Advice Required - Girlie 40th Birthday Weekend - Rome Or Amsterdam?

[jobowden]

Hi, I have been left to arrange a weekend away for myself and 4 'old' school firends who will all be celebrating our 40th birthdays next year. We need a weekend destination that we can fly to from Bristol on a Friday afternoon/evening and back on a Sunday evening. Because of flight timings, I now have a shortlist of two! Rome or Amsterdam. Neither myself or my friends have any experience or either destination. Our ideal weekend would consist of good food, good wine, some shopping & some sightseeing (at 40 we are too old for much else:d: :d: !!) Has anyone been to both or either to offer any advice on areas to stay or areas to avoid?

Thanks in advance :wavey:

[truesdpr]

I've been to both and enjoyed both but would put Rome as my first choice particularly for the things you describe. Plenty of sightseeing, good shopping, food and wine. Afraid I can't offer any good advice on places to stay as we were on a tour and stayed a bit outside the city but we did see a lovely small hotel right by the Trevi fountain that wasn't too expensive I seem to remember.

Pam.
:wavey:

[scrump]

Rome is just wonderful :) We went last August and had the best time, we loved the sightseeing and then at nightime, just strolling through the streets, finding gorgeous back street restaurants selling good food, good vino with live music, and then of course indulging in some gelato for afters :D

We stayed in a hotel called Hosianum Palace Roma, which was down a little backstreet near the Piazza Venezia. It was a short stroll to most places, although maybe a little too far to walk to the Vatican (we got a metro there).

Can recommend the Enjoy Rome walking tours, we did the Ancient Rome and the Vatican tours.

Areas to avoid - we didn't like the Termini area (train station) much.

Areas to visit - definitely the Vatican (climb to the top of the dome in St.Peters Basilica!), and the Trastavere area over the Tiber, just lovely :)

[Allan]

I have been to both and I would choose Rome. Great sightseeing and great food/wine. I also found it quite reasonable for a capital city.

[poppy17]

Another vote for Rome here - have been a couple of times and it was lovely.

Havent been to amsterdam but some friends have been and werent too impressed.