Change in fortune: Even cheaper Rome accommodations needed
 

I have gotten great advice from Bob the Nav and others, but I need to refocus a bit. My wife and I are putting together a two-week trip to Italy in June/July. First stop is ROME. I have fine options in the 150-175 E per night range.
Any suggestions in the 75-125 E range? Two people, en suite bathroom needed, breakfast not essential. Would really like it walkable to major sites. Probably air con d.
Trying to make this trip work by saving wherever we can. Thanks once again.

my sister and I stayed in this apt at Campo di Fiore and loved it.

https://www.romesweethome.it/apartme...nt.asp?lang=it

Have you looked at www.tripadvisor.com and/or www.venere.com? Both sites have reviews.

Try www.hotelscombined.com .

Also, various convents mentioned on this board may fit the bill. For example, Fraterna Domus.

You will probably want to use public transit at some point, even if you are staying dead center.

I've recommended the Bee Hive to friends and received no complaints yet, but FYI no air conditioning...

http://www.the-beehive.com/english.html

How many nights do you need in Rome? Most apartments have a minimum number of days (usually at least three, but sometimes more in the higher seasons - June/early July).

There are several convents in the historic center with AC, private bath and breakfast. One of the most convenient is Fraterna Domus which is near Piazza Navona. Rates for a double are around 80-85€ per night. I don't know if that includes breakfast. They do have 11 pm curfew.
E-mail address: [email protected]

Another convent within walking distance of sites is Santa Francesca Romano a Ponte Rotto. It also has AC, private bath. I don't think they have a curfew.
http://www.sfromana.it/

Not quite as convenient, but just a short walk from the forum is Domus Nova Bethlem. The English version of their website doesn't work so you must use the Italian. I don't think they have a curfew.
http://www.domusnovabethlem.it/index.html

There are at least 100 other convents in the historic center of Rome, but most don't have AC.

A B&B may be your best chance at an A/C place with a low rate. Try the Eurocheapo site.

Try the Domus Julia/ Hotel Julia. It should be in your lower price range. On a small side-street, so not really noisy. Very clean and nice.

My daughter and I had a lovely twin room in the Domus Julia. It included breakfast in the pretty room at the Hotel Julia, next door. It's near the Spanish Steps, and we walked regularly to the Trevi, the Pantheon, etc.

I don't know when/how their rates change, but Arco del Lauro's low-end prices might suit you. I believe it has A/C and is recommended frequently on this board. Send an email and see what they say.

http://www.arcodellauro.it/index.php?lang=en

If your time in Rome is longer, check out the apartments from realrome.com. Although I think A/C might be hard to find.

Good luck!

kybourbon has given you really good advice. Apart from being inexpensive the convents are really clean. Sure they are basic, but it's a huge $ saving. You don't have to be Roman Catholic to make a booking. In fact we thought the nuns had a very non-christian reaction when we arrived back at our convent sopping wet after being caught in a storm and we squelched down their immaculate corridors!! Just kidding, they were great and very helpful despite not speaking much English. You should give it a go.

I would rather stay in a convent than a grotty hotel for the same $.

I highly recommend the b&b Arco del lauro, in the Trastevere. This is a charming very small place. THe owner and her assistant really make a big difference because they are really helpful people. Is like staying with friends. The location is good. And the price also. Breakfast is included but served around the corner in a nice cafe facing a piazza.
www.arcodellauro.it/ They can also send you a good car, inexpensive, to pick you up at the airport. From Termini a taxi is aprox 15 euro.

Pensione Barrett is 5e over your budget I think, but I still recommend you check them out. They have air con and a fantastic location.

We stayed in this apt for 5 days in December. It more than met our needs. It is just outside Trastevere but only a 20 minute tram ride from the city center and very convenient. I would highly recommend it. You can see the photos and my review at
http://www.romanreference.com/appart....php?refid=330

Kybourbon

Have you or do you know anyone else who has actually stayed at Santa Francesca Romano a Ponte Rotto? They are quoting 123 E for a double.

S.Guiliana Falconieri convent does not have A/C but it is about 85E per night-and it couldn't be closer to Piazza Navona. Only a few rooms have en suite but the other facilities are numerous and very clean. Breakfast is bread and coffee.

I have not stayed at this particular convent, but have stayed at others. There are two hundred convents (100 in the historic center) in Rome that offer rooms, but as I mentioned earlier, most don't have AC. There are more with AC a bit less convenient such as behind the Vatican and other locations further from the center.

Some convents are more hotel than convent such as the pricey Palazzo Cardinal Cessi where a single will run about 250€( http://www.palazzocesi.it/hotel-cesi-roma/en/ ) while others are very bare bones for as cheap as 12€. Many will have bars and restaurants. Santa Francesco seems to be the hotel type as they have conference rooms and accept credit cards. Bare bones convents are cash only.

I don't believe the S.Guiliana Falconieri has private bath nor does it have AC which is very important in Rome for the time you will be there. If you are interested in it, I can check tonight as I have several books on convents at home that list amenities.

For locations and amenities, Monastery Stays website is helpful (not a complete listing of all convents though), but they are a reseller and mark-up the prices (usually a mark-up of at least 10-15€ per night for a single). I notice for S F Romana they list a double at 153€. It's best/cheapest to book directly with the convent. SF Romana is LAR148 on the map. You can click on it for pictures/amenities.
http://www.monasterystays.com/index....AR126&loc=Rome

Many convents will have reviews on Trip Advisor.

S.Giuliana Falconieri has two double rooms and two quad rooms with bathrooms-the rest of the rooms share-there is no A/C.

Linda,

Having trouble getting a hold of S.Giuliana Falconieri . You have and email address?

It is: [email protected]

Another convent list is here:
http://www.santasusanna.org/comingToRome/convents.html

Fairoaksjim, you can also telephone the convent. They have an English-speaking (American-born) nun there.