Rome
 

I'm heading to Rome in mid-June and hoping I can get a hotel in a central location for about $120/night. If I'm out of my mind, and in no way will be able to get a hotel for that price, I'll take any suggestions you have. Thanks

Try venere.com. Rome is usually a little more expensive than some other places. I looked at the place I had stayed, it is more like $195, but split the cost with a friend.

Venere does have some two-stars in your price range (Normally, I pick two-stars) and some are in your price range. I have always found Venere to have pretty accurate reviews. I never go less than 4 squares for a review.

I find Venere to be wonderful for reviews, but for prices I'm finding Expedia and Hotels.com to be less expensive. I'll be fighting you for the inexpensive ones (if they are out there) as I'll be in Rome at that same time (and the only city of my 2 week trip that is not booked yet). In the end, during that time, it may come down to sacrificing location for price.

We liked Hotel Italia when we stayed in 2002.
http://tinyurl.com/gbu4f
It's not fancy but we liked the location, our room was fine, breakfast was satisfactory, and, in short, we thought it was a bargain.

The first thing we did after unpacking and having a cappucino on the sidewalk cafe next door was to walk the six blocks or so to the Coloseum. What a stunning site.

The hotel isn't far from the Termini, but the neighborhood is fine.

Why not try an apartment? We stayed at the Rome Holidays -Via del Pavone. The location was outstanding and I believe it falls within your price range. I booked it through Venere.com

Here are four (well, three) good, central hotels within your budget:

http://www.eurocheapo.com/rome/hoods/piazza-navona

I've finally found a place in Rome for us in May, and you quote a tough price range to find a good central location. Some that looked good to me were in the 170EUR range, included the Daphne Trevi (they have another property, too, called Daphne Something, which is close-by), Hotel Julia and Domus Julia.
The cheapest place I saw that had good recommendations is called the Hotel Panda, near the Spanish Steps, at 98EUR for a double. But I wasn't brave enough to book it! We are going with Domus Julia. Good luck in your search.

"I'm heading to Rome in mid-June and hoping I can get a hotel in a central location for about $120/night."

The answer is sort of. There are a few convents that rent rooms at your price. They are primitive, but a place to flop.

Are you by yourself or looking for a double? I don't think I agree that convents are necessarily "primitive." I stayed at Istituto Santa Giuliana Falconieri, Via San Giuseppe Calasanzio 1, and although it was plain, I wouldn't call it primitive. It's in a fantastic location just a couple of minutes from Piazza Navona, has an elevator, includes croissant breakfast. They do only have one double room with private bath, the rest are shared bath, but that turned out to be fine. 45 Euro for single room, 75 Euro for double.

Aloha Hawaii,

I stayed at Hotel Giardino Rome for 5 nights last Sept. 90E/night for a single, it's a 2* in a great location! Super friendly and helpful owner Katy and staff. About a 5 minute walk to the Fontana Trevi, 10 minutes to the Colosseo. It's between Trajan's Market and the Quiranale.

Buon viaggio!

I found my hotel Gea di Vulcana (Via Nazionale) on Venere.com, and also had great reviews on Trip Advisor. Only 10 mihutes from the Termini station, good location, includes breakfast, nice restaurants nearby the can recommend and within 30 minutes walking to Colosseum, and Trevi Fountain.

We are also going to Rome at the end of June and have similar criteria...please keep the suggestions coming!

Can anyone comment on the Notti a Roma, Blue Rose B&B or Red Rose B&B? These are all under 90 Euros a night in June.

Thanks!

Following Dayle's recommendation I also stayed at Hotel Giardino a few weeks ago for 7 nights. I was very pleased - a comfortable room and bed, quiet (double glazing) and the staff was very accommodating, in fact, it was the nicest I've encountered in 5 trips to Europe since 2003.
http://www.hotel-giardino-roma.com/

And here is a link to a convent in Trastevere that was mentioned here last December:
http://www.sfromana.it/

I don't know anyone who stayed there but the area is great, I think, and would be my number one choice for my next visit to Rome. While not THAT central, it's still in a walking distance from some of the sites. Anyway, their website looks great and the price is very good for Rome.

And for a longer stay, the Giardino might give you a discount. I payed 80 Euros a night including breakfast instead of 90, since I stayed 7 nights.

Hotels Smeraldo, Pomezia and Sole around campo dei fiori should be in that price range if not less. Clean and great location.

Keren,

Glad to hear you liked the Hotel Giardino Rome too. Do you owe us a trip report?

Dayle, I do, but I probably won't produce one. I haven't been able to make myself write a trip report to any of the trips I've taken in the last few years. So I chime in with bits and pieces here and there, to help others with their trips.
The Giardino was indeed a great find, thanks for posting it.

The most central location for seeing the city would be near the Termini stop because you can pick up both Metro lines from there. The are is a bit seedy looking, but not unsafe as far as I'm concerned. I have two recommendations for you in that area - one right at your budget and one slightly below.

The Hotel Morgana is a charming hotel about a block from the Termini entrance. The rooms are a bit "cozy", but the bed was comfortable and the bathrooms were quite large. Our shower was bit strange because the tub was very narrow at the bottom and it was a little awkward standing in it. But otherwise, no complaints. If you can get a room off the courtyard you won't have as much noise. Although at that time of year you may be running the air. We were there in March. The breakfast there was wonderful. A buffet of meats, cheeses, rolls, cereal, yogurt and juices. Plus coffee and tea. We booked through www.gtahotels.com and paid about $120 USD for room and breakfast.

The second hotel we stayed in was just a half block further - the Hotel Scott House. It was a little strange because it is the 4th and 5th floors of a building that houses several hotels. The room was quite a bit bigger and the bed was the largest we encountered in Italy. We were off the street that time and couldn't leave the window open, but with it closed the noise wasn't bad at all. I can't tell you what the breakfast was like because we left at 5:15 so they weren't serving yet. We paid about 98 euro for that room. If we had booked directly through them and paid cash we could have gotten a 5 euro discount, but we booked through allrez.com and paid with credit card. Oh well.

Either of these places are ones in which I would stay again. If you're looking for basic and comfortable, I think the Hotel Scott House is a good bet. If you want a little more charm and better breakfast then go with the Morgana. The staff at both places were very helpful and friendly.

Thanks for all your suggestions. Wondering if anyone could tell me what a "luggage room" is????

A luggage room is a place at the hotel where luggage is stored, usually if you arrive before the check-in time, or if you want to store the luggage after you check out.