de Versailles is can also be accessed using the Paris Museum Pass.

Know which museums and sites require timed-entry reservations – Some museums and sites require Paris Museum Pass holders to book and reserve their visits. These schedules make the pass holder’s visit faster and secured. Sites that require reservations include Château de Versailles et de Trianon, Saint-Chapelle and Musée du Louvre. Please note that pass holders do not need to pay in reserving their slots / schedules.

Saint-Chapelle is included in the Paris Museum Pass

Plan your itinerary well – Maximize the cost of the Paris Museum Pass by planning your itinerary well. Avoid redeeming the pass during days when some museums are closed; also take advantage of longer museum hours.

Verdict: Is It Worth It?

It is time to answer the most important question. Is the Paris Museum Pass worth it? For the sake of this post, I will make a stand and answer it with a Conditional Yes. It is not an easy ‘yes’ but a conditional one where you will be only be in Paris for a limited time / period and you have a well-planned itinerary to maximize it.

My friend and I planned our itinerary well and used the 48-hour Paris Museum Pass in the following attractions: Saint-Chappelle (€11,50), Musée du Louvre (€17), Musée d’Orsay (€16), Château de Versailles and Trianon Estate (€21,50) and Panthéon (€11,50). We had plans of going up the Arc de Triomphe but we opted to skip it last-minute and met with our friends instead. We only paid €52 each (that time) for the pass and used it in 6 museums and sites that cost €77,50 in total if availed individually. On top of it, we saved tons of time by not queuing in all these attractions.

The Paris Museum Pass is not a cheap investment when visiting Paris but it is something that can be maximized during the availed timeframe. The key to maximizing the pass is knowing which places you want to visit and planning your itinerary well.

What do you think of the Paris Museum Pass? Is it something that caters to you as a traveler? Share your thoughts in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about the pass? Apart from posting it below, you may also send it via e-mail contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Don’t forget to check out my previous posts about Paris – N9 Friends in Europe: PARIS – 5 Days Around the Postcard-Perfect French Capital [Days 1 & 2], N9 Friends in Europe: PARIS – 5 Days Around the Postcard-Perfect French Capital [Days 3, 4 & 5], N9 Friends in Europe: CHÂTEAU DE VERSAILLES Day Trip Photoblog & Hostel of the Day: LE VILLAGE MONTMARTRE BY HIPHOPHOSTELS – Authentic & Affordable Parisian Property in the Artist District.

Thank you for joining me in today’s review. Please watch out for more Europe posts in the coming weeks. Before you go, I hope you can visit, like and follow my social media pages –Facebook & Instagram – and like or follow them? It means a lot, cheers. See you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.