This site should give you some good info Rita

...

http://www.italiantourism.com/

hello rita,you will love rome,it's a beautiful city,i was there in 2008 on tour,in fact i had 3weeks in europe and visited many cities there then on to the uk to visit family,

if i were you i would book a tour this end,the best of a tour is they tell you the full history,something you don't get going on your own of the places you visit

good luck to your daughter on her upcoming marriage i hope they both will be very happy,

enjoy,

Hi Rita, in answer to your main question. With any form of international travel, it is almost always a lot cheaper to book in Australia, whether it be tours, car hire, rail or accommodation. You will love Rome, but if you like real thrills, see if you can get a local to drive you somewhere. Italian drivers are stark raving mad!!!! I think they all have a middle name of Fangio or Moss.

Hello Rita



Three years ago my husband and I travelled around Europe/UK for a year, mostly on our own - coach, train, ferry etc. We found that, for short visits to a city/country, organised local tours are best, as otherwise you can lose a lot of time just finding your way around. These tours vary from two hours to several days.



We used www.viator.com several times. This site tells you which tours are available in the place you are visiting, and when. You pay for the tours online, but you MUST print your ticket/voucher. I made the mistake of leaving the printing until we arrived in Prague, and we missed a two-hour tour on our first morning because by the time I found an internet cafe with computers & printers that worked, the tour had already left.



We arrived in some places and found that the tours were completely booked out for the following few days, even in the off-season, and then I wished I had booked in advance.



Congratulations on your marriage, and bon voyage!



Irene.

I agree with all others that it is much cheaper to book here than in country. Have a look at www.lastminute.com.au Scroll to Italy and then see what they have, this site saves you up to 70 percent no matter where you are, on flights,hotels,tours,travel etc.

Buon giorno Rita! You are going to a beautiful country but having toured and visited with relatives, I would suggest that you book tours from Australia and make sure they are English speaking tour guides, otherwise understanding where and what you are viewing is nigh on impossible unless you speak Italian. I booked a tour leaving Rome via northern Italy to Austria (magnificent country) and was so disappointed as the driver and tour Director only spoke Italian. Without family who then had to translate it would have been a complete disaster. My relatives found this so annoying also as they were wasting precious time having to listen and translate. I think I completely ticked them off also because of this. Have a fantastic holiday and enjoy!!

Regards

Janet Newton Qld Australia

hi rita

My sister runs a B&B;and tour if needed in Sipicciano 1 hour by train out of Rome between Florence and rome by train. very off the tourist track and very beautiful this is her web site

hppt://web.tiscali.it/homestayitaly

or go to the Bebo . com site and look for patricia Martin Smith or email

pmartinsmith@romeinternationalschool.it