Hi, I've started to research this topic. These are the ones I'm thinking about. I'd prefer to get something as cheap as possible. But I'll be there on Good Friday, so I'm not sure what the situation will be like.

Albergo della Lunetta

It's recommended by TimeOut and Huitres says that she has stayed there. It only has one review on TripAdvisor. Does someone else know about or has experience with this hotel?

http://www.albergodellalunetta.it/pa...nu_inglese.htm

Huitres also mentioned Campo de' Fiori, but the website claims 150 euros a night at least:

http://www.hotelcampodefiori.com/english/home.htm

So I think it's out for me.

Albergo del Sole al Biscione

http://www.solealbiscione.it/eng/pages/prezzi.html

The reviews on TripAdvisor are ok, and it's recommended by e-rome.

Some hotels mentioned by TimeOut have quite nasty reviews on TripAdvisor -- Fawlty Towers, in particular. Just awful. I wonder why it was recommended in the first place. Also Mimosa's reviews are not very good.

I'm also thinking about Penisione Panda. Looks like this one has good reviews. It's near the Spanish Steps.

Beehive has quite good reviews, but I think that I'd prefer to be in the historical center, and it's near Termini.

Also Colors has quite good reviews, but it's near the Vatican.

Any other safe bets I should look into?

Thanks.

I wouldn't rule out staying near the Vatican. It takes about 20 minutes of pleasant walking to get to Piazza Navona from the Vatican.

My schedule is pretty tight, so I don't think that I want to be near the Vatican, especially since I'm planning a first stop at Villa Farnesina if I can get into the city early enough.

Of course, if there're no other options, I can't rule it out.

I haven't stayed at any of them but that's not going to stop me from giving my opinion.

Opinion: If it's good enough for Huitres, it's good enough for me. Last time I was in Rome I walked by della Lunetta and thought, Oh, nice (enough for me).

2nd choice: Albergo Sole al Biscione. Again, a location thing.

Have a wonderful time. I'm quite envious.

I've to say I agree with you, Leely. Huitres's recommendations are always right on the mark.

Still it doesn't hurt to gather a few more opinions, plus I'm not sure what the situation will be like on Good Friday, so I'm looking at a few so that I can have a couple of choices in case the ones I want are all booked up.

Obviously I'll call soon.

Anyway, I'll only be there for one day, so there won't be much to be envious about.

For some reason, TripAdvisor failed to notice that Albergo della Lunetta has two entries, and one of them has numerous reviews (positive considering the budget nature of the place):
http://tinyurl.com/l2jwm

Fawlty Towers was also featured in one of those Globetrekkers episodes a few years ago. I think you can safely assume it's resting on its laurels at this point. But good hostels in the same area are the Alessandro chain, Papa Germano, and Pop Inn (well, at least they seem to be based on the reviews on other sites).

There's also my previous choice, but I suspect it's much more expensive on Good Friday: http://www.hoteljulia.it

Hi

Are B&Bs on your list? If so try - http://www.babredrose.com/home.html. Or http://www.romanwalls.it might be more convenient for a quick getaway.

Cheers

Stay near Termini if you want cheap but please be careful with bags at night. I would say don't carry them at all after dark! I personally know 4 people who have been robbed right near Termini. Termini is a place to find cheap cheap accommodation and is a good location as far as transportation. Hotel Positano is decent and is 50 euro a night.

I checked Hotel Julia last night, WillTravel, as I saw that you recommended it in another thread. The prices seem high. It's ***.

I'll check the B&B recs later.

Re Termini, I've heard frightening stories, but four robbery attempts? Actually my mom and I stayed at Hotel Columbia for one night and we rolled our bags to Termini early next morning to catch a flight home. It wasn't a cheap hotel -- I think that it was about $150 or more for a very basic room.

I should probably be a little more careful as my flight leaves at 7 am for Paris, but I suspect that I'll just arrange for a cab pickup. I can only save so much money.

Thanks again.

Took a quick glance at Lunetta reviews. Looks ok. Thanks for finding them, WillTravel.

WT: I just checked Hotel Julia's webpage no idea what I was smoking. I guess it's like some other hotels with a wide range of ranges, but the cheapest single is at 48 euros or something. I'll keep it in mind.

Thanks.

We have used the Hotel Des Artistes several times.

We stayed at the Hotel Miami when in Rome last July. They are a couple of blocks from the Termini and maybe 4 or 5 blocks from the Spanish Steps. It was a nice hotel with a very friendly staff (Mario was the biggest help with anything we needed, my 3 year old still talks about Mario). We felt very safe in that area. The address is Via Nazionale 230. We paid 85E for a double and 100E for a quad.

Basically all of these are booked. I called nearly every hotel on my list.

A single in Hotel Miami is going for 120 euros on Venere. I didn't call the hotel.

I've a question on Venere. I'll ask in a separate thread.

hey when I say robbery I mean purse snatching/pick pocketing not held up with a weapon. yes i know 4 people who this has happened to near Termini.

We usually stay in the Termini area and found a good (but basic) B&B 2-3 blocks from Termini. It is very quiet (my first criteria) as it faces an inner courtyard. We paid 50 euros for a double room including breakfast.

What was the B & B, batraveler? Thanks.

I stayed at Fawlty Towers in September 2004 and thought it was just fine. There's an elevator, free internet, and it's quiet. We stayed in a private triple room with bath.

Hi 111op - so where did you end up staying on Good Friday? Or are you still in Rome now? Do tell...

Every time I go back to Rome, I stay in the central Campo Dei' Fiori district, off Corso Vittorio Emanuele Blvd (which is where both the Albergo della Lunetta and the Hotel Campo Dei Fiori on Via Biscione, 6 are located). When I was last there, I walked around the whole Campo and neighboring area, visiting about 6-8 hotels and getting pamphlets of information/rates on each property. Based on my observation and personal experience, the Hotel Campo Dei Fiori offered the most for the money (breakfast is included in the rate); however, I still like the Albergo della Lunetta because it hasn't changed much since 1999 and is still family owned. I can go back and visit and find the same people there. The Hotel Campo Dei Fiori is nice and it is a much larger property with more rooms, but the down-side is often noisy nights from the adjacent Campo piazza. Fortunately, the Albergo della Lunetta is around the corner in the next small piazza and one doesn't hear the noise there. Either way, each property is good and I have no hesitation recommending both of them with equal enthusiasm.

Hi Huitres -- I was just there for one day. I stayed at Gea di Vulcano. It went well. I left my sweater there and they said they had sent it to a friend in London.

I'll write more when I've time.

Thanks!