Visiting Rome
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Visiting Rome
March 2009
Any recommendations for a reasonably priced, centrally located hotel in Rome? I
will be there for several days by myself in July.
traveler
I like the Hotel Smeraldo in Rome, which is in the Campo dei Fiori area.
Completely updated and private. Lovely bakery and cafe right across the way
and within walking distance to most of the major sites. We did not chose the
breakfast as part of the hotel cost, and were glad. Their prices went up a
bit last year, but I am willing to bet they are more reasonable this year!
Bring ear plugs--small hotels are often located on tiny streets, which means
lots of mopeds coming and going.
sarah
My favorite hotel for the price was always hotel in parione, near the Campo
de' Fiori. I lived near there for a year, and I was convinced that it was
literally the best 50 meters in the entire city. It's on the cheaper side, but
it's not a total dive, as most cheap backpacker hotels in central Rome are. It
has much-needed A/C in summer, for instance. It's where everyone who visited
me while I lived in Rome used to stay, and they were all very happy with it.
Enjoy Rome!
Amy F
Try looking at CiaoBambino.com - http://www.ciaobambino.com/ great resource
for family travel, I've used them a couple of times and have always had great
results.
jk
Nov 2008
Hi - My family wants to go to Rome this summer and I have been
charged with dealing with the logistics. I need advice as to how
to go about planning a trip for 8 adults and 6 kids ranging in age
between 6 and 1 year old. The focus is Rome but we are also
interested in wandering the local area. I usually make my own
travel arrangements when we travel but I am open to working with a
travel agent if anyone has a fabulous recommendation for
me. Thanks for your help.
Roaming around with kids
Our family (2 adults, an 11 yro and a 8 yro) went to Rome this
spring and had a great time. I recommend you stay in an apartment
(you can search on the internet) near a place of interest such as
the Campo dei Fiori or Pantheon. Plan on lots of walking and try to
get to places first thing in the morning to beat the lines or
crowds. There's a great book called Rome with Kids that has lots of
wonderful suggestions for activities. My older kid, who is
interested in history, loved walking along the Tiber and seeing the
Temple of Hercules and Castel Sant'Angelo. He also really enjoyed
the Museum of Roman Civilization out in EUR -- lots of models of
ancient Rome, battles, great [boy?] stuff. I love Rome and could go
on and on...so email me if you'd like to talk further.
Brenda
March 2007
My husband and I are traveling to Rome in late April and are looking for a place to stay. We are trying to
decide if we want a hotel or an apartment. The hotels are very expensive in Rome and even a modest one is
$350 per night. My husband is tall so a tiny hotel room won't cut it. The apartments are a more
affordable option but many of the good one's are already booked. Can anyone suggest a good/great hotel or
apartment in Rome. We would like to be within walking distance to some sites as well.
Grazie!
We stayed during last easter in a wonderful apartment hotel,
very close to Piazza Navona and within walking distance to many
interesting places. It's called Palazzo Olivia,
http://www.palazzo-olivia.it/inglese/palazzo/index.html
Katri
Few years ago we were in the same situation and ended up in
Tivoli, just outside of Rome in a beautiful quiet town rich with
history. Had a great time at the Hotel Villa D'Este
http://www.italialodging.com/est/villadeste/
We took a commuter train into Rome in the mornings, returned late
afternoon and really enjoyed the peace of the town where antique
Roman bathtubs serve as wall fountains or flower boxes on the
side streets. Have a great trip!
anon
There is a great newsletter and website that would give good leads for a family
friendly apt in Rome - www.journeywoman.com
They take the ''for women, by women'' approach to travel. I found an apartment in
Rome, with washing machine, 6 years ago using their classified listings and was very
satisfied.
And its just fun to read their newsletter and ''armchair'' travel.
Ms. Travel
Hello, if you're interested in renting a flat -- I'd highly
recommend Old Town Apartments. We just came back from a
vacation in Madrid and rented a great flat from this company on
the recommendation from my best friend who used them for a flat
in Barcelona. They have flats in Rome that look great. Check
them out -- www.apartmentsapart.com The prices are reasonable,
the staff is very friendly and helpful -- and if you're
computer friendly, it's easy to ask questions via email or
Skype.
Loved our Madrid apartment....
Oct 2006
My daughter (in her early 20's) who is travelling in Europe
with a girl-friend would like a recommendation for an
inexpensive but decent place to stay in Rome, Italy for three
nights while visiting that city in October.
Thank you all so very much
L.
First, go to the bookstore (bring a piece of paper and pen) and
find Rick Steve's book, ''Rome 2006'' or ''Best of Europe 2006''
guidebook. Or better yet, buy the book. Look up his
suggestions, then go to www.tripadvisor.com and read reviews.
Another suggestion (without leaving home) is to go to
Frommers.com and look up hotels in Rome. Again, then go to
www.tripadvisor.com and read reviews for individual hotels
listed.
Kathleen
Aug 2006
We are going to Rome and then the island of Sardinia with our
son who will be 22 months old, in October. Any recommendations
of family-friendly places to stay and child-friendly things to
do in Sardinia (places to visit, restaurants, etc)?
Also, we have a place to stay in Rome already, but if you have
suggestions of things to do in Rome, that would be great as
well. Thanks!
ct
When you are in Rome, you MUST go on a tour of the Vatican and
see St. Peter's Basilica, if nothing else (and this coming from
a nice Jewish girl!). Wikipedia.org has a good entry for St.
Peter's Basilica, including some great pictures, if you want an
armchair tour before you go
Lori
April 2006
For our 50th birthdays, my best friend and I will be travelling
to Rome the last week of March. Would appreciate any
suggestions for places to eat and where to shop (not Prada,
thank you...!). We have all the cultural stuff covered, so
just want some off-the-beaten path suggestions for the other
things to do. Has anyone done a Sunday on the Appian Way? Any
general suggestions of how to make the trip a success would be
appreciated (do's/don'ts). I have not been to Italy in 20
years. We will be staying in the Campo dei Fiori area and we
will be there for a week.
Grazie!
Try to make reservations at Restaurant Pietro, Via Pianelleri, 19, Rome. 7 tables only,
get the house apperitif, behind piazza novona, by St Agostino church. Recommended to us
by Parco de Principi Hotel. We went twice during a long weekend visit. We loved the
laid back ambience, attentive service, reasonable price tag, and of course the food.
karen
April 2004
We will be flying to Rome in June with our 20 month old son and
are looking for recommendations to stay either near Rome or in a
city semi close to drive to or take the train to. In our ideal
world we'd like something with a bedroom, main room and
kitchen. We'd consider the Amalfi Coast but aren't sure how
close it is and I've heard it's not super child friendly. Any
recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Stephanie
If you're flying into Rome you're probably flying into the
airport at Fuimicino. The last couple of times we stayed at a
hotel right in Fuimicino instead of dealing with the traffic in
Rome. Fuimicino is a fishing, beach town. You can walk to the
beaches (some public) and lots of restaurants and gelaterias.
You can take a short train or taxi ride to Rome. Unfortunately,
the taxi ride can be a little expensive ($40+ each way), but
then you don't have to deal with the traffic and parking. Watch
the crazy taxi drivers though...
Italy lover
How exciting for you. We went to Rome with our 12 month old in
October and LOVED it. The Romans really love kids: in shops,
restaurants, etc. all were really kind and engaging with our
son.
I really recommend renting an apartment. There are lots of
agencies who can arrange everything for you (the apt, airport
transfers, crib, cell phone, etc.) We ended up renting through
comfortitalia.com and stayed at Pasquino: great price,
FANTASTIC location near Campo de Fiori/Piazza Navona where
there's lots of good stuff happening. I wouldn't recommend
Pasquino--brick floor, a lttle dirty. Friends of ours rented
from romanhomes.com and got a place called Botticelli in the
same area and it was an awesome apartment. Both were fully
equipped so you could easily do breakfast in, pack a lunch, do
dinners in, too, if you want to break up your amount of
restauranting.
In Campo de Fiori, there's an open air market every day where
we'd get fresh meat, pasta, veggies, bread for meals. It's
very central, not far to the trains for a day trip--which we
never took because we were so busy seeing the sites in our 10
days there--we had our son on our backs the whole time and
really made a good pace getting through the city.
There's a ton to see in Rome, I highly recommend it and can't
wait to go back. Enjoy!
loved roma
Sept 2003
My husband and I would like to go to Rome for 11 or 12 days in
November. Could someone please recommend a place to stay? We
don't care if it is a hotel, apartment or B&B. It cannot be too
expensive. Please help. Thanks.
PJ
There is this great website ''vacation rental by owner''
http://www.vrbo.com
Friends of mine rented an apartment in Venice for a week through this
site and were really happy. We also just recently rented a cabin near
Mendocino through them. (and it worked out real well)
Bea
If you don't mind sharing your home, we recently did a house
exchange and it was wonderful. Checkout www.intervacon-
line.com We haven't heard of a bad experience yet ... only many
many families that will only travel that way from now on (us
included). Free stay, usually the use of a car, plus a great
connection.
m.
My husband and I stayed at the Residenza Zanardelli on a trip to
Rome two years ago. It is a tiny B&B just a 1/2 block away from
the Piazza Navona. It is in the middle of everything (the
Coliseum is 15 - 20 minute walk one way and the Vatican is 10 to
15 the other way...the Spansih Steps are about a five minute
walk from there...amazing location. There web-site is
http://www.hotelnavona.com/. They also have a sister hotel (the
hotel Navona, which isn't quite as nice, but still seems like a
good enough place to stay) There website is saying 90 Euros per
night for four nights. You can probably negotiate a better deal
for a longer stay. The owner is an Australian-Italian and quite
the storyteller. I loved my stay there and National Geographic
Traveler listed it as one of 'Romes Affordable Rooms with 4-star
standards.' Send me an e-mail if you want information on the
other hotels listed in the article.
Jan
Feb 2003
I would appreciate recommendations for places to stay in Rome
(near the Spanish Steps) and Sorrento during the spring break
for two adults and two children (9 and 14). Hotel, B&B, villa or
apartment would be okay. We're also open to other suggestions.
I visited Rome 10 years ago and had the oppulent opportunity to
stay at The Hassler which is at the top of the Spanish Steps. I
noticed a small hotel, with a lovely rooftop dining area just
across the street. Unfortunately, I do not remember it's name
but perhaps if you were to contact The Hassler Concierge desk
they would help you. Also, you may want to try american express
travel services they may be able to investigate it for you.
On a side note, there is a wonderful tratorria located just
under the Spanish Steps. As you are walking down, make a left
on a side corridor of steps before reaching the bottom and the
trattoria is immediately on your left.
Courtney
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