I would love to visit Rome but I'm shocked by the hotel prices. Can anyone suggest a website where I might find some good hotel deals in Rome?

Can you define what is shocking and what you are looking for in terms of price?

You don't indicate what kind of hotel you are looking for, do you mean budget accomodations (i.e., B&B or 1-star hotels) or more along the lines of a discount from a $300-500 room?

I am generally finding $250 - $400 per night, even for no name hotels. I think I would need to keep it under $200, and would prefer more like $100-$150, not sure if thats possible though.

Hi hnorth --

Depending on what your definition of a deal is, you might try eurocheapo.com for leads. I also think searching on venere.com and then sorting the results by price is helpful.

Good luck! -- h.

Hi hn,

Where are you finding these high-priced hotels?

I've found that dealing with hotels directly usually gets the best or comparable rates than any website. As far as 'no name' hotels, do you mean popular chains, or popular hotels mentioned hear ir ub guide books? There are so many hotels in these small European cities. Many are very small and not necessarily 'known', but could be quite nice. ALso check tripadvisor for reviews.

You can sort by price on Venere.com just to get an idea of what is in your pricerange. You may also want to look into priceline for ROme. I've never used priceline in Europe but have had gotten some greta deals here in the states. Check biddingfortravel.com to get an idea of the going bid and hotels in rome awarded on priceline.

please excuse my careless typing, "mentioned hear ir ub guide books? There are so many hotels in these small European cities." should read "mentioned here or in guide books? There are so many hotels in these large European cities."

Well - if by no name hotels you mean they're not world famous - you're correct. In rome (or Paris, London or NYC) "name" hotels cost more than $250/$400 per night. There are many less expensive perfectly pleasant hotels - you just need to do a little searching. However - $100 is pushing it - just as it would be in any of those other cities.

(Notice you are going to Germany - and I'm sure rates are much lower there - because you're staying in small towns and not a world capitol. Rates would be much cheaper if you were staying in small towns or the countryside in Italy too.)

Internet is not always the best when looking for local owned budget hotels. Believe it or not (smile) there are many that do not have websites, so that you'd need to call or fax.

My thought was looking at some guidebooks along the lines of Rick Steves, Let's Go, Rough Guides, Lonely Planet for ideas in that price range.

There are many hotel rooms in Rome on Venere.com for less than 100 Euros. Although most are not luxury, there are rooms available for less than $200 per night.
Good Luck!

Try B&Bs. They are usually much cheaper than hotels, but you won't get all the services you normally would at 3 or 4 star hotel.

Also consider staying in a convent. They are insanely cheap (like 30-50 euro), clean, safe and most have great locations. Search the forum archive for convent recommendations all over Italy.

I stayed in the Aberdeen Hotel a few years ago. In your price range, but not luxury. That said, it was the cleanest hotel I have ever been in.

<< would prefer more like $100-$150, not sure if that's possible though>>

It's quite possible. Here are four well reviewed properties in a nice, central, area. All are between $105 and $170.

http://www.eurocheapo.com/rome/listings/navona.asp

We stayed in the Hotel Aberdeen in February this year, fabulous location for transport and sightseeing, super clean, well furnished, friendly staff and cheap. Try their website and book direct.

In September 2003 a friend and I stayed at the Hotel Margutta, E140 for twin bed room with a shared terrace (which we really enjoyed in Rome's September heat). Near Piazza de Poppolo, lovely area, good restaurants and shopping, close to a metro.

It's not fancy but was a solid 2** hotel. I have read that it's advisable to stay in one of the 3 (?) rooms with a terrace because the others can have crummy views.

A lot of cheaper places may well have websites but you might not find them anywhere near the tops of searches, they can be on the 'hundreds' because of the 'criteria' search engines use to position websites, a large multi-national hotel booking site that includes words like budget, inexpensive for the place you are looking for will come far higher up that perhaps a budget hotel, guesthouse or B&B that simply has a website. You have to be very very descriptive in your searches. Search for something like Budget hotel in Rome and you will get more than 1 million search results.

where in the world are you looking? I am going in July and I am finding quite generous prices. Look on Fodor's website..

Alice, what kind of prices are you finding if you don't mind my asking?

As a previous poster said there is nothing wrong with the Aberdeen. Friends stayed there and liked it. We stayed at Oceania and were happy with the recently renovated room and excellent marble bathroom. I would stay there again and it was reasonably priced. both of these hotels are on Via Firenze just off Nazionale and you can walk everywhere almost.