cares about you: tips & info
They charge around L. 5,000 Ital. Lira (app. 2.5 US$) for 30 minutes. They
are mushrooming all over Rome:
Trastevere area: Via dei Fienaroli 27/8 (tel.065884097 /
065814534). Bus to Piazza Sonnino (for ex. tram 8 from Largo Argentina). Open
11am-midnight Tue-Sun; 5pm-midnight Mon. Credit cards accepted.
Via Nazionale-Termini area: (A) "Centro Turistico
Studentesco (CTS)". Via Genova, 16 (tel. 064679271). Buses to Via Nazionale (for
ex. 64). Open 9am-1pm, 3-7 pm, Mon-Fri; 9am-1pm Sat. No credit cards.
(B) "Internet point". Via Gaeta, 25 Tel. 06478238662.
Buses to Termini (it is near to the Northern part of Piazza dei Cinquecento). E-mail
service, room with satellite aerial TV. English speaking staff. No credit cards.
San Lorenzo area: "Internet Cafè". Via dei Marrucini (a
very short street, you will find it on the left downhill). Bus to San Lorenzo (492 stops
right in front, also 71). Same fares, no credit cards.
Coliseum-Monti area: (A) "Internet Cafè". Via Cavour,
213 (tel. 0647823051). Metro line B, Cavour stop, also buses 27 and 117. E-mail, AOL
Netmail, Hotmail, Yahoo Mail. As low as 2,500 Ital. Lira (app. 1.4 US$) for 15 minutes.
Also scanner/printer, fax, international phone services. A ten hour card will cost you
60,000 Ital. Lira (app. 33 US$).
This shop offers a 10% discount to Roman Homes customers: you must show either a
rental contract or our business card to benefit from it.
(B) "Internet Center ESA.NET- ESAGRAFICA".
Via della Polveriera, 12 (tel. 0647823609 - fax 064885197). Use of PC: 10,000 Ital. Lira
(app. 5.6 US$) per hour, 6,000 Lire (3.3 US$) for 30 minutes. Ten-hour PC card costs
90,000 Ital. Lira (app. 50 US$). E-mail: 2,000 Ital. Lira to send or receive + hourly rate
for use of PC. Card: 15,000 Ital. Lira monthly + hourly rate for use of PC. Printing
service.
(C) "Internet Point". Via del Boschetto, 127 (tel. 0647824741, fax.
0647880210). The fare is 7,000 IL (app. 4 US$) for 1/2 hour, and 10,000 IL for one hour
(app. 5.5 US$). The point has fast ISDN access. Also international calls worldwide.
Pantheon - Piazza Navona area: "The Net Gate", Piazza
Firenze 25. Tel. 066893445. One hour will cost you 10,000 Ital. Lira (app. 5.3
US$). You will be given a "time card", so you will pay only the time you really
use.
We advise against renting a laptop in Rome. Very few shops do it. If you
call them the phone is frequently busy. When you to the shops expect to find many
customers, so you will have to wait. They usually ask a consistent security deposit. The
best one we found is:
OLAM Computers: Via Giovanni Mingazzini 18. Tel. 06
4440077 (when you hear a recorded message, dial 10. Closed of weekends). Ask of Mr.
Teshuba. The laptop will cost you app. 150 US$ weekly. It is completely equipped to hook
to the internet. If you finally manage to speak with them at the phone, they could
possibly deliver it to you at your apartment or hotel. Make sure that they explain to you
the cost of the security deposit, and the way you will be able to leave it (US$ cash,
traveller's cheques etc.).
AUTOEUROPA. Rent everything from convertibles, sports
cars, jeeps, sedans, minivans, motorcycles and mopeds to car transfers with chauffeurs.
Vehicles are delivered and picked up from any address. Open Mon.- Sat 8am-1pm. Via
Calabria, 11. Tel. 0642019014, 0642019028. All credit cards accepted.
HAPPY RENT. Scooter, car and motorbike rent at convenient prices. There
are two offices: one at Piazza di Spagna and the other 100 m. from Termini station. Via
Farini 3, Tel. 064818185. Fax: 064818185. All credit cards accepted.
SCOOT-A-LONG. Bike, scooter and motorcycle rentals near the Roman Forum.
Full insurance included in the price. Open every day 9am - 8pm. Via Cavour, 302. Tel.
066780206.
| SCOOTER CENTER. Scooters for rent by the day, bike
insurance included. Near the Parliament and Via del Corso. One day 80,000 Ital. Lira (app.
50 US$), three days 200,000 Ital. Lira (app. 120 US$). Open daily 9am - 7.30 pm. Via in
Lucina 13/14. Tel. 066876455. All credit cards accepted. |
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Of all the services we tried, we think this is the most efficient and
cost-effective.
"EMEF" of Fanuel Morelli, in Via San Nicola da Tolentino 58,
near Piazza Barberini (trasport: Metro line A there is a stop nearby, and also bus 492,
62). Tel. 064745434 Fax 06744918.
Fares: Daily 15,000 Ital. Lira (6.8 US$), plus the cost of the phone calls you make (cell
phone calls are more expensive than ordinary ones). You will have to leave a security
deposit of 200,000 ITL (app. 180 US$), returned at the end when you reconsign the
telephone.
If you want to call in a very inexpensive way to the USA, this service
enables you to pay 38 cents per minute rate. You should call the company in Italy:
0348-4102404. The company will ask you your credit card number, and they will evaluate and
bill your phone calls at the end. No hidden charges, no sign-up fee, no monthly fee.
Fax: 08185112210. E-mail: pp10013@cybernet.it
Generally all "copisterie" (photocopying shops) have an incoming
and outgoing fax service. Some "tabacchi" (tobacconists) and some
"cartolerie" (stationers) will send and receive faxes, and also have
photocopiers. We will list only a few in different parts of the centre:
Tecnoroma. Corso Vittorio Emanuele, 337a (phone/fax 06 6864354). Bus to
Corso Vittorio Emanuele (64, 62). open 8.30 - 1pm, 3.30-7pm, Mon-Fri. No credit cards.
World Translation Service. Via del Viminale 76/78 (tel. 06 4881039/ 06
4825986; fax 06 4746655. Metro Termini, bus to Via Cavour (for ex. 27).
Open 9am-7pm Mon-Fri. No credit cards.
WTC offers a translation service, cutprice international calls and a remarkably cheap fax
service at around 1,000 Ital. Lira (60 cents) per page, plus the phone units used.
Xeromania. Via San Francesco a Ripa, 109 (tel. 06 5814433 / fax 06
5817506). Tram to Viale Trastevere (for ex. n. 8 from Largo Argentina). Open 9am-1pm,
3.30-7.30pm, Mon-Fri; 9am-1pm Sat. No credit cards.
"Mail Boxes Etc". If you need to rent a mail box, it is next to
impossible in a public post office. In fact they are very cheap and very requested, and so
you have to wait on a list for a long time. You must also provide references, or an
official reason, to the post office managers to have one.
A solution can be "Mail Boxes Etc. ", in Via dei Mille,
38/40 (Tel. 4461945 - Fax 06/4451338). It is very near Termini station. You can rent
a mailbox (of various size) with 24 hours/7 days a week access. The attentive and honest
shop owner, Mr. Romano Alberti, together with his enthusiast team, provides many other
services: fax service (send or receive), overnight documents and packages, professional
packing service, message-receiving, Money Transfer (Western Union), binding, laminating,
business cards and letterhead printing, office supplies, shipping supplies, and as they
say "Etc., Etc., Etc". Even us of Roman Homes use their service when we want to
be sure that things are done well.
The e-mail address of Mr. Romano Alberti is: mbe089@hotmail.com.
Tell him that you were reffered by Roman Homes.
To reserve this phenomenal Museum in the Villa Borghese (Borghese
Gardens), with masterpieces (sculptures and paintings) of the Bernini father and son,
Raphael, Ghirlandaio, Rubens, Pinturicchio etc. etc., you have to reserve, or during most
of the year you will not make it to enter. So to avoid surprises, you can call the reservation
office at: 06 328101 (dial 01139 before from the
USA). A multilingual staff will process your reservation, and you will be able to choose
the language. You will be enabled to choose the day and the time you want to visit. You
will be assigned a code, and with that you must present yourself one hour before the
scheduled time to purchase the tickets, or you will lose your reservation rights.
After 1,950 years the most fabulous residence
of Emperor Nero opened again. It was built after the fire of Rome, and it is probably the
largest and richest residence of all times. We know much about it from the description of
the writers of those days. Despite Nero fell in disgrace and Trajan built his residence on
top, the residence is still a wonder to visit. To avoid surprises, it is better to
reserve. Tel. 199199100 for reservations (dial
01139 before from the USA). Choose the day and time you want to visit depending on the
availability. You will be assigned a code (the first three letters are the first of your
name), and you must present yourself 30 minutes before the scheduled time to purchase the
tickets, or you will lose your rights. The operator will ask you to choose between guided
tours (19,000 Ital. Lira - app. 10 US$, also in English), or without a guide (12,000 Ital.
Lira, app. 6.5 US$). In the latter case there are audiovisuals that you can rent (3,000
IL, app. 1.5 US$). The Domus is open from 9 AM until 8 PM in Summer. For
information, dial 064815576, the automated Italian
voice will prompt you to dial different numbers for the relevant services. Dial n. 1, and
wait for the operator to show up. They speak a simple English.
The Galleria degli Uffizi is the most visited
Italian site, rightfully as it has an unbelievable collection of Renassaince masterpieces.
For the very same reason, it is better to reserve by phone before going there, especially
if you are thinking to make a one day trip to Florence. In fact, while Florence's sites
can be visited in one day (obviously not in depth), if you do not reserve in advance the
Galleria degli Uffizi you are likely to wait in long lines to purchase the tickets
possibly not to find any available. To reserve, call 055294883 (dial 01139 before from the USA, or 0039 from Europe). You can
reserve a day and time you want to visit, and then you must present yourself to the box
office at the time the operator will inform you about.
Box Office. Via Giulio
Cesare, 88 (tel. 06 37351589). Metro Lepanto. Open 3.30-7pm Mon; 10am-7pm Tue-Sat. There
is a branch also in Via del Corso, 506 (tel. 063612682). No credit cards.
They sell tickets for most concerts, theatres and sporting events in Italy. There is a
"Prenoticket" service (0652200342) which allows you to reserve tickets and pay
by credit card. The reservation fee is 12 per cent of the ticket price.
Orbis. Piazza Esquilino, 37
(tel. 06 4827403). Metro Termini/bus to Piazza Esquilino. Open 9.30am-1pm, 4-7,30pm,
Mon-Fri. No credit cards. Also in this established agency you can find tickets, theatres
and sporting events in Italy.
Specialized agencies include:
Secret Walks in Rome. Via Medaglia d'Oro, 127 (tel. 06 39728728).
Anglophone actors and residents lead daily walks around the less well-known sights of
Rome. Membership fee of 3,000 Ital. Lira and walks cost 20,000 It.L. each, with a 20%
discounts for students, while accompanied children under 12 go free.
Scala Reale Archeological Itineraries. Via Varese 52 (tel.: 06-4451477).
Metro/Bus to Termini. Founded by an Tom Rankin, an American and his Italian wife, the
company offers walking tours around the city, as well as trips further afield.
They also have a web site: http://www.scalareale.org.
Tom Rankin is a dedicated professional, and will be able to respond to all your queries
and problems. His e-mail address is: info@scalareale.org
Rom(ing) Tour. Walking tours in English. The tours are: Ancient Rome,
Catholic Rome and on Wednesday for audiences with the Pope. Tel. 06-44461958 - 0649380534
Enjoy Rome. Via Varese, 39 (tel. 06 4451843). Metro/Bus to Termini. Daily
walking and cycle tours for small groups of Rome's major sites. The fare is 30,000 It. L.
(26,000 It. L. for under 26s).
Catholic: Church of Saint Thomas and the
Most Holy Trinity, in Via di Monserrato 45, near Piazza Campo de' Fiori. On
Sunday the service is at 10 a.m.
Anglican: Church of St. Paul with the Wall, in Via Nazionale, and Church
of St. Martin, in Via del Babuino.
Every big hospital in Italy has a 24-hour first-aid service. If you can go
on your own, go to the emergency room (Pronto Soccorso in Italian). If you need an
ambulance, call 118 (Health emergency) and try to speak in simple Italian or very slowly
in English to the operator. Alternatively, call 113 (general emergency). The service
(ambulance, emergency room, medication given locally) are all FREE if you are a EU
citizen. In Europe, unlike in the US, every citizen has the right to benefit from every
effort made from the society to guarantee his/her health, and for free. If you are not a
EU citizen, theoretically you should pay, yet the Italians are generous and hospitable,
particularly for such matters as health, and in general will not make you pay.
Considering the language difficulty, and that in the large majority of cases you will not
need an emergency room, we recommend the following medical services, all with English
speaking personnel and medical doctors.
(1) International Medical Center, via Giovanni Amendola 7. Tel. 064882371.
During night or weekends: 064884051. They have a 24-hour duty (English
spoken). They can send a qualified and dedicated GP to visit you in your apartment or
hotel anywhere in Rome. They charge a modest fee (around 40,000 ITL app. 18 US$ or 12 UKP
or 20.65 Euros). They can possibly contact other specialists, and make them visit you at
your apartment or hotel.
(2) MEDI-CALL, Studio Medico, Via Salaria 300, Palazzina C, interno 5.
Tel. 068840113. It too can arrange for qualified doctors to make a call
to your actual place of residence. The GP will possibly refer you to a specialist if
needed. Fees begin from 100 US$ per visit, and can increase if a specialist or specialized
treatment is required.
(3) Rome American Hospital, Via Emilio Longoni 69. Tel. 0622551,
with MD on duty 24 hours.
(4) Salvator Mundi International Hospital (Viale delle Mura Gianicolense
67. Tel. 06588961. It is privately run clinic, with English-speaking
doctors. It is good if you live in the Janiculum, or Trastevere.
You can also call the U.S. Embassy, tel. 0646741, or your embassy if you are not American.
They will provide a list of doctors who speak English (or your language).
DENTISTS.
There is an Italian 24-hour G. Eastman Dental Hospital, in Viale Regina 287, tel.
06844831. It is usually crowded, so if you can, call your Embassy (number above), who will
give you a list of Enligh-speaking dentists. You may have to call in order to get an
appointment.
A professional baby sitter service
is available for Roman Homes customers. It will cost you 20,000 Ital. Lira per hour (app.
9.5 US$). Please enquire.
You can have at your disposal an interpreter
from English into Italian and viceversa. The service is available only for Roman Homes
customers, and it is being implemented to other languages. The fares vary depending from
the subject. From 25,000 Ital. Lira (14 US$) to 70,000 Ital. Lira (app. 39 US$) per hour
depending on the complexity and competence required on the subject, if specific
preparation is required on the subject etc.
English
language films
Pasquino Cinema in Piazza Sant'Egidio 10
(Trastevere quarter). Tel: 0658333310. There are three halls with different movies. Call
before to know which ones they are playing. Price: 12,000 ITL (app. 5.5 US$ or 3.6 UKP or
6.2 Euros).
Theatre in English
You will find it on Friday nights at the Arte del Teatro
Studio, Via Urbana 107 (Monti quarter). Info: 064885608. A series of one act comedies by
Anton Checkov (including "The proposal", "The bear", "The Evils
of Tobacco") are performed at 8 pm every Friday night at 8 pm, followed at 10 pm by
"Take Ten", a series of 10 minute comedies.
Send your e-mail to  : info@romanhomes.com
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