marvelousmouse

I may be in Rome on Christmas this year, and I've read that much of the transit is shut down on the holidays so it is a good idea to stay central. I'm looking at hostels but I can not figure out what would be central enough. Please help?


This is currently my top pick:
Via Gaeta n. 70
00185 Rome,
Italy
http://hostellarome.com

But I am of course open to other ideas!

emilya4

That one is near the train station (Termini), which is where probably 80% of the hostels are. It's a good central spot. I would imagine the subway lines would still be running, but I was able to walk to all the major sites from there just fine. You can also check the map and ratings on a hostel guide like Hostelz (and use it to find the lowest price), but that one is probably a good choice if you're ok with it being female only.

marvelousmouse

Emilya4- thanks! Glad to know it's walkable. I knew it was near Termini, but I've seen both good reviews and bad reviews of that location (the area in general) on all of the hostel websites. Did you feel safe walking around by yourself at night? Any tips in general for Rome? I haven't been to Europe before, and I'm a little intimidated in terms of planning.

And yes, I'm ok with it being female only- I usually stay in female dorms at hostels anyway. I tend to gravitate to the quieter hostels

PalenQ

I always stay in the Termini area - and have never seen any problems not seen anywhere in Rome - I never felt unsafe at any time of day or night. Rome has the usual street crime -mainly pickpockets or scams like someone brings up a petition to sign or something written and while discussing it their accomplice may be rifling your backpack, etc. But these are all around Rome (not rampant but I've avoided many folks coming up to me with petitions,etc) and the train station area is just as safe as any district - it may get lampooned because it is a hotel and hostel ghetto and is not very appealing from an aesthetics point of view.

I'm not a female but have seen no problems for them - again in Italy there is always a problem with unwanted attention from young juvenile-acting Italian gigolos - whistles and catcalls though this seems to be declining as Italy gets more civilized (Starbucks is coming this year to Italy!)

marvelousmouse

Lol...I saw an article on Starbucks coming to Italy and my reaction was...you mean there was still one bastion of civilization that did not have Starbucks? I would have gone earlier had I know that!

Thanks though, I was wondering if it was more of an aesthetics issue as that is something that people often leave negative (inaccurate) reviews of hostels in cities I've visited.

Fra_Diavolo

I would characterize the area as seedy, not dangerous. You'll see hookers, etc. There are also a number of A-List sights in the neighborhood: the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, the National Roman Museum, the Baths of Diocletian and Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri, the Santa Maria della Vittoria with its over-the-top Bernini of the Ecstasy of St Theresa and quite a few more. Don't hesitate.

bvlenci

I often stay in the Termini area, and consider it perfectly safe. I'm a woman, but I don't stay out until the wee hours.

Transportation shuts down early on Christmas Eve, and the metro has limited service on Christmas Day. Buses run all day on Christmas, but on a limited schedule. I would stay near wherever you want to spend Christmas Eve, because that's the only time transportation really shuts down.

There's another women-only hostel in a very nice part of Trastevere:

http://www.foresteriaorsa.altervista...esteria_uk.htm

This is an easy walk from Piazza Navona and other parts of the centro storico. It's also not terribly far from the Vatican.

marvelousmouse

That other hostel looks wonderful! Thanks very much

uncfan

I second the Trastevere hostel. My favorite neighborhood in my favorite city. Stay near the Termini if you want quick, cheap and easy (nothing wrong with that). Stay in Trastevere if you want something special.

I've never used public transporation in Rome....just never needed it on three trips. Trastevere has wonderful bars and restaurants. You are directly across the Tiber from the Jewish Quarter. It's VERY easy walking distance from there to the Pantheon, Trevio Fountain and over to the Colosseum. You will need to taxi from Trastevere to the Vatican area, the Spanish Steps and the Borghese. You'll need a bus to get down to the Catacombs (

You should try to reserve tickets for the Christmas Mass at St Peter's. I saw John Paul deliver an Easter Mass years ago. Very cool. And be aware that you can purchase tickets online (Vatican Museum, Colosseum, etc.) instead of having to wait in lines. Recommended.

http://www.papalaudience.org/papal-mass

I feel safe in Rome, but PalenQ is correct about the petty crime. I was pick pocketed there as a college student (Spanish Steps by a group of gypsy kids holding up a piece of cardboard to distract me while friends lifted my wallet). But that was 1986....and I think they've done a great job cleaning up that stuff on my recent two trips. Just be smart....leave behind an emergency credit card. Carry around a photocopy of your passport instead of the actual passport. Avoid isolation after hours. Don't advertise your "Americanness."

An amazing place....

marvelousmouse

St. Peter's is the plan! Hopefully. I haven't hear the new Pope speak- I was lucky enough to attend a Mass by John Paul at Toronto world youth celebration.

I'm very glad I posted this- trastevere sounds like my kind of neighborhood. Now I just need a similar place in Paris and Munich

Had a question about the passport thing. I've seen that recommendation a lot. Do places accept the paper as Id? I mean, I'm assuming they don't ID for alcohol like here but I'm thinking of credit card purchases. Also, do places generally take visa or is it more cash based? I've seen a lot of "cash only" notices on hostel websites which is new to me- I generally only carry cash for street food and parking meters.

uncfan

My last stays in Trastevere were closer to Santa Maria (near the Tiber River)....ground zero for Trastevere. You should also try to look for places near there. I just checked the Orsa Maggiore location. A bit further north but still close enough to access the neighborhood. Most of the restaurants and bars will start just south of John Cabot University.

uncfan

Ugghh....I hate that you can't edit your comments. I meant "Santa Maria (near Tiber Island)....ground zero for Trastevere"

bvlenci

If you want to see and hear the Pope, you should attend one of the masses where he celebrates, which don't happen every Sunday. Usually he celebrates at a private mass in one of the Vatican chapels.

I posted a link on your other thread explaining how to get tickets for papal events.

uncfan

I had no problem using my Visa card(s). Also, I was able to use my Visa debit card to withdraw cash from ATM's (called bancomats in Italy)...in local currency. Very easy. Just double check the networks listed on the back of your card to see if they are available in Europe. The photocopy thing is just a safety measure. The last thing you want to do on a foreign vacation is lose your passport. Pretty much the only time you'll have to present a passport over there is when you go through airports or upon check in at hotels.