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Travel Tip Tuesday : Alitalia Bus Service To Rome’s City Center

© Alitalia

Up to this point, the three most popular transportation options to Rome’s city center from the main Leonardo DaVinci Fiumicino Airport have been:

• the standard taxi ride, that will run you upward of €50 one way.
• the ‘Leonardo Express’ train that brings you to Rome’s Termini Station for about €14 each way.
• a Cotral Bus, which will also bring you to Rome’s Termini or Tiburtina Station for about €4.50 each way

However, Alitalia has introduced their own new bus service for getting to the center of Rome.

The only catch is that you need to be flying into Rome on an Alitalia flight in order to use it.

If you are flying on Alitalia, you can ride their brand new fleet of buses that will take you to one of several different drop off points throughout Rome, for only €7 each way.  The buses will drop of at:

• Rome Ostiense Station
• Rome Termini Station
• Rome Via delle Fornaci/San Pietro
• Rome San Giovanni in Laterano

Really not a bad deal. And if you notice, other than the taxi, most other options will bring you to Rome’s Termini Station, which may not be convenient or close to where you are staying.  With so many drop off locations, chances are you’ll find a stop on the Alitalia Bus line that is more conveniently located to your hotel.

To book your ticket or find out more information, visit the Alitalia Bus Service website.

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Would you fly Alitalia just to be able to ride the bus to Rome? And if you did fly Alitalia, would you buy a ticket on the Alitalia Bus?

I’m Off to Puglia

I am very excited to report that in just a few days I will be traveling to Puglia!  I’ve never been to this region of southern Italy, the heel of the boot to be exact, so it will be fun getting to explore a new area – an area completely different from the other parts of Italy that I have visited and fallen in love with.

I’ve been as far south as the Amalfi Coast, and have sung many praises about Positano and Ravello – but I’ve never been to the heel of the boot.

If all goes well, I’ll be adding Puglia, also known as Apulia, to the areas that I create custom itineraries, itinerary reviews, provide hourly consults and arrange foodie adventures for.  I’ll also be canvasing the area for yummy cooking classes, wine tastings, market tours and local guides.

What am I most exited about? Why am I looking forward to going?  I’m glad you asked. Let me tell you:

1. Puglia’s food, olive oil and wine. The Puglia region is known as a food-lover’s paradise.  This area produces over 26 DOC  wines, 40% of Italy’s olive oil and hefty amounts of pasta.  Those are promising statistics for a passionate foodie like me. Red wines like Negroamaro and Primitivo will be on my list to sample.  Also on offer will be regional specialties like orecchiette, burrata, focaccia and maybe some fresh local seafood, right off the docks.

I’m drooling just thinking about it – are you?   And though it’s not a look that would blend with the locals, I’m thinking elastic waist pants will be in order.

2.  Puglia is an off-the-beaten-path location. It’s certainly not the first place people think of when planning a visit to Italy – and that gets me really excited.

3. Puglia’s Climate. Because of Puglia’s southern location, the area enjoys a temperate climate year round.  Many of its popular villages, cities and towns are located right on the Adriatic sea, which means beaches, seafood, port towns, azure water, lovely views and of course lots and lots of beautiful photos.

4. Puglia’s UNESCO world heritage sites. At least three of them and I am excited to explore a few of them.

5. The Trulli. Puglia is home to the town of Alberobello, famous for its white limestone houses with conical-shaped roofs, called Trulli - and I’m looking forward to seeing them up close and learning more about them.  The architecture and scenery in this region are all very different from areas like Tuscany.

I’ll have lots to write about when I return, but if you can’t wait for my updates on the blog, feel free to follow along on Twitter and Facebook as I will be sending out updates about my discoveries, what I’m eating and of course lots of photos during my time in Puglia!

Photo Credit : Flickr

Italian Food : Il Buco

One of the things I love most about authentic Italian food is the flavor of the good-quality ingredients and how just using a few you can create flavorful and uncomplicated dishes.

Homemade pasta, with just a few ingredients can make a hearty, delicious and simple meal.  And though it is hard to rival authentic Italian food eaten in Italy, I’ve had good luck finding it at places like Otto, Mercato and Aroma Osteria.

My recent visit to Il Buco proved yet again that you don’t necessarily have to travel to Italy in order to get it.  In fact, dining at Il Buco, you would never know that you are not in Italy.

Il Buco’s history speaks loudly to me – as it’s a combination of  flea market bric-a-brac and the love of Italian products.  The dining room looked as if it was plucked right from a charming rustic trattoria in the middle of the Italian countryside; well-worn wooden tables, exposed beams, racks stacked with wine, copper pots suspended from the tin ceiling and old pottery scattered throughout.  In a word, cozy.

© Il Buco

Since this was a solo visit, I saddled up to the bar and proceeded to chat with both the bartender/server and the manager, who were both happy to chat, delightful and informative.  The wine list is extensive, and there are a good amount of tempting Italian reds and whites by the glass.  This day I chose red.

Delicious country bread was brought to me with a dish of pure, golden olive oil, fresh from Umbria and I decided to try an appetizer of marinated olives with rosemary and lemon zest, which didn’t disappoint.  I was happy to fish out a few niçoise, my favorites.

I was excited to learn that they served half portions of pasta, which worked out perfectly since I was alone, not too hungry and not wanting to schlep leftovers around all day.  I decided on the special – Pappardelle, handmade egg pasta, with pork sugo and rosemary.

The pasta, cooked perfectly to al dente, were delicate, golden ribbons of goodness and the sauce was just right – not too rich and not too overpowering for the pasta.  Pasta shouldn’t be swimming in sauce.

Convinced I was too full for dessert, my server announced that they had homemade gelato and my favorite – nocciola was on offer.  How could I resist? The fig sounded equally interesting, so rather than try to decide, I ordered both!

To avoid the flavors not mixing well in the same bowl, a separate dish of each arrived.  Both were some of the best I’ve tasted.  As I was about to leave, bloated and satisfied, the staff did something downright sinful.  They alerted me to their brand new sister locale, Il Buco Alimentari & Vineria, which had just opened, right around the corner.

Little did they know, they were dealing with a hard-core Italian foodie.  Full-belly and all I managed to skip the whole way over.  It’s a more casual spot to pick up authentic Italian products, grab freshly baked bread (including focaccia by-the-slice), sandwiches, Italian salumi and cheeses and of course more homemade gelato.

There’s also a bar serving espresso and cappuccino manned by very friendly baristas, and a casual restaurant in the back, that was due to open any day.  This location offers many of the same wonderful Italian products and philosophy, with prices that reflect a more relaxed and casual setting.  I was full, but still drooling.

I managed to relax at the bar over a cappuccino and was given a small spoonful of the nectarine gelato, which was just as fruity and creamy as my earlier flavors. I couldn’t resist taking a slab of rosemary and olive oil focaccia to-go, which I enjoyed on the train ride home.

Two great spots to get authentic Italian food in New York City – each with its own unique atmosphere.  One, a more romantic and upscale restaurant and the other, a combination of Italian grocery, cafe and osteria.  Not Italy, but it sure comes close.

Il Buco
47 Bond Street
New York, NY  10012

Il Buco Alimentari & Vineria
53 Great Jones Street
New York, NY  10012

Share my passion for authentic Italian food?  Click here to find out how I can create your next foodie adventure.

Travel Photo Friday : Istanbul’s Blue Mosque

This month’s Travel Photo Friday shot was submitted by Joshua C. Forest.  It’s an evening shot of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul.

Joshua writes this about his photo:

“My hostel was right near the Blue Mosque, so I spent some time wandering around near it at night.  It’s actually right across a big park from the Hagia Sophia.  The sun was just setting as I got this, it’s a bit darker than I would have liked, but I still like the effect!”

I love it too.  Thanks for sharing it Josua!

Join us for the next edition of Travel Photo Friday on December 2nd.

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Have a favorite travel photo you’d like to see featured here?

Send it along with short description to mymelange [at] yahoo. com

Travel Tip Tuesday : Tips for an Off-Season Trip

Most people dream of traveling to France or Italy in high or even shoulder season.  And who can blame them – the weather is lovely, flowers are in bloom, the days are long and the markets are bursting with fresh produce.

Everyone falls in love with the lifestyle and charming atmosphere that is expected with a spring, summer or fall trip.

But there are some benefits to traveling off-season – including lesser crowds and tourists, shorter lines and more time to just linger. Taking a trip during the winter months may also cost less, allowing you to spend more time in your destination.

If you find yourself faced with an opportunity to travel during the winter months, here are five tips for making the most of an off-season trip to Italy or France.

1.  Head South! Southern Italy, Sicily and parts of the French Riviera will likely boast warmer climates in the off-season than say the northern-most counterparts of Paris or Piedmont.  Picking a spot with a more temperate climate will give you the opportunity to travel in the colder weather, without having to deal with freezing temps and blizzard conditions.

2.  Stay in the city. If you can’t head South, another off-season option would be to stick to larger cities, rather than the desolate countryside.  By staying in the city you can avoid driving in unpleasant weather conditions and rely on public transport to get around – or your own two feet.   Many cities, like Venice, will also offer plenty of things to do – regardless of the weather.  While small villages may be charming, there may be a shortage of things to keep you occupied.  Though reading a book in front of a roaring fire in a tiny farmhouse in the middle of nowhere may be exactly what you crave.

3.  Consider a holiday visit. Spending time away from family and friends during the Christmas holidays may not be an option for those with large families, but if you can swing it – it really is a lovely time to visit!  Fun and festive activities abound, nativity scenes will dot the landscapes and there will be Christmas Markets in France and in Italy. Ringing in the New Year abroad will create some special memories as well.

4.  Plan your days accordingly. Shorter days and less sunlight will accompany your off-season visit, so keep this in mind when planning your itinerary.  You’ll likely spend less time outdoors if the weather is chilly or rainy – but that’s the perfect time for museum visits, lingering inside over hearty meals or hunkering down in a cafe for a cup of hot chocolate.  And less daylight means more time spent on taking lovely night photos.

5.  Take full foodie advantage. If you’re a food-lover, make sure you do your research before you go so that you’ll know what produce will be gracing the markets and restaurant menus during your off-season visit.  Indulge in local delicacies which will likely be very different from what you may have eaten on previous visits in the warmer months.

So whether you prefer to plan in advance or you find a great deal for last minute holidays that you just can’t refuse, traveling to Italy or France off-season can definitely be a viable alternative to visiting in peak season, with everyone else.

Thinking about traveling to Italy or France in the off-season?  Click here to see how I can help!