The HI hostel in Rome would fall under that budget, and you probably could get a family room:
http://www.ostellionline.org/ostello.php?idostello=228

I want to echo Janis' question.... where do you live? I have three children and have just begun to look into hotels in Italy... it is hard enough to find quad rooms... much less at that price!

Janis, I wasn't necessarily thinking 3 star in Italy for $30 but something maybe 2 star but nice, or going to $50 per room or $100 ( 75 euro )for 4 of us, am used to SE Asia prices.

Typically an apartment for a week works out much cheaper than 2 hotel rooms. I found a couple of cheaper apartments for about 85E per night last oct. I used www.romeaparthotels.com. The apartment we rented was just called "apartment 3". It's a nice apartment in a great location but is up 4 floors of steep stairs.

Hi

For an apartment try http://www.ahomeinrome.com. Near the Vatican for 650E pw for 4 people.

James - what is the rest of your budget? You are asking about lodging for a certain price, but have you thought about what else you plan to spend. Like on food. I've found in trying to travel inexpensively, that food is one way to cut down. I won't stay in "questionable" hotels so I usually up my hotel budget a bit (my family of four stayed in an airconditioned hotel in Rome in a quad room but it was € 150 so much higher than your budget). But we made up for it by eating pizza for just about every meal. We also walked rather than taking public transportation (certainly not taxis) and that's another savings. Just something to think about.

Thanks so much for all the help, I followed a lot og those links findly offered and found lowest would be about Eruo 140 for September but found a place for Euro 95 in August ( prices were cheaper until early September and then went up ), but was very basic very budget accommodation, I don't mind paying good money for good accommodation but even the glossy photos couldn't hide that it was very very 'simple' accommodation, but converting that to local currency it is still very expensive indeed ( well, for us here anyway ), I agree with Isabel on food and travel, almost too scared to ask about eating costs, I think we will have to stick within our region , I won't think a 4 star Sofitel is expensive for $48!

JamesA - I'm right there with you as I recently moved from the Asia board to start planning our trip to Europe. Italy is a different world from Thailand in more ways than one! We are going to stay in convents in at least a couple of places. There are some with very good locations and decent price.

If your willing to go about 110 euro for 4, check out Residence San Pantaleo. This is a simple, clean, b&b hotel in one of the best locations in Rome.

James, as you are finding it is simply not fair to compare costs of SE Asia to a hugely popular major urban center in Europe.

I can't even get a hotel room with A/C in Mexico for 30USD (with fan only, yes).

$30 hotel in Rome is unreal.
sorry.

I don't think I could bring myself to stay in a 30 dollar a night hotel.

The last time I found a decent hotel in europe for $30 per night was 1984 - and it was in a small town - not a major city.

Go to www.itwg.com. Click on Rome and go from there to search. You just may find something in your price range, although I highly doubt it. If you do, it'll be a rather seedy affair, close to the Termini train station. You should be concerned about safety as well. There may be an air conditioner available, but it will be at the McDonald's restaurant, not in your hotel. The price you're seeking would be considered extremely low even in the off-season at a hostel or convent. To expect that rate, with air, in September- is nearly impossible. I am one who never closes the door on any option but this looks like a death wish. If you don't have enough money for the minimum accommodation, I'd recommend that you work a little bit longer and put some aside. Remember that you get what you pay for.

^^^

Have you thought about doing a home exchange?

I'm curious why this four month old post was suddenly brought back up. But meanwhile I think it's interesting that a month after this original post, JamesA posted a bit of search advice to others about how to search for a budget hotel in Rome. It would be nice if he'd come back here and tell us what if anything he found for his trip next month -- if it's still on.

IS THIS A JOKE?

hi patrick- Someone was asking about central, clean, cheap hotels in Rome yesterday and I remembered this "classic"... sorry didn't mean to annoy.

Oy Suzie! Don't apologize. He's always annoyed...