Hello all,
Planning a first trip to Italy this winter for one week. Would like to be within walking distance of major sites, but not necessarily near the Vatican. Following are some choices, but I'm not sure about quality or locations. If anyone has any ideas or could comment, that would be greatly appreciated.

Here's what I have thus far:
Daphne: via degli Avignonesi
Nicolas Inn: via Cavour by via fori imperiali
Hotel Scalinati di Spagna: on Piazza Triniti dei monti
Hotel Raffaelo: via Urbano by via di Maria Maggiore
Hotel Santa Maria in Trastevere
Hotel Condotti on via Mario de Fiori
Residenza Cellini

Any info re quality, location, etc. of these would be =greatly appreciated. I usually lean towards a hotel rather
than a b & b (I like the anonimity a hotel can provide) but don't want to spend a fortune. Any other recommendations
would be helpful.

BTW - I know mid-February is not ideal travel weather for Europe, but I think we got a good deal. RT JFK to Rome at
$530 each. (perhaps this is the usual winter fare?)

Thanks so much for your help.
Twilightny

We stayed at Nicolas Inn last spring because of recommendations from others on this forum. It is exceptionally well located and was fine for our needs. I don't know what level of accommodations you are expecting, but I think it is probably a 3*. It is very basic, but the room and bathroom are almost spacious by European standards. The owner/hostess is kind and helpful. I highly recommend it unless you are looking for luxurious digs. PJK

The Hotel Condotti has a fabulous location, but when we stayed there 11 years ago, the toilet didn't work and they gave us a bucket to fill with water to flush it.

I wouldn't post a bad review of a hotel that I stayed in so many years ago, but I always see the Condotti come up on bargain sites, and since I loved the location in the Piazza di Spagna area, I always check it out. For me, checking it out includes reading the reviews on tripadvisor.com. The reviews there are pretty abysmal. I suggest you read them and it may come off your list. Or maybe the place has gotten better since the last time I checked.


Buona Fortuna

I did end up taking Condotti off my list because of the bad reviews. I have no idea of which areas in Rome are more convenient than others, safer, etc. Are there any areas I should avoid? (I had heard that the area near the Termini sta. is not too good).

Re Nicolas - we aren't looking for luxury, but I guess I would have to admit that I would like something more than just basic accommodations. My thought is that if we are staying in a b & b in Italy, it should be charming (!).

Any recs for larger hotels would be welcome too. Thanks again.

I can't comment on your hotels but I just wanted to add that we've been to Rome three times, each time during the winter months, and loved it. We were in Rome in February a few years ago and it was great. Warmer than here at home (St. Louis) in February, and crowds are almost non-existent. I think that February is a great time to go!

Tracy

Hello,
try venere.com for hotels. It is a great website. I would stay away from the termini area and try more for the city center. Any hotel in the city center is within walking distance of everything!

Donna

We also stayed at the Nicolas Inn - about a year ago - and thought it was great. It's not fancy, but plenty spacious, the breakfast is fine, the host and hostess are very nice and helpful (but not on-site except at check-in and check-out, and occasionally during the day). The location is superb for the Forum and Colosseum, and you can walk everywhere else in a matter of minutes (except the Vatican and maybe Borghese Gallery).

KC

Thanks for the update on the termini area; does anyone know if the Residenza Cellini is in that area? The address is the Via Moderna near the Piazza de Republica (if that's a help).

The Residenza Cellini has gotten such good reviews on trip advisor and it is in our price range. I can't tell from the map on its website if it really is within walking distance to sights or if it is close by to the termini station.

thanks again!
Twilight

Haven't stayed at any of those, but a dear friend stayed at the Cellini and loved it. She raves about the super friendly and helpful staff.

It's very popular and not huge, though, and I think it books up early. You might get lucky in the winter - that's when my friend went (she even got to see snow falling through the oculus in the Pantheon - must have been quite a site!).

I think you would absolutely love the Hotel Santa Maria in Trastevere-it's a lovely hotel, very atmospheric, and couldn't be better situated in a real Roman neighborhood-with the nightlife/restaurant scene of Trastevere right outside the door, and about a 15 minute walk to the Campo dei Fiori area. The reviews of this hotel are pretty ecstatic on tripadvisor.com. Trastevere is my favorite area of Rome to stay-there's nothing not to like about this area-noisy, fun, full of life- I'll be there again next month.

Hello again,

How iffy is the area around the Termini? How far away must one be to be considered in a safe / nice area? I definitely would like to stay in a nice area, even if it means paying a little more. I am leaning toward booking the Residenza Cellini which is near the Piazza Republica - is that near the Termini Sta? (on the hotel's website they say they are within walking distance to the sights, but I've come to find that is relative!)
thanks again!

Hello. Can very highly recommend Residenza Cellini on Via Modena. We stayed there for several nights on our trip to Italy in 2003 and it was the best accommodation of the entire trip! It's a small, very personal hotel with gorgeous decor, and the sweetest family to take care of you. Seriously, we've never had an experience like it. We didn't want to leave.

I would say it was about a 10 minute walk from Termini train station-not far at all. We felt their location was good-easy walking access to everything (as Rome is a walking city). The only exception was the Vatican, which we took the subway, and that was easy to do.

I understand they book out pretty far in advance now, as they've received glowing recommendations over the past couple years, but they are all true. Try to book with them if you can-you won't be disappointed!

Thanks for all the great suggestions. I booked the Residenza Cellini (they only had one room left for that week in February!) and I am sure I won't be disappointed, based on all the glowing reports. (I can't wait to get to get to Italy!).

I'm sure I will have lots of questions about restaurants, sightseeing, what to see, what to avoid!

thanks so much!

That's great that you booked the Cellini! You will love it. Have a wonderful trip!!

How did you book the Residenza Cellini? I found their website online, but when I tried to make a reservation, the computer would not open up another page after the reservation page.