STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Vanessa · Kate Spade

Rome/Edinburgh....

lindsayp · Kenneth Cole

I was in both places a few years ago! Honestly, in Rome, for food go off hte beaten track. I don't ahve any specific recommendations, but just wander down a random alley and walk into the first place that looks good. That's how you find the best food! Also, in Rome, for lodging, believe it or not staying at a convent is the cheapest! You have an 11pm curfew at some of them, but they're the cheapest/cleanes/cheapest you'll find anywhere. My boyfriend and I did that, and we're not religious in any way. They made us feel totally comfortable, and breakfast was included. Hope that helps some, I'm blanking on everything else for Edinbrugh.

Ritz · Dooney & Bourke

ahh rome! i love it....

i can't recommend where to stay, b/c our hotel was a nightmare with lost reservations and no heat in february, but i agree with lindsayp... you will get great food at little restaurants that look like nothing special. however, if you don't mind being touristy, we had an amazing meal at the restaurant right across from the pantheon... we sat outside at a covered table and there was literally a hail storm but no one was phased at all and there was a guy playing the guitar and we were eating gnocchi and drinking wine... oh what a wonderful night:) also, get pizza at one of the little stands - we had it by the colliseum (sp?) it is so good!

as for shopping, it is amazing.. there is a little store near the trevi fountain that i cannot remember the name of at all.. but it had amazing missoni scarves, as well as other brands, but was not open on weekends i believe. i ended up buying a beautiful missoni scarf at another store off the main shopping street that sold mens ties... so don't forget to look in stores like that!

i believe edinburgh is on the pound, and if this is so, buy more in rome than there, b/c the euro is weaker...

also, at night, if it is nice out, everyone goes to campo de fiore and eats, drinks, etc. it poured while we were there so i didn't get to go but it is supposed to be a blast!

HAVE SO MUCH FUN!

Cricket · Gucci

Oh, I LOVE Roma. Roma e una citta bella. I would stay near the Pantheon/ Piazza Navona and walk to most of the major attractions and then just cab it to Vatican City. I think that in Rome, the location should be the deciding factor. It's more important to be in a good neighborhood than to have fancy amenities. When I was 8 months pregnant, we stayed at Hotel Navona, and saw everything we wanted to see... on foot. I was pretty pooped, but our hotel being in the location that it was MADE our trip. Sure, we paid an arm and a leg for a utilitarian room, but I'd do it again.

The best designer shopping is on Via Condotti and the streets surrounding it. Right off the Spanish Steps. Heaven.

Have fun!

Escrime · Kate Spade

It's been so long since I have been to Rome, that I can't help.

But I LOVE Edinburgh.

Let me see if I can remember the good places to eat:

We liked The Witchery: http://www.thewitchery.com/ very atmospheric and had a great dessert list.

For tea which is more adventuresome, try Plaisir du Chocolat. http://www.plaisirduchocolat.com/ They had over 100 types of tea (a HUGE menu) and the desserts were yummy

http://www.thedomeedinburgh.com/ has a cool atmosphere and surroundings (it used to be a bank)

Other good places we went:

http://www.atriumrestaurant.co.uk/

http://www.cosmo-restaurant.co.uk/

Edinburgh has great shopping.

H&M (which is a treat if you don't have it where you live)

http://www.harveynichols.com/output/Page1.asp

Jenners (big department store)

The main shopping is on Princes Street, with touristy kind of shops on the Royal Mile.