RomaPolacchi

The Modern Traveler is always looking for on-line travel resources that are interesting, thoughtful and naturally, all about Italy. National Geographic Traveler Magazine has a travel blog called the Intelligent Traveler and it offers all sorts of fun information on sites all over the world-and raises awareness about the planet. You'll find great pictures, unusual stories, and links to useful resources. Some favorite Italian stories: Walking Rome and Turning Water to Wine in Marino .

Delta Airlines is offering a non-stop flight to Rome from JFK for $647.00 November 19-26. Just in time for your Thanksgiving vacation. Maybe instead of turkey at your in-laws this year you should enjoy a nice saltimbocca alla Romana in the Piazza Navona!

Delta Airlines has a nonstop airfare for $720 from JFK to Rome December 11-17. Tablet Hotels is also offering the famous and luxurious Regina Hotel Baglioni on the Via Veneto for 270 Euros a night. With all these savings you can have an amazing honeymoon in Rome...or just a lovely winter trip.

If you are looking for an all-inclusive package to Rome, Virgin Vacations has a really great offer. Starting from $939 from New York for travel in January, the package includes six nights hotel accommodation, round-trip airfare, daily breakfast, and hotel taxes and service fees. Fees increase slightly depending on your departure city, preferred travel times, and hotel standard. There are 20 hotels to choose from (including the Hotel Lord Byron ), 15 US departure cities, and availability between now and the end of March. See Budget Travel for more information or go straight to Virgin's website to book.

A recent search on Delta Airlines found an $853 airfare from San Francisco to Rome leaving Monday, November 10th and returning Thursday, November 20th. That's pretty much the lowest airfare the Modern Traveler has seen from this side of the U.S. to the Eternal City in six months. Act fast!

If you're anything like the Modern Traveler (and my guess is you are) you are always planning your next trip to Rome. A recent search on United found a $615 airfare from JFK to Rome (through Washington DC) for January 14-21 of 2009. It's definitely not too early to start planning a winter trip to Rome. And remember-the crowds will be gone-you'll have the whole place to yourself!

Airfare to Rome drops dramatically in price in September. From New York's JFK you can catch a flight for $735 on Iberian Airlines, leaving on September 10 and returning the 16 th . In October (leaving the 29 th , returning the 12 th of November) the fares are reduced even more to $719 (also on Iberian Airlines ). Autumn is a great time to visit the Eternal City-fewer crowds and glorious weather. The real Romans will have returned from their summer vacations, making your experience even more authentic.

As you may be aware, driving in Italy is not for the faint-hearted. Unless you are going to a villa in Tuscany or to the remote countryside, you should probably avoid cars altogether. You will certainly not want a car in Rome-there is nowhere to park it and you can't even drive in the historic center without a special residential permit. Stick to trains. The Italian government has an extensive website for its train system, Trenitalia . Here you can purchase tickets, find up-to-date schedules (that may or may not correspond to when the trains actually arrive and depart!), and special deals. Currently Trenitalia is focusing on Smart Price , a promotion offering tickets around Europe starting at 15 Euros. Buon Viaggio !

A recent search on Kayak.com produced a $706 airfare from JFK to Rome on British Airways for May 14-21. The flight stops at Heathrow, but maybe you'll get lucky and they'll put you in their new terminal ! Non-stop flights for the same period start at $990. If you have the time, it may be worth it. $290 dollars saved could buy you another night in Rome!

American Airlines is offering all sorts of deals to Europe for travel between March 25, 2008 and May 18. Great fares include Baltimore to Rome for $773, Chicago to Rome for $967, New York Kennedy and La Guardia for $838, Los Angeles to Rome for $1007 and San Francisco to Rome for $1025. Maybe a Spring Break jaunt to the Eternal City is in your future?

Sicily is one of the last places in Italy that is still relatively unexplored. For $2,909 GoAheadTours (see Budget Travel ) is offering airfare from eastern U.S. cities, 12 nights accomodation and sightseeing tours in Palermo, Segesta (pictured), Agrigento, Siracusa, Taormina (the Modern Traveler's favorite) and two days in Rome. Sicily is rich in natural beauty, Greek and Roman ruins, unique culture and amazing food. Stay tuned for the next installment of the Modern Traveler's Guide-to Sicily!

June is the perfect time to go to Rome. The kids are out of school, the crowds haven't arrived yet, and the weather is perfectly warm. But airfare can be expensive. A recent search on Kayak.com turned up a $908 airfare from JFK to Rome on Iberian Airlines (with a stop in Madrid) leaving June 5th and returning June 12th. Not bad for the high season!

If you have some flexibility in your vacation time, now is the time for cheap airfare to Rome. A recent search on kayak.com had airfares from as low as $536 from San Francisco to Rome on United and Lufthansa departing Monday, February 4th. From JFK to Rome the fare was slightly lower, $497. Don't wait until summer when you can't find a ticket for less than $1000!