Should I be having second thoughts of our hotel in Rome?
 

I've been posted many threads about our itinerary..and one poster had mentioned that my hotel is in a bad area and that he/she recommended we look for something else.
My husband and I are staying at the Ambra Palace Hotel in Rome. It's very close to the train staion and nothing else really.
We got a wholesale price from our travel agent at about 200Euro a night...roughly.
I'm not too worried becuase I know we'll usually take a cab to our destinations and walk most the day, then a cab back.
Has anyone stayed here? I wouldn't really want to start changing things around at this point....only 2 more weeks to go.
Any thoughts...opinions??

Thanks in advance,

Samantha

I stayed by Termini a couple months ago- nothing to be worried about. Two college girls and we felt perfectly safe.

As I stated on another post-I've walked all over central Rome, including Termini, late at night by myself with no problems. There is nothing to be afraid of in central Rome and this area-Termini is not the Termini of the 90's and before-some of the hippest new clubs and hotels are opening in the area, plus Termini Station itself is a great shopping destination and holds art exhibitions-it's an ideal area to walk to most of Rome's ancient sites, the beautiful Santa Maria Maggiore, great little restaurants-this is one of my favorite areas to stay in-Esquilino/Via Cavour/Nazionale.

There is no need to waste money on a cab in the daytime. Take the Metro or the bus, you'll be fine. Or just walk.

I agree with the others. I stayed near the train station and it was great. And it was safe and I liked eating and shopping at the train station. There several police officers hanging around there too. And don't forget you can catch a bus or train there to anywhere in italy. I thought that was pretty cool.

We stayed at The Empire Palace Hotel.

I guess my question would be whether you are getting good value for 200 Euros per night. I know Rome hotels are expensive, though.

Termini is seedy but I don't think particularly dangerous. Some hookers around at night, a few drunks sleeping it off in the day. Pretty mild compared to most "skid row" neighborhoods in, say, New York. In fact, I wouldn't call it a skid row.

I, too, am wondering if 200EU is well-spent, when you are also buying cab fares every day. So many nice hotels in Rome, less than 200EU, centrally located, and recommended highly here-- why deal with an out-of-the-way location? I feel the location of the hotel determines so much how you will feel about a city. I prefer to be close to things, so I can come and go easily if I need something from the hotel, or to take a break.
:)>-

Is there some reason you wanted to stay in that area? The Pantheon area and the Piazza Navona area are so central and so easy to walk to most anywhere from, I would think that it would be more desirable and I know you can find accommodations for about the same money and even less. Go on TripAdvisoe and look at places like Locanda Senatorum or Albergo Del Senato, both great places and so much more central, I would think. But, regardless, relax and enjoy the entire experience, it's like no other, in my humble opinion. Godspeed,
Leslie

The area is fine, Not sure I would say that it is great as someone else suggested. However, I do question the 200. Not familar with your hotel. We have stayed in this area three times and will be returning in late May. Our hotel is a 3 Star, double, 135 Euro.

Thanks for all the opinions. When we made the arrangements over a month ago, we did it with a travel agent, since both my husband and I were unfamiliar with Rome overall! We had a budget, and the hotel looks very nice and have heard great reviews on it, besides the location. I am however from Brooklyn, and even though I live in a beautiful beach town in Cali now...always see "bad" areas.
I think we will use the train often..can't be any worse off than the subways in Brooklyn right? lol
Now that I'm more familiar with Rome after reviewing many posts and doing our itinerary, is when I had second thoughts.

Anyone who calls the area "seedy" doesn't know the area, and/or hasn't been around Termini in quite a while, and as far as "dangerous," (that makes me smile) let me remind everyone that there were two very serious assaults on young women in central Rome last year-BOTH of them in the area of Pantheon/Navona/Campo dei Fiori, and they were foreign women, one American.

200 Euros a night for the Termini area (probably safe but terribly dull)?

Three weeks ago we paid (off-season and discounted) just over 200 USD a night for a lovely 2 bed, 2 bath penthouse apartment with wrap-around terrace (vrbo.com #74310) near the much posher Piazza de Popolo.

Personally (and this is just my suggestion) I would contact www.sleepinitaly.com and ask what they have available in apartment rentals -- you cannot go wrong with the charming Giulia, their NA contact person.....

I stayed i near Termini some time ago. I felt safe but after a few day I changed hotels to be in a nicer area ( the Spanish Steps) The hotel rate was the same. I would not stay in that location for the reason you mentioned and I found out - there is nothing there.

Sammy-I just looked up your hotel-you are on Via Principe Amadeo, right off the Via Nazionale and just down the street from the Colisseum in one direction, and Santa Maria Maggiore in the other-your hotel gets very good reviews, and many people commented on the good location- for its convenience to the ancient sites, you'll be able to jump on any of the three marvelous hop on/off buses right there at Termini-and/or go whereever else you want in Rome by bus or by train, plus, there is a huge shopping arcade in Termini, as well as hip clubs (ICE CLUB) on Via Cavour and a lovely little cafe/bar right in front of Santa Maria Maggiore, where you can admire the beautiful frescoes on the front of the basilica all lit up at night-that won't be more than a 5 minute walk from your hotel. You'll see.

Girlspytravel...thanks for the info..and everyone else for their opinions. I knew we were close to the Coliseum...thats great!
I'm excited! Is the termini the same as the subway?? Is that where we could take it to the Vatican and places a little more distant?

There are 2 subway lines: both cross at Termini, the train station.

The one that goes to Collosseum will not take you to the Vatican; for that you have to change at Termini.

"Anyone who calls the area "seedy" doesn't know the area, and/or hasn't been around Termini in quite a while,"

Hmm . . spent two or three hours in the area in February. Struck me as seedy -- drunks, beggars, cheap stores -- none of which should prevent the OP from having a great time.

I've never stayed in that area and have no desire to. I've accepted the idea that some people do, but usually because they didn't want to spend much for a hotel. But for 200 euro, I'd be looking for a more central location.

What hotel is your travel agent getting a 200 euro "wholesale price" for and what exactly does that mean? Is wholesale a 10% discount from full rack rates or what?

Hmm. well, again, as far as "seediness" and "drunks" one can see that anywhere in central Rome-perhaps you haven't noticed all the graffiti in the tourist choked areas of central Rome. Th area around Santa Maria Maggiore could not be more lovely, particularly at night, and some very good restaurants are in this area as well-there are less tourists, more locals, small ancient monuments, cobblestone streets-all right down the street from Termini. It's an excellent location, and it is where many of the new hotels are going up, where they are renovating old palazzos into hotels, like the Hotel Antico Palazzo Rospigliosi, former home to a 16th century Pope, which is just to the side of SMM.

Echoing other posters, E200 does seem a lot for the area, unless there is something special about the hotel.

Around Termini is not an area I particularly like as it's not that convenient for the sights compared to the historic centre, and I do think it's a bit seedy (and yes, girlspytravel, I have been there recently). But that's not to say you shouldn't stay there - just that there are far nicer neighbourhoods and for E200 per night you could stay in one.

Well with only two weeks to go it might not be so easy to rebook - esp. to some of the "favorites" on this board. Go to www.tripadvisor.com for more reviews of your hotel. Then if you really want to try to change you can go to www.venere.com and put in your dates and see what is available. Hotels in Rome are pricey. There is alot of convenience in staying in the Termini area - have stayed in that area twice. Easy to get cabs there or take the buses - just be vigilant about your purse or however you carry your money when on the buses - I have seen pickpocketing going ons several times.

Looked at the hotel site. Their rack rate for a double room is E209. I guess that is what you are paying. You may have got it cheaper booking through a discounter but the hotel itself looks v. nice.

I would follow suggestions others have given for trying to find a hotel located in a more central interesting neighborhood. But I would not panic if you can't find anything. I am sure you will be ok at the Ambra Palace near the Termini.

It's not the greatest of areas but it's fine. I've stayed around there twice out of my many visits to Rome - it wouldn't be my first choice but I'd consider it if I couldn't find anywhere better, or if someone else had booked it, or whatever (my last stay round there was on a rugby trip !).

In my experience you won't be getting trains/the underground much, though, as they don't go to many places you'd want to go and couldn't walk just as easily. It's worth getting a bus to the Vatican, though.

Samantha, I agree with many others - it is not the greatest location, but it will not be the end of the world. Central Rome is very walkable, you are just going to be at one end of the walkable part instead of in the middle. But since you still have two weeks left and it is not yet high season, why not check some of the more centrally located hotels that come highly recommended on this board and Trip Advisor? Perhaps you can find a last-minute deal. Obviously you don't want to cancel your reservation unless/until you find something else.

As just ONE of many possibilities in your price range, I booked the Residenza di Canali for 185 Euro in mid-June:
www.residenzacanali.com

Some others I looked at:
www.albergosantachiara.com
www.albergocesari.it

Regarding public transit - it is not like Paris; there are only two subway lines. Most people walk or take the bus. If you get a hotel near the Pantheon or Campo de Fiori you can walk pretty much everywhere in the Centro Storico in 30 minutes or less.

Last October we stayed at The Hotel San Carlo, a few blocks away from the Spanish Step. We thought that the location and the accommodations were great. We plan on staying there again in October 2008.

Again, there are parts of Termini (specifically towards Esquilino/SMM) that are absolutely lovely, not seedy, and a 5 minute walk from the OP's hotel. If you don't know that area, maybe you ought to get to know it before pronouncing judgment that all of Termini is "seedy" and rundown-and as far as well located and accessible-at SMM you can pick up the hop on/off buses, there's a taxi stand, there are 4 intenet points on Via Cavour, great little local trattoria, and I can walk to the Colisseum, Forii Imperiali in 5 minutes, and jump on a bus or walk to Piazza Navona, if I'm so inclined-it could not be more convenient-because the bus connections are right there.

Not everyone wants to be located in the tourist mass in the historical center-swimming through the "crowd baths" as they call it in Italian to the historical sites. In fact, the area around Esquilino is so quiet at night that I thought everyone was on vacation, but it was September-beautiful area-with all these ancient little monuments, that you don't read about in the guidebooks.

Sammygrll- I second tedgale on contacting sleepinitaly.com they have far better choices at a more reasonable price than the 200 EURO you will be paying. I paid 83 EURO's a night for a lovely B&B in Trastevere a month ago...

To agree with Hausfrau and clarify: I stated the OPs hotel was not in the most attractive or convenient part of Rome for the itinerary she has planned. This is true. Termini may have improved, but at 200 euro/night especially, it is not the best choice for their itinerary or length of stay. Why tack on an extra 15-20 minute walk through an area of (at best) limited interest and charm that offers nothing on the OPs itinerary each and every time they must come and go from their hotel to see the things that ARE in their plans? Or rely on a cab (never plentiful enough) when Rome is fabulous on foot? The journey to each 'must-see' is as enjoyable as the actual destination and you miss so much from a vehicle.

A more central location as noted would allow them to get the most out of their stay as they can reach the far edges of the old city with never more than a 30-minute stroll and everything else would be mere minutes from their door. This provides the pleasureable opportunity to grow familiar with famous landmarks and appreciate them in the changing light because they aren't something you have to "get to" just once to see...when living centrally you naturally pass many of them every day on your way to other things and when you can conveniently pop back 'home' to freshen up or take a break.

OP stated this trip "meant everything" to her and her husband so it would be remiss not to suggest what her agent should have known in the first place and the rest know from experience.

Did I miss the part where we see how many nights you're talking about?

I think 200E a night is a LOT of money for that area.

I just got back from Rome about two weeks ago and I stayed at the Ambra Palace. The rooms are gorgeous and we fully enjoyed our stay there. Our favorite was the TV - it was the only place in Italy we could get Fox News!! ;) The district is not so much 'seedy' as just different.. It's the Indian district, so there are lots of Indian shops and restaurants in that area. It is a little low income but there aren't homeless people or shady characters lurking around or anything like that. I felt safe walking in the area with friends, but I wouldn't do it alone. It definitely isn't close to anything, but we walked to the Coloseum and the Forum from our hotel and it didn't feel like a terribly long walk. I would keep your reservation - it's not that bad!

Stacy...thats great!! Thanks! The Ambra looks great online...and we wanted something thats was 4 stars..so I'm glad to hear it!
2 weeks away..can't wait!

I think you shouldn't be too worried about it, worst thing is that you might have to change hotels. Take a look at http://www.eurobookings.com/hotel-guide if you need extra information about hotels. Is a good resource.

Sammy, once you walk up the street to Santa Maria Maggiore, you'll see how lovely and interesting the Piazza SMM and Esquilino really is.

The best thing about a hotel IN ROME is a TV? and Fox News?
mama mia!

Some people like and need their
Fox news, they don't like to watch "Porta a Porta" like I do! (this show is like Meet the Press in Italy)

It's been a few years since I was in Rome, and prices are high. But to me, it's not just about the neighborhood, but how close you are to the sights, and the Termini isn't it.

I'm in agreement with others here who think you can do better on location for $200/night.

Also: One thing I learned in my travels is that just because the name "Palace" is in the hotel name -- doesn't mean it is one. ;)

Jules

The hotel is very nice, but why they put it there is beyond me.