Hi again Bob
I think Palazzo Olivia seems the best bet for us - we can save money by self catering which we cannot do in a B&B or hotel. We might even push it and stay in one of the 130E apartments as that is our absolute ceiling price. So far for 3 1/2 weeks in Italy I have found places within that limit. Takes many hours of searching though.

We are pretty simple travellers and don't require anything fancy so our style certainly doesn't suit everyone.

Like you we travel to Asia and are used to cheaper prices so its a bit of a eye opener when we look at some of the prices in Europe. We are off to Phi Phi Island in 3 weeks and got a great price of 100AUD per night at the HI including breakfast. You have helped me in the past on the Asia board and I always enjoy your posts.

Good luck with your search, unfortunately we will miss each other in Rome as we arrive on May 1.

maudie---write to me at [email protected] after your return and tell me about your rome experiences... i would much appreciate that... we don't go until march...

i am now looking at monestaries and nunneries as well as a place to stay....there are many in rome....just google it...

i've written to little queen...

Instead of googling it, use the Rome Tourist Board website. There are 189 convents in Rome that provide places to stay. Some are really convents while others are more hotel style, but owned by convents. Many don't have websites or e-mail so you have to phone for reservations and they might not have someone that speaks English. Most are cash only and require a deposit sent by various means such as Western Union. There are websites that are resellers such as Monastery Stays, but they markup the price (10-15€ per night for a single). Prices range from lows of 10€ to 360€ so don't expect all to be cheap. If staying in a convent, you need to ask about curfew. Some are as early as 9pm while others don't have curfew at all.

This is one of the nicest, right in front of St. Peter's, but it's not cheap.
http://www.palazzocesi.it/hotel-cesi-roma/en/

Bob - bit confused, we leave for Phi Phi in 3 weeks but not going to Italy until May 2011 so you will be there before us. Would love to write to you though!

We had a good look at monasteries but we aren't religious people and somehow it just doesn't feel right for us. As kybourbon stated above - not all of them seem that much of a bargain.

Not sure if found an apartment yet, but we stayed here and loved it. Small, but great location and the price fit the apartment.

http://www.italyperfect.com/rome-cam...la-giulia.html

Thanks iamq but that apartment has a 7 night minimum booking, shame as it looks great.

kay---i had seen that one as i remember it was about 275E...

i saw the may and thought you meant now maudie... i will have a trip report starting about march 5... we will be in spain and morocco before italy...

off to asia for a month-- will revive this next month

my trip report has begun on the asia forum