LeslieC

ladybug - If you do a search on this forum using the words "Hotels in Rome" or "Rome Hotels" you'll find many recommendations. That's how we found the Santa Chiara. Another mid-priced place frequently recommended is the Del Senato.

Also, a highly recommended website is www.venere.it. You can see the locations of many hotels as well as photos and can book them.

I also don't spend much time in my hotel room, but Rome is a real walking city and taxis aren't as easy to get as say, in London. The two subway lines sort of skirt the outer rim of the historic center ("centro storico) because they couldn't dig under the older areas. I think you might find yourself wanting to stop into you hotel for a rest midday which is a good reason to be centrally located.

Brahmama

Hi ladybug,
Glad that you found my itinerary interesting! I think the weekend is harder because of closings.
We are staying at a place that noone on here has ever heard of! It is Domus Sessoriana and it is WAY off the beaten path, but a tram and bus stop in front of it , but the subway just a couple of blocks way. The itinerary starts right from our hotel, by the way.

My friend - an art restorer in Rome - suggested this for us and it is part of the Church itself.
We will be there on 7 March and I'll post information about it when we return, so that you (and anyone else interested) can see what our opinion is after staying there!
you can do a search for it - it does have a lift and looks about like what we usually choose.
When do you go to Rome?

Mary_Fran

ladybug,Iwouldn'tchange my hotel if I were you. Your hotel looks to me like it's a good value in a good location. It's midway between the termini and the Spanish

Ladybug,the Hotel Marcella looks to me as if it's in a great location, and I wouldn't change it if I were you. It's appears to be midway between the termini and the spanish steps.

I stayed in the termini area at Hotel Italia last fall and found it to be safe, convenient and vibrant, with bargain lodging options.

ladybug

hi~ thanks for the hotel reassurance, and advice-i dont plan on staying in the room often, but still want to feel safe, and close to the sites--i wish i had that "just wing it" attitude--but im the kind that likes to plan--so i obsess over things like hotels, itineraries and the like!!!!!!!!any way i am heading of to rome in june, and having never been to europe before i am thrilled~ and filled with anticipation-- cant wait to be amongst the culture, the people, the scents, the streets~brahmama--cant wait to hear about your trip when you return--hope you have a blast--by the way--has anyone spent time in capri??? we will be there for 2 night--at the hotel Luna--any must see/do? aside from the grotto??

ladybug

almost for got--we will be traveling by train--from rome-naples-(capri)-florence-venice--via first class--for the assigned seat advantage--is this travel easy --or are the trains difficult to navigate?? thanks--ladybug

captain_zool

a note to brahmama- i just returned froma week in rome on sat 2-22-03. i stayed at domus sessoriana, an it was a fine place. very clean and safe, with friendly staff. it is a little out of the way, but a do-able walk to colloseum. we took taxi's to all sites, about 7-12 euro. if you call a taxi, they start meter when call is recieved, so hail one, it saves 5 euro.

ladybug-- bourghese museum is a must. you need reservations-call now for popular travel season. visit time is limited to 2 hours, so reserve a guided tour in english--well worth it --lots of inside info and history of pieces. one of my favorite spots.

Brahmama

For Captain!
Thank you so much for your comment about domus sessoriana - put my mind right at ease! We leave in 9 days.
One question - we will need to have a lunch or two close to the hotel. (Our friend will be with us the rest of the time and he is a rome native and has it all planned) Did you spot a place for a light lunch and glass of wine fairly close to the hotel?
I would have emailed you, but of course, we can't do that anymore. Mine is [email protected] if you would rather respond that way.
Thanks,
Carol / brahmama

jtune

The area northeast of the RR station is seedy but going northwest toward the spanish steps is fine.We have stayed at Hotel Italia and Residence Adler and they both were well located within walking distance of the RR station,safe and friendly helpful places. chow

LJ

I have noticed mentions of walking and taxis and also the subway in this thread, but not my favourite-the humble bus.

Its well worth it to purchase an all day bus pass and hop on and off at will to see the sights and save your feet. You can crack the bus number codes quite easily when you get there by stopping in at Termini to get an up-to-date bus route map. DO NOT trust the numerical references in bought-at-home guide books-Roman bus routes do change their numbers upon ocassion. I actually found hailing taxis to be far more of a challenge than catching a bus as well as far more expensive-the bus pas as I recall was about $4.50(US)for the day and night too, of course.