most convenient area in Rome for single woman

I would personally choose the areas around Piazza Navona or Campo dei Fiori.

I think you will probably feel most comfortable staying somewhere in the area near Piazza Navonna or Piazza della Rotunda (where Pantheon is located). Try a search of the forum for recommendations in that general area of the central city.

I was writing my reply at the same time ast Statia. Campo de Fiori area would also meet your criteria

I stayed here once.
http://www.suorebambinogesu.it/DNB/hotel.html.
Extremely clean and comfortable. Not the high rent district but not bad either. It is a convent walking distance from the train station. There is a map on the website for reference.

Combine the safety and restaurant advantages of the Piazza Navona/Campo de' Fiori area and the economy of a convent stay at Istituto Santa Giuliana Falconieri, just off the Piazza Navona, which was run when I stayed there by a delightful nun from Chicago.

Single rooms only have shared bathrooms (squeaky clean, modern, lots of hot water, no lines). There's an elevator, and the curfew is quite late or may even have been abolished.

If the email address
s.giulianafalconieri@virgilio.it
doesn't work, you can phone +39 06 68803344 or fax +39 06 6871471.

You mention your modest budget - in light of your safety concerns let me urge you to avoid the modestly-priced hotels that cluster around the central "Termini" train station. That area can get a little sketchy after dark.

I love the old city area - Piazza Navona, Campo de Fiori, etc. But many of the hotels in that area are pricy. For reasonable prices in a quieter neighborhood try the area around the Vatican. It is not as popular among tourists but obviously has some great sightseeing opportunities and plenty of small and neat hotels catering to visiting clergy, nuns, and pilgrims.

I agree with the Piazza Navona/Pantheon area, and Zerlina gives a very good suggestion. I stayed at that convent a couple of years ago (I was also alone). Location can't be beat. The curfew was midnight, but they had just hired a guard, so you could be later if you let them know you would be late. I went to the opera one night and knew I wouldn't make it back in time, so I just let them know and it wasn't a problem.

I would strongly disagree with the Vatican area. The only thing near that is the Vatican. Many more restaurants as well around Piazza Navona. Also much prefer that area over anything near Termini.

I just stayed at the Hotel Raphael, (January) right off the Piazza Navona. It is not exactly budget, but the location is so perfect that you should at least check it out. I was able to walk to all attractions except the Borghese, which will save you a little. I also am middle aged and was traveling solo. Have fun!

http://www.raphaelhotelrome.com/eng.html

Cyn

Thank you to all the helpful people with great information. On the basis of your input, I have decided to book at hotel Smeraldo which I believe is right in the area recommended (Piazza Navona/Campo de' Fiori area), and reasonably priced for this area. The convent also sounds good, but one of the luxuries I allow myself in my middle years is a private bathroom, so I gave the convent a miss this time. Your generosity in answering my questions is much appreciated. If anyone ever wants to make the long trek out to Australia, and has questions, I would be happy to reciprocate.

I hope you post a review of the hotel when you get back. There are often questions about reasonably priced/inexpensive hotels for Rome

Have a great trip.

Piazza Navona is central, upscale, and has plenty of sights and restaurants. Hotel Navona, www.hotelnavona.com, has good rates and is between Piazza Navona and the Pantheon. Hotel Raphael, mentioned already, is very nice (some floors were designed by American architect Richard Meiers, others are more traditional), but it's much more expensive. Avoid Campo dei Fiori which in the late evenings is packed with 20-somethings drinking in the square until 2am or so-- does not sound like your scene. The Campo is fun in the morning, though, when the fruit/veg market is in full swing 7am-2pm. If you are a light sleeper, don't take a room near that square. Evening walks are safe, so enjoy the 'hood! Nuns are an option, but often means dorm-ish furniture, drab flourescent lights, and a curfew.

Irenen, I think you'll be happy with Hotel Smeraldo....it really is a great location -- directly across from a wonderful bakery, Roscioli. And very close to the Campo dei Fiori in one direction; Piazza Navona and the Panethon in another direction.

The street is mostly pedestrian and a bit noisy, but all the activity and people around should help you to feel more secure (as a lone female traveler, I like to be in places where there are other people out and about!) And you're just far away from the Campo that you won't get all the wild party noise at night....mind you, in April it won't be too nuts yet.

The hotel is pretty plain and the rooms tiny, but for two nights that probably won't be a big problem. There are lots of really good restaurants around the neighborhood, many quite reasonably priced.

I hope you'll have a wonderful time in Rome.

I'm off topic a bit now, but where are you staying in Florence, and where are you studying? That's something I'd really like to do even if only for a few weeks!

sacc, thanks for the positive comments about Hotel Smeraldo. I am very happy to read your comments about the neighbourhood...it sounds exactly like what I am looking for. When I travel alone, I love to be in a place where there are lots of people, and I certainly don't mind being around tourists, especially since I am one. I never understand when tourists want to enjoy being somewhere, but complain that others may also choose to enjoy similar places. Re Florence, I will be studynig at the Koine School. I chose this one as I had read so many positive comments about it. They arrange homestay accommodation at a very reasonable tariff, so that's what I will be doing. I haven't yet been advised where that will be, but apparently it is always pretty central and close to the school. I can hardly wait. I had my first Italian lesson yesterday, and will be doing a basic course here before I leave.

Hi Irenen, what a great plan! I've been looking at the Koine school in Florence (or its Bologna campus) for a while; I've also read many good things about the school. I have just been too lazy to enroll and devote part of a trip to learning some Italian!.

I have my eye on an apartment in the Oltr'Arno neighborhood of Florence for a visit sometime, it's fairly inexpensive, and maybe this fall I'll finally get it together and also study Italian in Florence.

Have a wonderful trip!

I stayed at the Albergo del Sole al Biscione (Via del Biscione, 76; 39-06-6880-6873; www.solealbiscione.it) and found it to be one of my favorite hotels ever. It is in one of the best locations in Rome, right off the Campo de’ Fiori. The prices were reasonable, the staff is extremely helpful, and the rooms quite large and very comfortable. My single room (which was one of the largest singles I’ve ever had) overlooked a lovely courtyard filled with flowers. But the best thing is the location. I would get up every morning and walk over to the Campo for a morning brioche and cappuccino, then wander around looking at the luscious fruits and vegetables for sale in the open-air market on the square

I was in Rome on my own for a couple days last may before my tour started. My hotel was way out(and there was a taxi strike!) but I found that the hotel shuttle took me to the centre of the city and picked me up. I was able to stroll around and explore knowing that I could get back to my pick up point for the shuttle. I also met others from the hotel on the shuttle and we exchanged tips and had drinks etc. I wasn't crazy about my hotel itself but it was clean and they had great coffee! I would suggest checking out hotel shulttles and services if you book a cheaper hotel out of the main area. I would do it again.

I have to confess...the dinner I had all by myself on the first night in Rome - -sitting in a sidewalk cafe -- was one of the best meals of my life. I loved being on my own -- there is a kind of invisibility that makes you feel so free!

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