Reasonable Rome Hotel
 

Any suggestions for a centrally located decent hotel in Rome for 3 nights? Thinking of a trip there and south in March 2006 and I want to make sure I am getting the best deal possible. We'd love to keep the hotel to around $100 US per night. Doesn't have to be fancy - just have a decent bathroom and be clean and comfortable. Soundproofing would probably also be a plus.

for one person or 2? $100. a night will definitely not get you anything fancy, so no worries there. Have you looked on venere.com or completed a search here yet? I'll look for some of the older threads about cheap sleeps in Rome and top them for you.

So that's 82 euro... is there tax on hotel rooms in Rome. If yes, maybe you're looking more like 75 euro per night.

I think centrally located, decent, clean, comfortable, private bath, and soundproof walls is a bit of a stretch to hope for in this price range.

Just to encourage you...because you're going in March, I actually think that you can find something no-frills and unatmospheric but acceptable for around that price. As suggested above, go to venere.com. Then look at their listings for two-stars around Termini.

Many people on this board would never stay at a two-star or near Termini. Others (including me) on more limited budgets have done it and survived.

Check with Hotel Giardino http://www.hotel-giardino-roma.com/
The listed range is 75-140 euro for a double; not sure where the rate will fall for March. I stayed there last November and can recommend it as a good value (paid about 60 euro for a single). It's near the Quirinale and about a 5 minute walk to the Trevi Fountain. It is on a main street but I'm a light sleeper and didn't have a problem. Or try to ask for a room not facing the street. Hope this helps.

You should also check Hotel Selene (on venere at http://en.venere.com/hotels_rome/rep...el_selene.html and elsewhere at http://www.rome-hotel.hotelseleneroma.it/). We stayed in a triple there at the end of May this year and thought it was a good value (actually the "triple" was really a "quad"). I think we paid E110 a night. Doubles run anywhere from 83 - 150 euro a night. It is located a few blocks from Termini -- which has its pluses and minuses, of course.

Of course, one way to bring the price down even further is to stay in a convent. The biggest drawback with this option is that most have a curfew around 11:00pm (could be even earlier in March). There are, however, many convents in Rome -- some in excellent locations.

I topped a couple recent posts on this subject for you yesterday. While the search engine here is not the greatest, type in 'cheap hotels Rome' and there are quite a few threads you could read.

We liked Hotel Springhouse but it is not what most would consider "central", it is up near The Vatican and is a 8min metro ride from the main train station, then an easy 2 block walk to the hotel. From the "special offers" section on their website you can sometimes come in at around $100US per night. We enjoyed their loaner bicycles for getting around.

Go to www.travel.it It has a list of hotels with their own websites. You won't be paying venere's extra fees and you can deal with the hotel directly. They may have hotel rooms available when venere shows nothing available. Venere only have a certain amount of rooms alloted to them. I have found the prices better when I go directly to the hotel.

Try Eurocheapo at

http://www.eurocheapo.com

Then, check them against TripAdvisor

http://www.tripadvisor.com

This should give you a list of possibilities and then check those out here.

Thanks for the suggestions. On further research (and closer look at the overall budget) we could go a bit higher (maybe even up to $150 - 175 US) especially if it includes some sort of breakfast. Any other thoughts given the increase in budget?

jcasale, when we went to Rome in 2003 I found it to be the most expensive place in Europe (at least where we went) for hotels. If you look near the main train station, hotels in the $100 range are possible, but that means a daily commute into the city and back.

Personally, if/when I go again, I'll pony up $200/night for Rome just so I can stay somewhere central and comfortable. The 1-star B&B I found at $90 Euro near the Trevi Fountain was my most forgettable hotel experience ever.
By that, I mean I wish I COULD forget it! LOL

It also helps to do lots of research (www.venere.com and the others mentioned here) and book when you find something you like.

Happy Travels.


Jules

Try the Hotel Des Artistes. www.hoteldesartistes.com

The Residenza San Panataleo is in an excellent location, and runs about $100 a night off season. It's not fancy, and some of the rooms are tiny, but it's great location makes it quite a deal.

This is from a prior post from some time ago. zootsi, is this still the case?

>Residenza San Pantaleo: One negative - the smell of cigarette smoke. Florio smokes freely in the hallway at his computer desk.<

Take a look at the Hotel Italia, a two-star just off Via Nazionale. It's not in the historic center, but we walked everywhere (and we're not athletes) with no problem and a little help from the Metro (station is nearby). Fine rooms, pretty good breakfast, great staff. It's a little more than you're thinking, but still priced pretty reasonably.

Best of luck.

Tuckh, we were there 2 years ago. Florio was in fact running the place. He's not exactly mr. personality, but I don't recall any cigarette smoke odors in the hall, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if this could happen. However, the room was clean and very spacious. Our biggest complaint was the very minimal breakfast, but I undestand they now give you a cupon at a local cafe. The location is nearly perfect - in the heart of the old part of the city, but just steps from several bus stops.

I can highly recommend Fellini B&B,55 via Rosella. Tel 39 0642742732. Mobile 39 3471437059. www.fellinibnb.com

I originally got them from Eurocheapo and booked through venere.com. That was in March, 2004. Nicely decorated, very good bed, very nice bathroom, remote control blinds to block out light and noise when you wished, a balcony area, good location, very walkable and near public transport. It was 90 to 100 euros then.

I just reserved Fellini inn on Venere.com for $130E/night for a shared bath in April. I'm a little nervous about sharing a bathroom, but I guess I can pretend I'm back in the college dorms again or something. Has anyone besides ggnga stayed there. (I appreciate your comments ggnga, but I always like to get a second opinion.)

Hi Young,

Since this topic was originally started, I have also stayed (5 nights) at the Hotel Giardino Rome. I agree, great location, very helpful and friendy owner, Katy, comfy rooms and PRIVATE baths. My single room in Sept, which is considered high season, was 90 E per night. You might check it out.

Buon viaggio!

The L.A. Times had an article on Rome lodging last Sunday.

In a section regarding convents and monasteries was a mention of Fraterna Domus, 62 via di Monte Brianzo (tel. 011-39-06-68-80-27-27), near Piazza Navona. "Simply decorated doubles from $65, a family-style restaurant serving lunch and dinner for $14."

Under hotels was mention of The Beehive, opened by an American couple (from L.A.!) in 1999. It's a few blocks northeast of Termini, which the article acknowledges is not the safest or most charming part of Rome. All the rooms share baths/toilets, but the ratio of them to rooms is high. Doubles from $90. 8 via Marghera. www.the-beehive.com.

Dayle, I did email Hotel Giardino and they are booked. Bummer. Seems like April a little before Easter is a popular time to visit Rome!

Jean, thanks for posting that info, I'll check it out!

Young,

I didn't realize you were going just before Easter. Yes, all the major cities in Italy will be VERY busy!

Dayle,
I didn't purposely schedule during Easter. I was trying to get the best airfare deals, and to do so I had to make the departure date no later than March 31st. But, it should be a nice bonus to see all the different ways Easter and the days leading up to it are celebrated. We are going to be in Spain for Semana Santa, which should be grrrreat! By the way, I ended up booking Hotel Aberdeen in Rome. I checked availability in 15 other Fodor's recommended Rome hotels (they were all full), so I'm thankful that I have something lined up.

Hi again Young,

You are right, there are lots of special things going on that you won't see during the rest of the year. You might want to check some of the links provided at www.slowtrav.com, for city events and festivals.

We ran across a wonderful parade in Piazza San Pietro following the Palm Sunday mass, then we got to see John Paul II bless the crowd beneath his apartment window. On the other hand, the Sistene Chapel was closed on Palm Sunday and it took me another 10 years to see it.

Buon viaggio!

Dayle,
I'll check out the links on slowtrav.com for some special events, thanks for the idea. One update: I'd misread the email from Giardino--they do have availability during my time period, I would just have to switch rooms once during my four night stay there. I think it's a more central location than Hotel Aberdeen, for the same price, so I think we will stay at Hotel Giardino after all. Do you think switching rooms will be a small trade off for less walking?

Young,

Definitely a good trade off! Switching rooms is no big deal, and knowing Katy and her staff - they will do it for you.

I had reserved to stay with them my final night in Italy before flying out. (After my 5 nights earlier in the trip.) When I arrived, Sergio told me that my room had a plumbing problem that would not be fixed until the next day, so they had reserved a room for me at the 3* hotel across the street and would pay the difference. Sergio carried my small, but heavy, suitcase down all the way down the stairs and across to the Hotel Hiberia for me.

The Hotel Hiberia was just a tad nicer, but not nearly as cosy and friendly as Hotel Giardino Rome.

Dayle: It's a go with Hotel Giardino. AND I got the Rick Steves discount! $15E less per night. Thank you very much for your recommendation!! :D

I did a lot of research on this before my trip to Rome last October and decided on the Gea di Vulcana on Via Nazionale - had most all good reviews everywhere online. Very close proximity to Termini station, could walk there in 10 minutes, and nice rooms, staff and includes breakfast. Good location only 20-30 minutes or so walking to Colisseum and the Trevi Fountain and great shopping along Via Nazionale. They also recommended a terrific restaurant nearby called Trattoria Abruzzese - excellent! Have fun!

Hi again Young,

Glad to hear you got the res! If you ask for restaurant recs, they will probably direct you to two completely authentic Roman restaurants, both on the same, tiny cobblestoned alleyway, Via Scharemburg (SP?). Go! Both are excellent traditional, family run places where you will be the only tourists.