Staying away from Spanish Steps/Pantheon
 

I am planning my first trip to Rome. I know the "hot" spot to stay is the Spanish Steps/Pantheon area the demand is so high I can't affort anything that looks good. I am leaning towards staying in the area of Ancient Rome near the Forum. It appears I can get more bang for my buck (and the dollar is weak!). Any thoughts?

Hi m,

Also look at the Trastevere district.

((I))

what is your budget per night? and are you traveling alone?

Once you've finally been to Rome you'll figure out that people who actually GO to Rome have figured out that the Spanish Steps is tourist-clogged (probably for good reason) but it is not even the only place to stay in Rome.

Want some "action"...then go to the Steps after dark..there's plenty and of varying kinds to be had, believe me.

Stay where you feel you get the most for your money and while you are in Rome, swing by the Spanish Steps..they don't much but sit there and once you've seen them..well, you've seen them.

Enjoy your trip

Check out the Campo di Fiori or Piazza Navona areas. We stayed in Campo and loved it - it was reasonably close to the Vatican and to the Pantheon, but away from the clogged streets around the Spanish Steps. The Forum might be good, too, but I don't have any experience with the area.

hard to really help if we don't know the budget.

Just curious, why are you thinking of staying in the Forum/Collosium area??

The Forum/Collosium area is, of course, a must for sightseeing, but not really the best area basing your hotel stay.

What exactly is your budget?

The Campo Dei Fiori neighborhood will cost less than the Pantheon area, but is still a very pleasant, central neighborhood. I would recommend against the Spanish Steps area at any price. Trastevere is probably the least expensive central area of them all and is acceptable if your budget is super tight.

BTW - The Spanish Steps area and the Pantheon area are as different as night and day. I don't think they can be lumped together (other than they are both areas in Rome).

Public transportation in Rome is extremely easy to use. I always stay outside of the touristy areas at a nicer hotel for less money, then take a bus to whatever location I will be speding the day/evening. All the touristy spots are easily located off the bus lines.

For what it's worth, we stayed for 5 days last fall at Hotel Dei Borgognoni within blocks of Trevi Fountain and had a wonderful time. We had a private tour guide with van so our location was not dependent on public transit, but bus lines ran just a block from the hotel. Don't know what your budget is exactly, but I'd stay at this place again in a heartbeat.

Just be cautious on the bus lines, I believe bus 64 is the one that is notorious for pickpockets who target visitors. One of my neighbors had to wrestle his wallet back from a little old lady that picked his pocket on this bus.

Two summers ago we stayed at a hotel right next to the Pantheon. I cant think of the name but we had very nice rooms with a balcony. We could almost touch the Pantheon. It was wonderful. Very nice Piazza della Rotunda. The hotel had a nice bar on the rooftop with some nice views also.

milkbox,

First of all, I really like your screen name.

Second, I haven't stayed near Ancient Rome, but I would certainly consider it.

I have stayed in the Campo dei Fiori/Navona area,Trastevere and facing the Pantheon. All really great locations, but I'm a bigtime walker and wouldn't mind staying further afield. I've heard a lot about how fun Monti (sp?) is as well.

Rome is smaller than it looks on a map. Stay wherever you can afford and have a wonderful time in what is truly a magnificent city.

I should clarify: Rome is big, but the historical center and immediate environs are (to me) small/very walkable.

Milkbox-
I'm also was in the same boat (1st trip)- but I found a hotel on Expedia called Hosianum Palace (***1/2) which is right behind Piazza Venezia (Forum area), right near Campo Fiori.
Rates were very reasonable for the area.
It also depends when your're going- I'm going July, when it's hot, so I really don't want to sweat it out on a bus far from ctr of town.
Check it out on Expedia, rates pretty reasonable.

-Ayoldguy1

Best hotel deal in Rome for the budget traveler. Great buffet breakfast, CNN TV, easy walk to all the tourist traps, safe neighborhood, good price.

http://www.travel.it/roma/julia/

Larry J

I concur with Larry's appraisal. Email [email protected] and ask for a "single economical room" if you want the cheapest deal. FYI, those rooms do not have air conditioning, and the shower is external.

A truely wonderful hotel that doesn't get alot of mention on this site is Villa San Pio in Aventine. It's located in a neighborhood with few tourists.

It's about a 15 minute walk to the Colluseum/Forum, and a few blocks from a metro/train station.

I'm not sure if this is in the price range that you are seeking, but the reviews on tripadvisor are very favorable.

I couldn't find CNN at Hotel Julia, though - that's my only quibble with Larry's post. I'm pretty sure I went through all the channels at different times.

Hello Milkbox,
If you wouold like to stay in the Spanish Steps area, try the hotel King on Via Sistina.
It is 1/2 block from the top of the steps.
99 Euro when we were there last March.
clean, safe, servicable

WillTravel

>>"I couldn't find CNN at Hotel Julia, though - that's my only quibble with Larry's post. I'm pretty sure I went through all the channels at different times."<<

Hotel Julia has CNN. If it did not I would not have said that it did.

Larry J

When was the last time you were there? I was there in January, and really would have liked CNN. If I missed it, I will kick myself ;-).