Can anyone give me any tips on where i can find a decent affordable hotel in Rome?

Leo - What do you mean by affordable, i.e. what do you want to spend? The Fodors listing has good descriptions for all price ranges. Be sure to check the Rants & Raves section too for comments from travelers.

Leo, I stayed at Pensione Panda by the Spanish Steps (www.hotelpandaparadise.com) and really liked it. Another suggestion is to do a search for 'Rome hotel' and click on Italy in the picklist. Good luck.

We stayed at Hotel Due Torri last May. It was wonderful. Many people on this forum have stayed there and enjoyed it as well. Expect to pay more in Rome that other places in Italy, but IT IS WORTH IT! We didn't need a bus or a train to get anywhere we wanted to go in the city (we were there 3 nights). Walked to colliseum, St Peters, Trastevere (that was a hike, but delightful). Hotel is a couple blocks north of Piazza Navona, about one block from the river. It was, I believe 320,000 per night for a double. Quiet, cute view over the rooftops, air conditioned, terrific bathroom, good bed, minibar, decent breakfast. What more do you need?

We have stayed at the Colonna Palace Hotel and the Hotel Portoghesi...and enjoyed both.<BR><BR>They are near each other in the Centro Storico area which, for us, was the ideal location. Everyone I know who stays in this area falls in love with Rome...as did we. <BR><BR>Write me if you have questions.

Initially we stayed at Hotel Margutta near the Spanish Steps. It only cost us 150,000L but it had no a/c and the room was too basic so we left. We found and liked Hotel Julia at abt 170,000L. (US$100) at that time.It is near Via Barberini just south of Via Veneto which is the most expensive area.

Piazza Barberini is not the most expensive area in Rome, but rather the Spanish Steps and the Spanish Square, Via Condotti, Borgognona, and vicinities. Via Veneto was, once, the most aristocratic and expensive area in Rome, but no longer, although is still more expensive than other areas, like the Piazza Barberini itself.<BR><BR>Campo dei Fiori is a good location and not overly expensive as are other districts. The Due Torri is a nice recommendation, as is its sister hotel, whose name I don't recall right now. Besides, is more central to the sites than Via Veneto.<BR><BR>Regards,<BR><BR>S

In Rome once I stayed at a place near the Vatican called Pensione Ottaviano, which is not a pension, but rather is a hostel and one toilet for the whole place (and it was broken). Anyway, this was a move up because we originally stayed in a dump near the train station because it was cheap. A lot of people ask me for about hostels in Rome in case their number one choice is booked ? so here are some options. I have heard good things about a place called Casa Olmata Via dell'Olmata 36, 00184 Ph. +39 06 483 019 Fax. +39 06 474 2854; Open all year. Curfew 2am - a small family-run place, centrally located between the Coliseum and Termini station. Supposedly they have spaghetti parties a few times a week where they cook for everyone (for free!), and the access to the Internet is also free. I have heard mixed things about Hotel Alessandro(on a side street off Termini). There are two hostels with this same name. One is called the Palace and is located at Via Vincenza 42, 00185; Ph. +39 06 446 1958 Fax. +39 06 493 80534. The other one is new and is called the downtown hostel and is located at Via Carlo Cattaneo 23, 00185 Ph. +39 06 443 40147 Fax. +39 06 493 80534<BR><BR>Some other hostels that I am aware of in Rome are <BR>M+J Place - Via Solferino 9, 00185<BR>Ph. +36 06 4462802 Fax. +39 06 4462802<BR>Open all year. No curfew<BR><BR>Freedom Traveller Hostel<BR>Via Gaeta 25, 00185<BR>Ph. +39 06 478 23862 <BR>Open all year. No curfew. Lockout 10-1330<BR><BR>City Guest House<BR>Viale Opita Oppio 76<BR>Ph. +39 06 76983140 Fax. +39 06 76967961<BR>Open all year. No curfew.<BR><BR>Maria Vittoria Hostel<BR>Via Principe Amedeo138, 00175<BR>Ph. +39 06 76907285<BR>Open all year. No curfew<BR><BR>Stargate Hostel<BR>Via Palestro 88, 00185<BR>Ph. +39 06 4457164 Fax. +39 06 49384134<BR>Open all year. No curfew<BR><BR>Casa Christina<BR>Via Varese 15, 00185<BR>Ph. +39 06 4461879 Fax. +39 06 4461879<BR>Open all year. No curfew.<BR><BR>Papa Germano<BR>Via Calatafimi 14/A, 00185<BR>Ph. +39 06 486919 Fax. +39 06 47825202<BR>Open all year. No curfew<BR><BR><BR> I have heard good things about Gullivers House (15 minutes walking from Trajano Column. On double, one quad and two dorms); hotel des artistes (they have internet connection, a rooftop terrace, and food, it's near the station); and another good place to party is the Fawlty Towers,064-450-374,e-mail [email protected], web page www.enjoyrome.it/ftywhtl.htm $15.<BR><BR>If you are looking to stay away from the party crowd, try the Beehive hostel Via Giovanni Lanza 99, 00184<BR>Ph. +39 06 474 0719 <BR>Open all year. No curfew. Lockout 1300-1600 It is small, friendly, very clean, cheap, has a huge bathroom and is located near Termini and the Colosseum. You can make reservations online, the URL is http://www.the-beehive.com/. <BR><BR>

We've stayed at the Due Torri the past two Septembers and wouldn't stay elsewhere. The location is wonderful -- one reason we fell in love with Rome. Many excellent restaurants in the neighborhood.

Not sure what you mean by "decent" and "affordable" but you may want to consider the Borromini in the Parioli district. It's a little off the beaten path, but it's also in a nice residential neighborhood.<BR><BR>Helpful staff, good breakfast, nice air-conditioned room with a balcony. I think it's about 350,000L.

I would not stay in Parioli. Very far from the sights of Rome. You will spend a lot of time in Taxi's or on busses just to get to the center. <BR><BR>Try looking in Trastevere. I have heard good things about La Cisterna but not stayed there. Santa Chiara by the Pantheon is nice but I had surly service fromt the front desk. But I couldn't fault the rooms or the location. <BR><BR>At the risk of being accused of shilling for the owners of this apartment, I recomend swtaying in Trastevere at property 1740 on the following site. You have to search on Trastevere to bring up the listing. The apartment is very nice, well located and has a great kitchen and bath. Plus my favorite gelateria is just to the right and down a black as you exit the apartment.<BR><BR>http://www.1001-villa-holidaylets.com/<BR><BR>it ran about 160 a night and sleeps 2 or 4 with 2 folding beds in the living room

We're staying at the Esmeraldo for<BR>200,000 lire (under $100) with breakfast. Very central location near<BR>Campo de' Fiori/Piazza Navona (must visit the market<BR>at least 1 day before starting out).<BR>Came highly recommended. Here's their<BR>website: http://www.hotelsmeraldoroma.com