We are hoping to meet friends from the States in Rome in June (we live in London)...I am afraid that between the heat and crowds the city will be unbearable. Can you anyone suggest a great boutique hotel or b&b (with a pool!) in an interesting town or smaller city within an hour's drive of Rome?
Thank you!

Rome is one of the few italian cities that doesn't have any particulary interesting towns an hour's drive away. You could try in the Maremma - the area btw Rome and Tuscany rather like the Camargue. Capalbio is a charming town with lots of agriturismi around it and Orbetello is lively and very un-touristy. It has a new boutique hotel in a 16th C palazzo but no pool. Close to the sea though. That will be one and a half hours from Rome and you need a car. Having said that Rome isn't so hot in June it's a beautiful month!

I haven't stayed here but have been to Frascati many times and it's a great town within easy reach of Rome by either car or train. The Grand Hotel Villa Tuscolana has a pool.

I'm not sure I understand why you think Rome will be "unbearable" in June, but Orvieto is about an hour north of Rome and is a very pleasant town. I don't think there'll be a big drop in temperature there compared to Rome, though.

I didn't mean to offend. I just had an image of Rome being oppressive in June (end of June to be specific)between the throngs of tourists and the heat.

No offence!! If today was anything to go by....I was on a rooftop terrace in Piazza venezia this morning and the sun was shining down like mid summer - too hot to be in the sun even in a cotton shirt and it's not even Spring yet!

What would be the price range?

Do you really want to deal with the hassle of trying to find parking in Rome? Not forgetting, of course, that you cannot drive into the historical centre.

And most trains do not run late enough to allow you to have dinner in Rome.