Trip enhanced with InfoRoma

In ITN’s book on Italy I came across InfoRoma, experts on Rome. It was such a wonderful find that I’m writing to recommend this resource to readers, myself.

Margaret Coffin of InfoRoma (Via Peltechian 42, 00173 Rome, Italy; phone/fax +39 06 72900141, e-mail questions@inforoma.it or visit www.inforoma@inforoma.it) provides itineraries, maps, recommendations and in-depth site information to visitors to Rome. Thank goodness, because as a first-time traveler to this phenomenal city I was overwhelmed by the potential sights and opportunities.

Communicating initially by e-mail, Margaret sent a detailed questionnaire to be filled out and then was able to respond to my interests, refining the itinerary as we went along and finally providing four days of well-thought-out sightseeing and activities.

This itinerary was sent to me in booklet form, with detailed travel information and explanations of the sites. For example, for Ostia Antica we were given details as to what to look for that was noteworthy plus explanations of the things we would see. Same with the baths of Caracalla.

Included were detailed instructions for bus and train travel, which can be complicated. On our October ’03 trip, we used local transportation and her fabulous maps and did not get lost once. Margaret’s restaurant picks also were fine and representative.

For this personalized trip planning, we paid $145. (If I recall, it’s $90 for three days, with additional charges thereafter.)

All this was accomplished with only three weeks’ notice. It would have been better if there was more time for the back and forth. Basically, Margaret will respond with whatever is needed or requested. She even followed up with a phone call to me at our hotel in Rome. This is a wonderful service to travelers.

SUE ROSENBLUM
New York, NY