sandralist

Whatever other people's preferences for hotels, the traveler indicated a desire to spend 7 nights in Rome, and that is not normally considered a "short stay." Also, apartments can be booked online these days just like a hotel, using credit cards. Try RomeLoft or Booking.com, or AirBnb.

As a frequent traveler to Rome who stays in both hotels and apartments, I can assure everybody that there hundreds of safe, comfortable, air-conditioned choices for centrally located hotels and b&bs and apartments within the traveler's price point. Paris? Don't know and the traveler is not going to Paris.

Be aware that convent stays are not everybody's comfort zone either, especially since many have curfews.

nwtraveler

For budget accommodations (B&B/Apartments) in Rome, check out www.cross-pollinate.com. I haven't booked through them, but some of the places they have listed look nice.

Whether you use Rick Steves or someone else, a travel consultant might be a good way to help you finalize your trip. I viewed the RS website and the consultants have done a lot of traveling.

nytraveler

I would strongly avoid paying a travel agent for anything unless they either work for free or guarantee that they can get you better deals IN YOU RPRICE RANGE. Many work on commissions from hotels - which means they are places with prices high enough the can give a cut to the agent. This is probably at least 2.5 or 3 times what you want to pay.

And if you want to discuss anything with a consultant make sure that they have been to the same places several times at least (you would be amazed at those who have been to europe once or twice and think they are experts).

If it were me and I was a first time traveler I would prefer to stay in a B&B or modest hotel so there is someone at the front desk to provide personal advice.

(We never stay in apartments since we want amenities they don't provide: concierge, room service, a nice bar etc. To get more space than the typical fairly small room we always get a junior suite or more. But then our price point is different. A smallish room isn;t that big a deal for a solo traveler.

sandralist

I wonder why people who never stay in apartments give advice about it, or people who are never solo travelers tell others that a small room won't make a difference to them for a week.

ElendilPickle

We stayed in this Airbnb apartment in Rome. It's close to the Colosseum and worked well for us for three nights.
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1112762

Lee Ann

ElendilPickle

I forgot to mention that you might want to take a look at EuroCheapo for help with lodging and seeing Europe inexpensively.
http://www.eurocheapo.com/

Lee Ann

ginanoelle10

Oh my gosh, soo exciting for all this information and just got home from work!!!

sandralist-------train website awesome, hadn't seen it yet.I do have these certain areas like Austria/Poland have to go-I will keep with those plans regardless too.......is Mad Kind Ludwigs castles not that gorgeous........as a kid I thought all 3 would be wonderful to see----as everyone agrees........to each their own....off the wall question---are the "typical" beds in Europe different"--not rooms but beds??? I have decided to up the lodging to 175.00 a night and try to be centrally located, I think I could figure that outI am up for convent ( except curfew) to B&B, small hotel-------as long as I can have breakfast somewhere within an hour of waking up-LOL--don't need coffee just food!!

I am going to copy/paste all this advice into Word and have a travel "book" of my own to compare to libraries, buying books and social media, as long as no one is bothered by that?

I truly appreciate all the advice and will be back soon with lots more questions. Thank you for your patience.

bvlenci

I stay in both apartments and in hotels. The times I stay in an apartment, it's usually because I'm traveling with a larger family group, or because of a longer stay. I would consider 7 days borderline. Any longer than that and I'd almost certainly want an apartment.

In general, there are many thing I <b> don't </b> like about apartments. You have to be very careful in choosing one, and it's difficult to find unbiased reviews. Rome is especially problematic because so many of the apartments are rented illegally to students in the winter and to tourists in the summer. Some of them have been carved out of spaces not intended for human habitation and are clearly unsafe. I've stayed in unsafe apartments in Rome and am now much more cautious than I usdd to be.

You also have to organize many details of the stay that are taken for granted at a hotel, like paying the balance in cash on arrival. Many apartments still require this, and I don't like carrying that amount of cash. Unless there's an agent onsite, you usually have to make an appointment to meet the agent, and confirm it by phone from the airport or train station. You really need a phone that works locally, for this, and also in case of emergencies, since there is no desk clerk to help you.

Also, I just like having someone else make my bed and clean the bathroom.

Lately, for Rome, I use www.booking.com to find both apartments and hotel rooms. I assume they try to avoid listing unscrupulous owners. Another hint for booking.com is that you can specify yourdestination as "Rome city centre " to mkae sure you're not shown places out in the boondocks.This works in other cities as well.

suze

No one is bothered by you using a combination of this forum, other forums, guidebooks, etc. That's how it's done (haha) for the best experience.

kja

Yes, by ALL means use other sources of information! I am a particular fan of guidebooks, which provide information that novice travelers don't even no to ask -- like typical beds in Europe often ARE different than beds to which those in the U.S. are accustomed (e.g., a "double" is often literally two twins pushed together).

ginanoelle10

Tweaking my trip, and hopefully last time.

Geographically I researched all my destination are hundreds of miles apart so, many trains.

Poland-Krakow 4 nights
Austria-Vienna/Salzburg-10 nights
Italy-Novara(family)/Rome-10 nights

I thought maybe Venice and leave to go home from Naples but that would have to be tweaked from other destinations? Venice and Naples sound interesting but may long time travelers say for my first time, do as much as I WANT, not what others suggest. That is rather hard since I haven't been before, and all my destination say they are between 200-350 miles apart?? LOL

What I want to see generally, but also relax:

4 nights Poland= Auschwitz-recover from jet lag and the experience

10 nights Austria=churches, fortresses,palaces, gardens, Melk Abbey, Sound of Music

10 nights Rome=oh boy, soo much will narrow down as I go--

Whathello

didn't read it all.

Krakow : besides being a fascinating city, it is a very cheap one.
I indulged myself into 4* hotels (and they were real good) and it cost me 10 €/night.
I rented an apartment right on the main place (forgot the name) ... 50 €/night (small apt, but quite nice, with kitchnette... called Venetian house -found it on Hotels.com or booking.com).

Muenchen is not that cheap but it is still Germany.
I slept in a not so bad, not so good hotel for 109 € - close to Hauptbanhof, and I made the reservation 1-2 days before, nearly no choice left. Had a quite good meal in a brauerei that served asian food, paid 30 e max when I would have paid 50 for the same in Paris.

Black forest will be cheaper.

Rome is quite expensive - we had a bof hotel and paid too much.

Austria - last time I went to Austria (Salzburg) I was 13 - don't remember to be honest.

Have a great trip.

ginanoelle10

Whathello--THANKS so much

The Venetian looks perfect and I don't think I will look any further-right on the square too!!!! MANY thanks!!!!