Looking for a great mid range priced hotel in Rome before a cruise. Would like to be either in Via Condotti, Via Veneto or maybe Trastevere. Don't know which neighbourhood would be better. Like to eat at interesting restaurants in friendly atmosphere with good reasonable wines. Any recommendations for a couple for 3 days.

Mid-range doesn't say much. Your mid-range could be budget to someone else. What is your budget?

I guess my midrange is up to 200 Euros. I have looked at reviews on Trip Advisor etc. and one person will love the hotel and the next found all kinds of problems, very hard to tell which are good.

I stayed at www.hoteljulia.it
It is right by the Trevi Fountain. It was clean,safe, and breakfast was included.

If you decide on Trastevere, look at Residenza Santa Maria, a very small hotel in the heart of Trastevere. My daughter just returned from her stay there, and after many trips to Rome, preferred it to other visits because she found the location less overwhelming and touristy.

The hotel is a converted monastery with only six rooms, very close to good public transportation, and within walking distance to many tourist sites. The area around the hotel is full of trattorias, gelaterias, and boutiques.

My daughter paid E200 for a large double, breakfast included.

barbee,

I stayed at Hotel Giardino Rome **. My single room was 95E/night, but that was 4 years ago. Loved this little hotel. Super helpful and nice owner and staff, cozy, clean and in a great location for walkin everywhere. It's on XXIV via Maggio between Trajan's market and the Quirinale. 5 minutes walk to Fontana Trevi, about 15 minutes to Coliseum. They answer e mails quickly, but like most hotels, it's small. They have about 12 rooms. Street facing rooms have double paned windows and I (as a super light sleeper) slept like a rock.

Buon viaggio

Hi.

Check out Genio. Three star and perfect location.

You're welcome.

This hotel is at the other end of Via Condotti from the Spanish Steps:

http://www.fontanellaborghese.com/where_we_are.html

Note the special rates offered July 15th to August 31st and for stays longer than 3 nights. You could extend your time in Rome to 4 nights and stay the last night free.

Thanks everyone, I appreciate the suggestions. Any others will also be welcomed. Also since we are taking a cruise at the end of our 3 days in Rome, does anyone know the easiest transportation to Cittiavechio (cruise docks) from the Center of Rome?

Easy would be a limo service which would cost about 120-150€. Otherwise the train which will cost less than 5€ per person.

After a lot of research, we have booked the Hosianum Palace for early June. The rate is 184 Euros per night double and this includes breakfast. What swung it for us was the fact that the hotel has a rooftop terrace for breakfast, which sounds very appealing! The hotel is within easy walking distance of all the historic sights and a short bus ride from St. Peter's.

Thanks everyone, has anyone stayed or heard of Hotel Lumiere di Piazza di Spagna? It got some good reviews on another site.
Where would we catch the train to go to Cittiavechio? at the Main terminus station?
Also does anyone know about the Roma Pass? We are there for three days and wondered it this was a good idea?
Is there such a thing as a Hop on Hop off bus?

In Trastevere, check out the Hotel San Francesco:
http://www.hotelsanfrancesco.net/

Nice location, huge breakfast buffet, casual rooftop bar with great views. Our room was a little dark but fine, and had a large, bright bathroom.

I'm going to stay in Trastevere next visit in June--previously stayed at Albergo Del Senato next to the Pantheon which I like, but which is quite a bit more expensive.

I booked the WRH Trastevere and booked on Venere. I'm paying around 150 Eu a night for two nights (Rates are highest Fri/Sat and low during the week.) It doesn't have all night reception desk and the breakfast is a certificate for a nearby cafe. That said it looks interesting and again I am looking forward to trying Trastevere.

http://www.wrh-trastevere.com/

You catch the train to Civit from Termini. It is a commuter run -- three to four an hour, 45mins to 1:15 depending on the train and the price will be between 8 and 12E -- again depending on the train. The Civt train station is about a mile from the port entrance --- an easy walk along the beach. A shuttle bus from the port entrance will take you to your ship. There is a local bus (1.10E) from the station to the port entrance --- BUT -- the line and wait is long so we always walk. Taxis are available EXCEPT they do want to make the short run.

The Rome pass is good. Yes, a hop on/off bus.

If returning to Rome after your cruise, buy round trip tickets because the line to buy ticket in Civit is impossible when the cruise ships dock.

PS -- We always stay in the Termini area just for the convenience of the train station and buses.

fmpden, thanks for the info on the trains. One other question if you can help. We are going home on the day we return to Rome from the cruise so we will be going to the airport. So, not knowing where the airport is in relation to the cruisedock, should we take the train back into Rome Termini(buying a return train ticket as you suggested) or is there another way from the Cruisedock to the airport that is more direct? Where do you stay in Rome? somewhere you can recommend?

It depends in part on when you plane departs. The airport is more or less in the same area as Civit. Think of a triangle with Rome at the top and Civit is in the left cornerand airport in right corner. Unfortunately there is no public transportation, that I am aware of, that connects Civit and the airport. I am guessing by taxi that it would be 30 to 40 between the two.

When the cruises ships unload, especially if more than one, it is a mob scene at the port entrance. It is a small area. Some people will have prearrange for drivers and vans and will be looking for them. And there will be dozen of taxis eager to take you to the airport or Rome. That would be the most direct but an GUESSING that the cost would be between 50 and 100 E and probably closer to a 100..

If you take the train back to Rome and then the Leonard Express to the airport it would take about 3 hours total. And the cost for two would be in the range of 42 E. Maybe you could find someone on the ship to share a limo/van. You would be hard pressed to get four people and luggage in one taxi.

We never book it that tight. We have been on two cruise out of Rome and will be back in September. We generally stay in the Hotel Sonya, but have used Contilia and Aberdeen. The Aberdeen is a touch nicer and a little farther from Termini whereas Sonya has the better breakfast and is about two blocks from the station.

Hope this helps. If you other questions contact me directly.

You would book your train Civitavecchia to Roma Trastevere (enter this on Trenitalia to see choices) not Roma Termini. All are R trains and travel time is as littls as 49 minutes and as much as 60 minutes. Cost is 4.10€ for most, but one is 6€. From Roma Trastevere station you can catch the train to Fiumicino. There is no need to go all they way to Roma Termini. It would just waste time. On Trenitalia, enter Roma Trastevere and Fiumicino Aeroporto as the station to see schedules, but basically these trains depart every 15 minutes and travel time is about 25 minutes. Cost is 5.50€.

kybourbon's suggestion is good. Forgot about the stop at Trastevere. That would knock at least 30 min off the trip and changing trains at Trastevere would be quicker and easier. As I posted earlier we have never gone directly to the airport. But I cannot over emphasis that if you chose this route buy your tickets in Rome AND validate in the little yellow boxes. The cheapest tickets will be second class and no reservation. One time we did have to ride most of the way standing because the trains was packed.

There won't be a class choice at all on most of these trains and no reserved seats. It's all one class and one price except for the one I mentioned for 6€ which is for 1st class (still no reserved seat though), but that doesn't run as often.