First trip to Rome and we have reservations to stay at a hotel across from the Palace Broghese on Via Fontanella Borghese. This is the last street before the pedestrian-only area and appears to be only a block or so from Via del Corso which I understand is full of traffic noise. Will we have a problem sleeping here?

I've always had a problem sleeping in Rome, at least for the first night or two until the whine of Vespas has become part of my biological vocabulary.If you are a light sleeper, certainly consider the hotel location carefully and try, at minimum, to get a room in the interior,if that's possible, rather than streetside.

"until the whine of Vespas has become part of my biological vocabulary." <BR> <BR>What a great line, StCirq! Reminds me of a phrase I just read in Rick Steves' Rome book: "exhaust-stained" tourists. <BR> <BR>I'm heading to Rome with my girlfriend at the end of March for 11 days, first time for both of us. She's already put me on notice that if she doesn't get a relatively good night's sleep, she'll be cranky enough to take on the Vatican guards.

Ear plugs! <BR> <BR>I plan to bring some with me. You can still hear (say if someone is yelling "fire"), but dulls outside noise.

Do ear plugs really work at night? I've used them on airplanes (to absolutely no avail - it's hopeless; I MUST stay awake in the event that I'm the only passenger who notices the KLM 747 bearing down on us from the right), but I can't imagine they would stay in place for a whole night - of course, I've been told I play soccer in my sleep.

Our first two nights in Paris a few years ago were in a hotel room on the Rue Bonaparte, a fairly busy arterial street. The windows were fairly thick and we had earplugs but we still heard road noise, so I'm going to Rome (allegedy the "noisiest city in Europe) with some trepidation, but maybe, since my expectations are not great regarding the noise, it might end up being better than I fear.

Any suggestions on where we should stay to avoid vespas and still be in a good location?

I remember one night in Parma two years ago -- we were on a side street, but we finely gave up around 5am and left the hotel to continue our journey. <BR> <BR>Stayed this week at the Aberdeen Hotel in Rome on the Via Firenze, which is a convenient location. We had an inside courtyard room and heard no Vespas, even with the windows open. <BR> <BR>Doug

There are centrally located and quiet hotels in Rome. <BR>There's a pleasant 3 star hotel on Rasella street called "Julia". <BR>It's half way between Piazza Barberina <BR>(foot of Via veneto) and the Trevi fountain. Here's the URL of the hotel: <BR>http://www.rome4u.com/hotels/julia/ <BR>index.html

I'll second the Hotel Julia idea, we were never woken by noise. <BR>Good luck Eileen

Hello Eileen, I never travel anywhere without a "white noise" machine. It masks unwanted noise with a nice fan(wave,rain) sound.....can not sleep without one. Bought a new one a Brookstones(about 30$) after my old one's demise. And yes Rome is extremely noisey....have a few galsses of wine...that helps too! ;-) Judy <BR>NB. StCirq.....I look out for the 777BA <BR>that no one sees too!!! I don't know how anyone else can sleep!!!! <BR>

Eileen, <BR>I am a light sleeper and often have trouble with hotel and street noises. On my last trip to Rome, I found a small hotel called Teatro Di Pompeo. The location is perfect. It is 3 blocks east of the Campo dei Fiori on a quiet square and only a few minute walk to the Piazza Navona. I asked for a room facing the back of the hotel -no view but quiet. It's a small hotel with many amenities including air conditioning (important in the summer), TV etc and was recommended by Karen Brown Guide Books. I thought it was a real "find" and I would definitely return again. Telephone number (06) 68300170 and fax (06) 68805531. Cost for a room and breakfast around 210,000 lire several years ago. Have fun.

A little research via Google reveals the Teatro di Pompeo rate for a double to be 385K or 350K lire, depending upon which web site you access. <BR> <BR>Regarding the use of earplugs. I'd never leave home without them! Be sure you buy the foam variety--I use a brand named Ear Noise Filters. Using these has allowed me to sleep through many noisy nights both at home (snoring husband) and abroad (church bells every quarter hour, Vespas). They don't completely block the noise, but make it seem farther away. <BR> <BR>Buon viaggio

We found a small hotel just off Via del Tritone, a few blocks from the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, just down the hill from the Barberini metro stop. It's HOtel delle REgioni. Our room, #2, was completely quiet. I have a reservation there for next week--330,000 lire for a double with bath. In 1999 it was 280,000 for the same room with an extra bed for my son. The quiet is so essential to me that I think it is worth the price. Their phone is 39.06.483675; fax 39.06.4883300. The hotel is actually on Via Zucchelli, but they use Via del Tritoni 94.

Hi Eileen, <BR>It is REALLY noisy in some areas...you sort of have to grin and bear it. I second the earplug recommendations, buy a couple kinds...you want the softest possible, and try them before you leave to make sure you have the right brand for you. Whatever you do, don't stay in the Campo Dei Fiori! Glad to read this posting though, because I was wondering if the Teatro De Pompeo would be quieter than the Hotel Campo Dei Fiori, and someone replying to your message said it is! Good luck.

The best earplugs are German brand OHROPAX wax earplugs (wachskugeln). We first bought them in Rome after our first noisey night (blasted mopeds). I stock up each time I go to Europe. I have never been able to find a comperable kind in the states. They will stay in your ears and block out the noise. I can't stand the foam ones.

Thanks, Leo, for the earplug advice. I found a website for OHROPAX. I guess I won't worry so much about the hotel location now.