Wil be stopping in Rome for a couple days before continuing on to Venice for a cruise and would like to find a comfortable,mid-priced hotel in Rome that is easy to find and centrally located. Also would lke to find the easiest way to get from airport (FCO) to hotel and then train station to head to Venice. Thank you for any and all direction..Greatly appreciated.

Hotel Ponte Sisto is very nice. Look at www.pontesisto.it. The have specials often in the internet. If you are more than one person a taxi is the
best I use in ROme a car with driver which is less or the same $ than a taxi. He has been very nice many times,
Autoleggio Gianni Lucarino 39 340 4123621
[email protected] cell39 349 5979551
usually I e mail him from the States.
he or similar Autoleggio will do. I think it is a wonderful luxury to have some one waiting upon arrival.
The combination train + taxi is an effort and not cheap, the taxi from the Termini let us say
to HOtel Ponte Sisto is over 15 euros and the train tickets are aprox 10 each, taxi will be aprox
40 eu. Good luck. When going from Hotel to Termini, Hotel can call a taxi for you.

Mid-price can mean anything. How much do you want to spend?

If you do a search here you will come up with dozens of recommended hotels--hard to suggest something without knowing what you consider reasonably priced.

From the airport to your hotel, I recommend Rome Cabs.
http://www.romecabs.com/index.php

I want to spend between $80-$150 night. Could use some insight into B&B too, that are close to Roma Termini that are within walking distance.
Also, has anyone used the Leonardo Express from FCO to Roma Termini? and if so, does that work well?

Are you traveling alone?

Yes, the Leonardo Express is mentioned here almost every day and is considered a good way to reach Rome, especially if you are staying near Roma Termini. I've taken it a number of times myself in each direction. However, If I wasn't staying within waking distance of Termini, or if I wasn't traveling alone, I'd probably opt for a taxi.

no, not traveling alone. Will be with husband. why a taxi over the express?

Smoothart, do you have two days/nights in Rome? If so, I probably wouldn't choose to stay by Termini because although it will be easier/cheaper to get your train to Venice, it will be less convenient for seeing most major sights in Rome. If it were me, I'd pop for a taxi to the station from my hotel.

In terms of hotels at that price point, have a look at http://www.eurocheapo.com/rome/. I'd see what they list in Pantheon/Piazza Navona, Campo dei Fiori, Colosseo/Monti and Trastevere.

I'm sure others here will have more helpful suggestions.

Enjoy Rome and your cruise!

Currently, a taxi (official city of Rome taxi)from the airport is a fixed rate of 40€. The express train is 11€ each plus you would still need a taxi to get from the train station in Rome to your hotel. There's also a shuttle bus from the airport to Termini for 8€.

http://www.sitbusshuttle.it/

A friend stayed with his 12 year old daughter at Hotel des Artistes, which isn't far from Termini, and he said it was very nice, plain, but within your price range, I think. They walked all over even in the evenings, and had no problem with the location. The taxi, if necessary, should not cost much. I don't know about walking with luggage, as I have not been there.

I think it will be hard to fine a "nice" hotel for $80 to 150 as that is not very much in euros....or did you mean euros?

Smooth Art,

I stayed at Holtel Adler close to Termini Station and Plaza Republica Metro Station for 4 nights May 2009. Clean quiet, private bath smallish room but comfortable, breakfast included for 140 Euros. I would recommend it. [email protected]. To and from FCO is easy via the train express to Termini. WE did all the tourist excursions from thislocation and had no issues with the metro, buses or walking day or night.

We always stay at the Hotel Sonya -- great breakfast -- and about three blocks south of Termini across from the Opera House. We like the area but it is on the edge of most attractions. It takes about an hour to walk to the Vatican from there but everything else is much closer by half.