Wife and I will be visiting Venice, Florence and Tuscany w/ a group (co. trip) and due to prior commitments can not travel to Rome for last part of the trip. We will be able to stay in Rome 1 day (arrive at approx. 8:30A on a Thurs. and will catch a flight at 10:00A on Fri., this will be in July) by ourselves and hope to gain valuable info from readers of this forum. Please offer any advice on the following:

Centrally located hotels?
1 day itinerary?
Inexpensive, cool, little restaurant for dinner?
Best way from Rome to the airport (train, taxi, etc...)

Anything else will be appreciated. We are aware this is not the way to see Rome, but we have no choice.

Thanks in advance

for suggested one-day itineraries

Click a the top of this screen on Destinations, and go to the Rome section.
Do the same at frommers.com which always has good suggested itineraries.

You don't say what interests you most about Rome--what did you have in mind?

For centrally-located hotels, you don't say what you would like to spend. Two moderate places that are popular here are the Santa Chiara and the del Senato.
Both are very popular so book ahead.

<<Two moderate places that are popular here...>>

I am rather chagrined that Fodors removed the recent thread about the pitfalls of the word "moderate" (in hotel prices) - - or at least I think they did - - I cannot find it...

In any event, I might say tsk, tsk, tsk, elaine... for your use of the term here. Not sure about the Santa Chiara, but del Senato is now pushing $300 USD. No longer "moderate" in my book - - nor particularly close to the 50th %ile for Rome, I don't believe.

And of course, as a corollary, mrap... it would help others offering you advice, if you would indicate what price range you have in mind.

Best wishes,

Rex

We had a similar situation when we were in Italy last year. We arrived in Rome at 7:30 am and dropped our bags off at our hotel (Hotel Marcus, 160 euro a night - great location halfway between the spanish steps and the piazza navona).

Walked to the Borghese Gallery where we had a 9:00am reservation. Only allowed 2 hours in the museum, so we left at 11:00 am. Walked to the Spanish Steps and then to Piazza Navona where we had lunch.

After lunch we took a taxi to the vatican museum. I had been told that this was a good time (1:00pm)to avoid lines. We walked right in and headed straight for the Sistine Chapel. Made our way back through the museum.

Went to St. Peter's square and then toured the cathedral. Caught a taxi back to the hotel.

Walked to the Trevi fountain. Then we just walked the streets of Rome. Ended up back at the Piazza Navone where we had dinner. More walking after dinner and then we crashed at the hotel. Left by train the next day at 8am. Not an ideal way to see Rome, but better than nothing. We loved Rome and are planning another trip where we will spend much more time there.

Enjoy your trip.

Hi rex
Point taken (even before you mentioned it, actually) but I don't think there's any point in determining ranges just according to US $ as that is a moving target.

If, say, 98% of hotels in Rome can theoretically range from 100 euro per night to 400 euro per night, then a hotel that is 200-250 euro per night, to my mind, is in the moderate (perhaps 'medium' or 'median' are better words?) range. But I haven't actually surveyed all hotel prices, and you're right, in that my idea of moderate isn't necessarily any one else's. I could have just made the suggestions without the modifier 'moderate.' In the absence of any specific price request from the OP, I took a shot.

I just returned from Rome. A great way to travel to all the major sites is to get on the double deck bus that allows you to get on and off as you wish for a day. We got on it right in front of the main train terminal; it costs 13 euros for the day.Rome is an interesting ciy but one that is cumbersome to navigate on your own, specially when you only have one day. On this bus, you get earphones to listen to all the narrations as you go from one stop to the next. Also,you get a map of Rome and the locations of all the major sites and their stops. If you get on it early enough, you will have time to visit some of the major sites and continue on.Keep in mind that places like the Vatican Museum are difficult to see because of long lines but by using this bus, you can at lease get a feeling for what the city has to offer and get off wherever you want and the next bus comes by every 20 minutes. Do your research and enjoy Rome for a day!!!

A great centrally located hotel is the Nord Nouva Roma Hotel. It is right near the central train station which leads me to the answer your second question that you should find it quite easy to take the train (about 1/2 hr. if memory serves) in from the airport and walk the 1/2 block to the hotel. The hotel even has a nice rooftop cafe where at night we enjoyed a romatic nightcap with an excellent view. Have fun.