I'm planning a European vacation to London, Rome, Barcelona, Sevilla, and Granada in June. I'm having difficulty finding an inexpensive hostel in Rome. Does anyone know of a good hostel in the center of the city for less that 60 euros for a double occupation room. I found one Hostel Aladino 2 but I haven't found any evals on it. I'm open to any suggestions you may have on hostels in any of these locations especially Rome, and London. Thanks again for all of your input.

The Beehive (near Termini) and Colors hostels (near the Vatican) probably have the very best reputations in Rome. Also, the Alessandro chain of hostels are quite popular. See http://www.bugeurope.com for details.

Unfortunately, no Rome hostel (except maybe the women's hostel in Trastevere) has what I would consider a great location.

Your budget might be almost enough for a double room at a well-located convent.

Here's a very poor review for the Aladino 2:
http://www.hostelz.com/hostel/34090-Aladino-Hostel-2

I've read more good reviews than bad reviews on Hostel Aladino so I just don't know what to believe. Anywhere in the City that would be within walking distance to all the monuments would be fine. We are flying into Ciampino (i think that's how you spell it from London), and we are flying out of there to Barcelona.

Note that the Hostel Aladino is different than the Hostel Aladino 2. I would guess that the bad reviews are probably accurate. I think you can do better.

If you're willing to walk up to 3 miles to the farthest monuments, anything near Termini will work. Or you could easily take a bus.

I know they are different which is why I get confused with the reviews. I wanted to stay in Hostal Aladino 2, and I don't know sometimes if the bad reviews are for Hostal Aladino 2, or the hostal Aladino.

They both have bad reviews, if you check the hostelz.com site.

Elsabet, type "rome convents" into the search box (without the quotes) and read through the archived messages that come up on the left-hand side of your screen. It's possible to stay in a convent for about 45 euro/night/double with breakfast. They're "couple friendly" and don't care what religion you practice or whether even do practice a religion. We loved staying at Istituto Santa Giuliana, which is in a great location, near Piazza Navona. There is a curfew, but since they have a guy who sits at the desk at night, you can arrange to be out late.

My daughter stayed at the Colors Hotel / Hostel last July and said it was very nice and clean. The A/C was not working one night but she believes that was just a one time problem. It has a nice terrace on the roof.

How do you book rooms there at the convents, do they have a website that you can go to to get the information. Thank you for all of your help on this it's not until June but I like to plan ahead on big trips

Here's a partial list of convents:
http://www.santasusanna.org/comingToRome/convents.html

Some are more challenging to book than others. This is a good time to start, because the best places will book up early, if they haven't already.

All the contact info for the convents can be found through the search I described above. You may have to look through the posts, but it's all there.

You can reserve at Santa Giuliana by emailing:

[email protected]

The very delightful Sister Kathryn (originally from Chicago) will respond. Go ahead reserve. They book early.

Bon Viaggio

Thank you for all of your help.

These convents do they have problems with unmarried couples staying there. Because it is my boyfriend and I, I would hate to book one and not be able to stay there, do they have all their policies listed on the website.

That's an interesting question. The honest thing would be to ask. Somehow I can't see how they'd police such a thing, but maybe there's an honour system.

Neither can I...But you have to wonder since it is a convent...But I will try then I will be able to tell other people. Is it better to get a taxi from the airport or take the Eurovision to Termini?

If you're trying to save money, as I would guess you are, I'd take the express train.

Various other respondents have suggested Colours Hostel and I would add my voice as well. We stayed in an apartment in Rome but while we were there two of my daughter's friends(in their 20s)who caught up with us stayed there in early Feb and loved it! Had access to a kitchen, near the Vatican- almost better than what we had. Suggest you investigate more on the net for this one!

Has anyone stayed at the Starlight Hostel they are fairly close to the Termini station, and on www.bugeurope.com all the reviews are good and a double room is only 55 euros a night so I was thinking I would stay there.

No problems with unmarried couples at the Santa Giuliana. They have absolutely no interest in your marital status. There was an unmarried couple in our travel group, and it never even remotely came up.