A Driving Tour of the Amalfi Coast

National Geographic Traveler has the scoop on driving the scenic roads of the Amalfi Coast. You'll find tips on what stops to make, what routes to take and how to avoid crowds (and the dangerous traffic that comes with them). Here's a couple of tips from me: don't drive the roads at night and make sure your car is small-not like the huge station wagon I drove the last time I was there!

Angels and Demons Walking Tour

Tomorrow is the big day-Angels and Demons opens all over the U.S.! If you are headed to Rome, you can take a walking tour of the major sites. For $74 per person, Viator will take you to the famous and not so famous places mentioned in Dan Brown's book. They will even read some of the passages aloud at a few sites to truly bring the book to life. If a guided tour (that costs money!) is not your idea of chasing down Angels and Demons, talk a walking tour by yourself. MSNBC has created an Angels and Demons 48 Hour Itinerary that you can follow on your own. They even recommend restaurants and shopping, like TAD department store, along the way. Diverti te!

WalksInsideRome.com

Travel and Leisure recently featured a walking tour website that will customize a day of sightseeing and eating in Rome for you. WalksInsideRome.com will take you to the open-air markets, bakeries, pizzerias and wine bars to sample the culinary delights of Rome-and see how the Romans make them. WalksInsideRome has dozens of customizable private and semi-private tours for art and antiquities connoisseurs, fans of opera, Angels and Demons and La Dolce Vita, and special itineraries designed for kids. The tours are not cheap, but take it from me-having a guided tour of Rome is always worth it. You will never regret a penny spent on your own private Rome. If you like the tours of Rome, they also offer guided walks in Venice, Florence, Trieste and Friuli.

Walking Tours of Rome Courtesy of National Geographic

As part of Traveler Magazine's Places of a Lifetime series, National Geographic has designed three detailed and fascinating walks in Rome. The walks are illustrated by maps and accompanied by pertinent information about what you will see and why it is important. The three walks are the Via Appia Antica, the Via Veneto district, and the historic sites in the heart of Rome. The website also includes what to wear in Rome, restaurant, hotel and shopping recommendations, and even books and music to get you started on your trip before you get there.

Italian Hand Gestures Decoded

The Italians are the most expressive people on earth. Not only is their spoken language beautiful, but they can speak an entire language with their hands. If you've ever wondered what all those signs can possibly mean, click here for a funny (and informative) video detailing all you've ever wanted to know about Italian hand gestures. The video was put together by Nada's Italy, a tour company devoted to the authentic experience of Italian language and culture.

12 Ways to Save Money in Rome from Fodor's

Fodors.com has an article on how to save money in Rome based on reader's tips. Some of the suggestions are very practical, such as taking the local train from Fiumicino Airport to the city instead of the Express. The local will drop you off closer to the neighborhood of your hotel and you will avoid the crowds at Termini, Rome's main station. You'll also save 5 Euros-which you can spend on gelato! Other tips are unexpected, like taking a boat trip down the Tiber River to Tiber Island for 1 Euro as a scenic way to get from St. Peter's to the Forum!

Transcripts from Budget Travel's Trip Coach Ann Hanley-Travel Tips for Rome

To find out all sorts of tidbits of travel information for Rome, see transcripts from the live Trip Coach session with Time Out Rome's Ann Hanley on March 4th. Get tips on getting to Rome from the Amalfi Coast, seeing the Pope, pickpockets and renting apartments, to name just a few topics!

Trip Coach available on Budget Travel

On Tuesday, March 4th at 12:00 pm, Anne Hanley, the author of Time Out Rome will be available on Budget Travel for real-time advice on your next trip to Rome.

Just Two Days in Rome? What Not to Miss

Ideally, you should spend at least a week in Rome to even begin to experience it properly. But there is a lot to see in Italy, so it's understandable if you have to run. To be sure that you see everything you must and still have a chance to experience La Dolce Vita (which must never be crammed or rushed) here are some itinerary ideas. Be prepared to walk a lot!
Day 1:
-Start with a visit to St. Peter's and the Vatican. Make sure you make a reservation ahead of time (either by faxing the Museum or arranging a tour guide through a company) to avoid wasting your time in line for the Vatican Museums.
-After your visit, take a leisurely stroll past the Castel San Angelo (a.k.a. Mausoleum of Hadrian) and cross the Tiber via the Ponte San Angelo.
-Continue to the area around Piazza Navona. Stop and have lunch at one of the many (not cheap!) restaurants right on the Piazza, or try the restaurant Cul de Sac, just around the corner at Piazza Pasquino #73. You'll find more wines than you can imagine and delicious small plates.
-After lunch head east toward the Piazza della Rotonda (stop at Santa Maria Novella Profumeria on the way) to visit the Pantheon.
-After you have feasted your eyes upon the wonder that is the Pantheon, head north to Giolitti's for a much-deserved gelato.
-Continue east to Piazza di Spagna. Get distracted by the designer shops along the Via Condotti on your way to climb the Spanish Steps.
-By now your feet will be tired. Head back to your hotel for a nap before dinner or up to the Pincio for some cool breezes and refreshing views.
-For dinner try restaurants near or on Campo dei Fiori. Soak up the evening light. Have another gelato.
Day Two:
-Head to the Roman Forum when it opens to avoid the crowds. The official opening time is 8:30, but if you show up a little earlier, you'll probably get in.
-Purchase your ticket to the Colosseum at the entrance to the Palatine Hill. You'll save tons of time waiting in line.
-Head back through the Forum (or go around the Palatine through the Circus Maximus, which is now a big open field) over to the Capitoline Hill (Campidoglio). Have a coffee to restore yourself.
-Visit the Capitoline Museum. Don't miss the equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius and the amazing view of the Forum.
-Head over to the Jewish Ghetto for lunch. Pass by the Theater of Marcellus on the way.
-If your feet can handle it, walk through the Campo dei Fiori, up to the Piazza della Rotonda, and over to the Piazza Borghese to browse the antique books and prints stalls.
-Have a gelato. you deserve it.
-Before dinner (preferably after you have had a chance to rest your feet for an hour or two) visit the Trevi Fountain. It's best seen at night, so don't go out for dinner too early!
-Hop in a cab or take a bus over to Trastevere for dinner. Relax in Piazza Santa Maria and get lost in the winding streets.
-If you are up for it, walk back to your hotel through the historic center. Rome at night is magical.