The Rick Steve's guide recommends Suore di Santa Elisabetta as a "heavenly Polish-run convent" with a great price, if not what look to be tiny rooms. Has anyone ever stayed there? Did you like it? I'm all over the place in terms of finding a place for me and my mother to stay; B&B? hotel? now this idea of a convent? Any thoughts? Thank you!

Lots of us have stayed in convents, but I don't think Suore di Santa Elisabetta is the best location. I would pick a convent more central as there are some very close to Piazza Navona or closer to the Forum. What time of year are you going and what is your budget? Not all have private baths (many do though). Do you want private bath? Some have curfew, while others don't. Is curfew a problem? If so, how late do you plan to be out?

Kybourbon, Thanks for your feedback. A curfew isn't a problem at all. Suore di Santa Elisabetta has private baths for all its rooms and is within a 2 block area of another Rick Steve's recommended hotel. Our budget would allow for more ~ I'm just trying to get a handle on options. Less money on lodging equals more money for things to do. I've checked out some other b&b type places but some are already full for April 2011! I plan to make a huge effort tomorrow to nail down at least this portion of our trip.

Yeah, Nuns

I would try to book Fraterna Domus over Suore di Elisabetta. Fraterna Domus is a block or so from Piazza Navona. It has private bath and 11pm curfew. A double is 78€.
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Il Rosario is also better located than Suore di Elisabetta (unless you want to be close to the train station). 86€ for a double and 11pm curfew.
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You can find reviews on Trip Advisor.

I've stayed at Santa Sofia (aka Sant'Anna on Piazza Madonna dei Monti, not the Sant Anna on via Giusti)which is a few minutes walk to the Forum (so is Il Rosario). Fraterna Domus and Il Rosario were booked so this was my next choice as I wanted private bath, good location and a later curfew (12 at Santa Sofia). Rooms are clean, but breakfast wasn't much - juice, rolls, butter,jams, cheese (packaged spread),tea and the coffee was instant. There is a fruit stand on the piazza and lots of places to get real coffee nearby. Doubles are 80€. Ask for an inner room or upper level as I've heard rooms on the piazza can be noisy as there are restaurants that are open late (I had an inner room). They have just made a website.
http://sites.google.com/site/suoredisantanna/Home

If you want really cheap, there is a convent behind the Vatican that is 55€ per night for a double, but that's not the best location for most sites. Others are listed on the Santa Susanna website or you can search for curfews/amenities on monasterystays.com. Prices listed on Monastery Stays are 10-15€ higher per night than if you book directly with the convents as Monastery Stays is a reseller.

http://www.santasusanna.org/comingTo...html#R-vatican

Zoom in a bit to look at convents in the area of Rome you want, then click the number.
http://www.monasterystays.com/?show=localities&id=12

Thanks kybourbon! Your information is very helpful.