We are looking for a nice Rome hotel for our May 09 trip under $200 per night. We don't need anything too special, just clean, with private bathroom, and in a nice area, close to some major sites.

We found the Nicolas Inn and it seems to be well-rated on both TripAdvisor and Fodors and for not a bad price, but I am curious about the area. Has anyone stayed there or is familiar with it that can elaborate on how close it is to the sites, and if it is in a generally good area?

Thank you!

Where is the Nicolas Inn?

We liked the Domus Julia, near the Spanish Steps.

The Nicolas Inn is a B&B located on Via Cavour which is between Piazza Venezia and the Colosseum. We stayed there for 3 nights in 2005. It was very convenient and very nice.

We enjoyed our stay there. It's run by Mellisa an American woman from Chicago who is very nice and helpful.

Check out my description in my web page from that trip:

http://www.travel.stv77.com/tuscany2005/tuscany05.htm

Try Pensione Barrett. It's got a great location, Michelin-recommended, and it's on the web. Do a google search.

debrad, I stayed just down the street (Via Cavour) from the Inn and there is some info on the area @ http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35151759

For walking distances use my 'tried 'n true' method.

Get a Rome map and a narrow strip of paper, put one end at the front doors of Termini Train Station and the other end down Via Cavour and across Via d. Fori Imperial to the Roman Forum entrance and cut that end.
This is basically a straight line on the map.

Now fold in half and in half again so it's divided in 4 equal parts, mark the folds in pen.

Now I timed myself one day from the station's front door to the Forum entrance and it was exactly 20min, so each quarter on the paper is 5mins.

I'm a slow walker, 52 6'2' 250lbs with an over-the-counter knee brace on, puffin on a Marlboro, moving thru crowds and waiting on traffic signals.

So that length of paper equals 20mins walking at a slow leisurely pace on a crowded street.

Over the years and on other forums I have only heard good things about the Nicholas Inn.

And I was going to stay there in '06 but the $ hit 1.35 and the Hotel Romano was cheaper plus it was a 16 day stay so I had to go for price.
Regards, Walter

We stayed at the Nicolas Inn in Nov of 05 for 5 night and thought the location and accommodations were exactly what we were expecting and good value for our dollar. Melissa was extremely helpful to first time visitors to Rome which we were. We had some excellent meals at places she recommended near the Inn. We loved being so close to the Coliseum and the Roman Forum. Deborah

Thanks for all of your replies. It sounds like the Nicolas Inn will probably be a good place for us to stay.

I haven't tried your method yet, Walter, but your description of it definitely brought a smile to my face after a long day of work.

Thanks again!

We stayed in the Nicolas Inn for 3 nights in late September 2005 and found it to be great. It was certainly clean, convenient, and Melissa and her husband were most accommodating regarding helpful advice and restaurants, etc. It is not fancy, but it was very comfortable

Sam

debrad149,
We are looking at the Nicolas for our oct 09 trip. Would love to hear from a recent visitor since most other comments were from those who stayed at the inn several years ago. what did you think? I hope you have a wonderful trip!