WOMEN ON THEIR WAY by Wyndham Worldwide

Rome is a bustling city to visit. It is a big city like New York or Chicago but have ruins and statues on every corner. There are many little, hidden family owned places to eat and drink until the wee hours in the morning. Best advice is be aware of the local customs such as 'the afternoon siesta', because this can mess up your plans for the day. Traditional siesta are from 1-4pm in the afternoon, which would be consider their lunch time because of this daily celebration many if not most shops, restaurants and sightseeing attraction may be closed. So plan accordingly. Good Shoes is a must for all traveling where there is a lot of sightseeing to be done. Must sees are the Coliseum, the Vatican and make a wish at the Trevi Fountain (fountain of youth).

- Jolene, Wyndham Worldwide

There is no place more beautiful, in my opinion, than Rome. I was there over our US Thanksgiving week and the weather was perfect and the city unbelievable. Between Rome and Florence in Tuscany there is a small, ancient, walled city called Sienna that is breathtaking. I went there on the suggestion of a US newspaper reporter stationed in Rome that I met by chance in a restaurant one evening. He was not wrong - it is not to be missed!

- Susan, RCI

A great way to orient yourself in Rome, don't miss the opportunity to purchase a One-Day Hop-on/Hop-Off Bus ticket to enjoy all the sites of Rome. It's an open topped bus complete with your own headset (tuned into the language of your choice) describing all the major points of interest in Rome central. You can get off the bus at any of their designated stops and stay as long as you like. Pick up another bus, at the same drop off point, and continue on to the next stop.

Before your day pass expires, hop on the last bus and sit back and enjoy the complete city tour one more time---this time, just stay on the bus and relax as you pass by the sites and sounds of Rome! This is especially nice with the city lights.

- Karen, Rancho Vistoso, Wyndham Vacation Ownership

When you visit the Vatican, you must have your shoulders covered to enter the Basilica.

- Karen, Wyndham Worldwide

My husband and I visited Italy for our 25th anniversary. It couldn't have been more perfect. It was late May, the weather was warm but not too hot and it only rained at night.

If you're a first-time visitor to Europe - or Italy in particular, I'd recommend a tour. That way, you can see the sights, eat great food and not spend your time looking for a place to stay or figuring out how to get places. We booked a tour with Trafalgar Tours because we wanted to concentrate on Rome and Tuscany and Trafalgar was one of the few that offered such tours. Unlike Mexico, not many of the locals speak English - even those who deal with tourists so it was nice to have an English-speaking guide. She was full of interesting facts and stories.

In Rome, the absolute MUST is the Vatican - and the Sistine Chapel in particular. You'll want to go as early in the day as possible and by all means, hire a local guide. The local guides have preference and will get you to the front of the line so you don't have to wait most of the day to get inside. Our guide provided headsets which allowed everyone to hear her even across the room - essential, because the Vatican rules require noise to be kept at a minimum inside. The other sights in Rome - the Coliseum, the Parthenon, Trevi Fountain, Piazza Novona, the Spanish steps - all are magnificent and I certainly wouldn't have missed them - but none compared to the Sistine Chapel!

From Rome, we went to Montecatini in Tuscany for the remainder of the tour. Montecatini is known for its hot springs and there are a number of spas in the area. From Montecatini, the tour offered day trips to Sienna, Florence, San Gemignano, Cinqua Terra, Assisi and Pisa. I appreciated this base camp approach. Rather than checking in and out of hotels, packing and unpacking each day, we had more time for touring and enjoying the beauty of Tuscany. There's also a train depot in Montecatini and some of our tour members took additional side trips that way.

Of all the places we visited, Florence was the most captivating. We only had one day there but I could've spent months. If its art and architecture you're after, Florence is the city. Accademia di Belle Arti houses the famous statue of David and some other amazing Michaelangelo works called "The Prisoners" and the Uffizi Gallery is world famous for its masterpieces. Again, a local guide was very helpful. Shopping is everywhere - even on a bridge (Ponte Vechio) over the Arno River.

If I had it to do over again, I'd probably do much of it the same way - only I'd book a villa so I could stay longer - and I'd drink more wine!

- Candy, Wyndham Vacation Ownership

RESEARH, research, research .... P-LAN, plan, plan. Lots of great websites and books will help you not have unrealistic expectations.

If arriving by air - make sure you know the distance from the airport you are arriving to and the city you are trying to get to. Many cities have multiple airports and the cheaper flights often land you further away which can add valuable time and additional expense (cab rides etc.). If driving - get good maps and good luck. Other public transport - trains/buses etc. plan and research in advance.

With limited time (since there can never be enough for Tuscany or Rome) make a list of the "must do" attractions try not to overload ... research the attractions to ensure they will be open (some places may be closed on Mondays or other days of the week) and open hours vary for museums/churches even grocery stores. Keep in mind a lot of stores close for lunch anywhere between 11am-3pm so don't get caught off guard.

Make a plan and get a map - you will be lost without one.

Do not drive into the cities if you can avoid it. If you plan to drive expect to have white knuckles the whole time and take extra underwear - seriously the driving is fast and can be confusing, the parking is limited and if you find a spot expect to pay for it.

Avoid travelling in August or summer months - it's too hot to enjoy the cities and a lot of businesses will be shut in August because Italians go on their summer migration to the beach (vacation 1-4 weeks). A lot of places you can pre-book tickets and skip wait lines to get tickets - truly worth doing to save 1-2 hours in a line (there are better things you can do with that time).

Make time to sit outside and people watch with a cappuccino or eat "Al Fresco".

I have driven from Venice through Tuscany to Rome and there are many things to be aware of:

Do not expect the roads to be well signed when going through Tuscany off the main roads, remember that the beauty of that are includes the fact of lots of "Off the Beaten Path" attractions and roads. I was looking for our accommodations and it took me an additional hour since we took the wrong gravel road. The locals will assist you with directions, however, very few speak English in Tuscany. Many Tuscany villages (not the most well known) have the charm of authentic Italian life, keep in mind often the younger generations move to the cities for work opportunities so the locals are typically the elders that remain in the villages.

Elder Italians rarely learn English nor have any reason to. The younger generations typically learn English at school - so you are more likely to find someone that speaks some (even if broken) English if they are from the younger generation.

Tuscany is filled with hidden treasures ... castles and wineries in places you would not imagine. It's great to attend wine tastings in Tuscany - keep in mind the object is for you to purchase some wine and not just partake in a freebie session. We went as a small group (our family) and we did not do a prearranged tour we ended up with cases of wine and the known "Grappa" (for novices Grappa is like the French Eau de Vie or Kerosene to others). Tuscany is very laid back, beautiful scenery and driving through you will get much visual stimulation of hills and vineyards covering the grounds. Depending what time of year you travel the Tuscan landscape can appear to look like a groomed carpet of greens, yellows, orange, browns and purples.

Florence is the capital of Tuscany. A beautiful town with lots of attractions and it's River Arno that gives it it's individualism.
The Duomo in Florence is very unique and you can get a great view of the city from the top if you chose to climb the approximately 400 steps.
The Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) is worth viewing even if just from a distance.
The Gallerie Degli Uffizi - is the main art gallery/museum and probably the busiest building in the city although it may seem otherwise.
Galleria Dell' Accademia - is worth a visit and houses Michealangelo's David (advance ticket purchase HIGHLY recommended).
Food in general in Italy is typically very rich in flavor and the herbs they use is how they season dishes. Ketchup/Mayonnaise and other widely used toppings are rarely used in Italy other than in the foreign style eateries (McDonald etc.).

Rome is a buzzing city. Most people visiting Italy will attempt to see Rome, of course. Depending on what your interests are there can be an overwhelming amount of things to do and visit. You will need almost 3 days just to get the major attractions visited and appreciated and 5 or more to get a thorough visit done. 1-2 days will have you running between attractions and you will miss out possibly. Some attractions can take a whole day to enjoy and absorb. History galore exposed in every corner.

It's best to start early if you plan to visit the major attractions that you may be interested in and maybe start with the outdoors ones first (Trevi fountain / Spanish Steps) while waiting for the others to open. Top attractions: Colosseum, Sistine Chapel, Vatican Museum, Spainsh Steps, Trevi Fountain and many others depending on your interests.

Have a safe trip.

- Christina, RCI

Rome - great public transportation in Europe, so you never have to rent a car or struggle with traffic (or unfamiliar road signs). #1 don't-miss location is St Peter's in the Vatican, with the Sistine Chapel & more than a day's worth of art on the walls, the floors, & the ceilings! #2 the Roman Coliseum (what a thrill to walk in the steps of Romans from so many centuries ago!) & the Catacombs below. #3 don't miss spot is the Sunday Flea Market (ridiculously wonderful shopping abounds!). Favorite quirky, out-of-the-way attraction: the Capuchin Catacomb of Bones, where monks since the 1500's have donated their skeletons to create the most bizarre & beautiful displays!

- Chystal, Wyndham Worldwide