Rome City Guide for Travelers

Rome is certainly known for the Vatican, but outside of that, this city is filled with rich history, beautiful architecture and a multitude of museums and monuments. Rome wasn’t built in a day and you can’t expect to see it all in a short amount of time either. In a four day time span, you may be able to see the major attractions, but you still wouldn’t have time to really soak in the splendor and culture that Rome has to offer.

Dining in Rome shouldn’t be a chore. A plethora of dining establishments line the streets and are on every corner. Most are superb and even the house wine is tasty. The restaurants serve up tasty yet simple dishes including pasta, pizza, veal chicken and seafood. Most waiters speak English, and are more than hospitable. Since there are so many delicious eatery’s, choosing may be difficult. Simply choose what landscape you want to view while dining, after all, there is little difference in the quality or food or service.

You will be seeing many sights during your stay in Rome, and your boutique or luxury hotel room may become lonely and the maid a little bored. To get from one attraction to another, it is recommended that you get the tourist tickets called BIT or CIS which are good for unlimited rides. The BIT is good for three days and the CIS is valid for one week.

Rome is rich in attractions, and there are far more than what can be mentioned in a city guide, but for now we will list the main attractions. This will give you more than a week’s worth of must do’s, and by the end you will need that luxury Roman hotel! Many of the attractions have sights from within such as the Roman Colesseum. Here you will find The Roman Arch, The Arch of Constantine and the Colosseum and Gladiators. At the Roman Pantheon you will find Pantheon’s Pronaos. St. Peter’s Basilica boasts The Vatican, The Colonnades, The Pope’s Windows, The Fountains and Museums. As if you aren’t already amazed enough, a visit to the various squares and fountains will amaze you further. Here you will see the Trevi Fountain, Piazza Novana, The Fountain of the Four Rivers, Piazza del Popolo and the Spanish Steps. The Roman Forum holds the Arch of Septimius Severus and the Temple of Antoninus and faustina. The Campidoglio offers the Capitol, Santa Maria in Aracoeli, Piazza Venezia, Vittoriano and The Trajan’s Column. The Castel St. Angelo offers six sights including the Bridge of Castel St. Angelo and is absolutely breathtaking. The Aventine will leave you in awe with the Mouth of Truth, Circus Maximus, The Temple of Portunus, the Knights of Malta, Giardino degli Aranci, Isola Tiberina and The Temple of Hercules. Hadrian’s Villa offers The Canopus and the Maritime Theater. At the Roman Roads you will get to savor the Ancient Via Appia and the Roadside Tombs. For more lovely fountains, go to Tivoli Villa d’Este where you will find the Hundred Fountains and the Fountains of Ovato. The Ancient Ostia contains the Roman Theatre, Capitolium Temple, Tepidarium, Frigidarium and Caupona di Alexander. One of the most famous attractions are the Baths of Caracalla. At the Villa Borghese you will find the Temple of Diana and Galleria Borghese and lastly the Trastevere is an absolute must see.

It was difficult enough to just name the major attractions in a paragraph, imagine running all over the city to see them in person, snapping pictures, learning about the history and browsing the once in a lifetime scenes. Since the list is so extensive and Rome has such a robust culture, diverse architecture and extensive history, it is recommended that you research some of the above main attractions to narrow your itinerary. While some cities may appeal to different genre’s of tourists, Rome will please any type of visitor. Old, young, American, Asian, male or female…there is something here for you. At the end of the week, you may want to take a day to enjoy your luxury or boutique hotel, take a hot bath and soak up the softness of your plush bed and amenities; your body will need it and thank you.

Bangkok Trave, City Guide, Vacations

Bangkok is arguably one of the most robust cities in all of Asia, and is certainly diverse. This city of style has sparking malls just outside of the historic homes more than 200 years old. There is a plethora of malls, boutiques, shops, attractions and museums, making this city a top destination for people of all nations.

The city is broken down into fifty precincts. This city has expanded over the recent years to connect what was once a spotty mix of small cities to a connected and metropolitan mecca. This expansion has led to the development of some of the finest modern architecture and the plushest of all luxury and boutique hotels being erected around the city. You can stay waterside, in the city next to a green and environmentally friendly park or in the historic district. Either way, your stay in Bangkok is sure to be one of the most beautiful vacations you have ever taken.

While most city guides will talk about museums, history and architecture, here in Bangkok, there is so much diversity that we have chosen to show you the unique pleasures this robust city has to offer. The Abhisek Dusit Throne Hall is a royal building like no other. King Chulalongkorn, who was the first Thai Monarch to visit Europe, commissioned the Throne Hall which has in interesting East meets West approach. With it’s western interior and Thai exterior, this is a must see attraction.

The Ancient Cloth Museum is an interesting find and fit’s well in a city that is well known for it’s shopping district and boutique hotels. This museum isn’t like the same mundane museums found in other towns. Here, you can browse around a well-annotated collection of royal cloth and other fine fashion collections of historic precedence. Another fascinating museum like none that you will find elsewhere is the Bangkok Doll Factory & Museum. The antique dolls in national costumes and the onsite factory-made dolls will carry you through Thai tradition. This unique museum will compliment the personalities of the boutique and luxury hotel lovers. The last museum to make the list is the Bangkokian Museum. This museum has three main wooden houses which portrays Bangkok’s history to perfection. The first house was constructed in 1937 as a home for the Surawadee family and the quarters situated to the right as added as a boarding house to cover rising costs. The last of the three buildings was built in 1929 as a surgery hall for a British doctor. This is a definite must see and will give you a vast understanding of a modern city’s history in one fell swoop.

The Baiyoke Ii Tower is one of the most architecturally attractive tower’s and certainly the tallest, making Bangkok rise with a beautiful sky-scape. This 88-story building flaunts some of the most innovative advertising in the city. The attraction here is the 77th floor observation deck where the views are impressive. It is suggested that you try the rooftop bars rather than the ones on the observation deck.

The democracy monument holds a special place for Bangkok’s political history. It was built to commemorate the nation’s transition from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy in 1932. Today, the monument serves as a rallying ground for pro-democracy groups. It is also the site of the 1992 tragic demonstrations that turned bloody at the hands of the military. A beautiful monument with some dramatic historical events makes this a must see. You will appreciate the luxury hotels that Bangkok has today after learning about the culture of the past.

The Benjakiti Park as the latest addition to the green-scape that the Thai culture is completely embracing in the 21st century. This beautiful 130-rai park encompasses a large lake where a former Tobacco Monopoly stood. This natural beauty is behind the Queen Sirikit Convention Centre and celebrated the queen’s sixth cycle or 72nd birthday.

This city is diverse, offering any traveler a completely unique experience. Bangkok has risen to a city that is compared to Washington, DC., Beijing China and even New York with it’s diverse culture, modern architecture, and exciting nightlife. The parks, museums, restaurants, monuments, history and shops will leave you in awe. Come experience a truly fascinating vacation where luxury meets humbleness, modernity meets history and tradition meets innovation.