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Tips and Advice for Finding a Room in Rome

Rome is one of the top travel destinations in the world and as such hotels are often heavily booked. For the best choice of hotels and prices it's best to book in advance. 
There is a wide choice of accommodations in Rome ranging from luxury hotels to budget B&B's (bed and breakfast) so regardless of your needs you'll have plenty of options to choose from during your stay.

Where to stay in Rome

When deciding where to stay you ought to consider what you would like to see and do during your visit. Do you want to stick to just the well-known sites of Rome or do you want to be near transport for day trips outside the city?

Central Rome is quite compact and as such most of the city's main tourist attractions can be visited on foot without too much reliance on public transport. However, there are not too many budget hotels and rooms in this part of town.

Staying outside of central Rome will save you money but will obviously be less convenient.
The area around Termini Station is one of the most popular places for tourists to stay. As Rome's main station it is ideal from a mobility point of view but the same charm and atmosphere of other areas of the city and can at times feel rather seedy.

Rome Hotels / Alberghi a Roma

As you would expect from a city that has entertained it's fair share of the worlds rich and famous, Rome has a large number of luxury 5-star hotels. It's worth bearing in mind that a historic building in the heart of an ancient city doesn't tend to lend itself to facilities like swimming pools so if you're after sports facilities, green space or car parking you're better off looking for a hotel outside the city's central district.

Rome offers an assortment of hotels with 3 and 4 stars which tend to be comfortable without being painfully expensive. These are probably you're best option.

Although Rome does offer a selection of good hotels at the lower end of the price scale you should research carefully and check customer reviews before booking as a lot of these are just dodgy cheap hotels with appalling customer service. You really do get what you pay for.
The best budget hotels are small and fully booked well in advance, so if you want a good deal you should plan ahead.

If you are looking for a luxury hotel in Rome, they tend to be located near Via Veneto and near the Villa Borghese.

If being near the nightlife in Rome is appealing and important for you, then you should book near the Trastevere district.

B&B's in Rome

A good alternative to a budget hotel is a B&B. Rome has a large selection of B&B's and, if you don't mind missing out on hotel facilities, often offer more comfort for your money.
B&B accommodation in Rome seems to grow each year and has become a real success story in Italy. Although you may have to make arrangements in advance for checking in and depositing your luggage as staff are not likely to be on site all the time, B&B's tend to offer a more of a "home away from home" atmosphere.

Since B&B's usually have a small number of rooms it's best to book  as early as possible in order to find availability.

Tips for students in Rome

If you are a student and looking for a room, keep in mind that in June, July and August, you will have an easier time, as most students will leave their room after the school term.  In September, when classes start again, there will be a lot of competition for the most-coveted rooms.

Final tips

If you are looking for a traditional hotel, b&b, etc., it's best to book as early as you can.  There are some great options online where you can find a room in Rome and they have pictures, reviews, prices, availability, etc..  You can also look in some of the Italian classified ads if you want to book from a private party, but you should use caution.  Finally you can stop by the Fiumicino (FCO) information kiosk at the airport if you are still looking for that last-minute booking, but you will more than likely pay top Euro for that.  And if you are a backpacker, your best bet for a last-minute booking will be to stay around the Termini area (main train station).

Buon viaggio!

You may also be interested in seeing the Pope in Rome.

If you've traveled to Italy to any great extent, you realize that Italian transportation strikes are a real possibility at any time, and can sometimes come unannounced.  This holds true not just for the travel-related industries, but all industries in general.  Often times, the strikes are announced ahead of time and occur according to plan. Other times, they are cancelled at the last minute. The locals are so accustomed to this happening, that they are used to it, even though they do not approve.

Italian vocabulary lesson - strike - sciopero

A couple of strikes to be aware of should your travel take you to Italy in the upcoming weeks:

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Italy train system:  Ferrovie dello Stato or Trenitalia personnel are planning a strike for 24 hours.It will run from from (21:00) 9 PM of April 21st to 9 PM of April 22nd. 

Monday, April 23, 2012

Airline:  Alitalia workers will be on strike for 4 hours on this day starting 12 PM to (16:00) 4 PM.You may want to check with your ticket office to see if this will affect your flight.

Alitalia phone numbers:  USA -800-223-5730 / Canada 1-800-361-8336 / UK only 08714 241 424

A chance to win a free book of Italian recipes this Columbus Day Weekend!

I'm giving away a free cookbook to someone that posts a random comment on this blog by the end of Columbus Day (Oct 8th, 2012). The cookbook is Preserving our Italian Heritage and you'll be entered for a chance to win it by posting a comment on any of the posts. It is a nice hard-cover book (this is not an ebook) I will even pay shipping and handling.

Basically, I will draw a randmom number to correspond with a comment.

The more comments you post, the more chance you have to win....Good luck!

The winner will be posted on this page.

Thank you, grazie mille!

Looking to rent a car in Rome, Italy?  Here are some tips and advice to help you with your Italian vacation.

Rome is the largest city in Italy and the country's capital. Home to many world famous attractions, the city is constantly on everybody's list as a popular tourist destination.   With that popularity brings a lot of tourists in an already crowded city.  For that reason, I generally don't recommend renting a car in Rome if you are wanting to see the sights around the center of Rome's attractions including Piazza Navona, the Spanish Steps, Trastevere, The Vatican Museum, etc.  The city has an excellent transportation system of buses, trains and even a metro (subway) system, that can get you around pretty easily and inexpensively.

In addition, the roads are poorly surfaced, you will spend a lot of time in traffic jams, gasoline prices are expensive, and you will spend a lot of time trying to find a space to park.

When to rent a car in Rome?

However, there are times when a car rental in Rome can make sense.   If you don't care about the above disadvantages, it can be a good way to explore the Eternal City and its periphery during the low season when Rome is generally less crowded.  This includes October through December (excluding the holidays), and the winter months.  With your rental car in Rome, you can explore everything from the main tourist sites in the centre of the city to those slightly further out.

If you plan on doing a lot of day trips from Rome, then it may also make sense for a car rental.  It may also make sense if you plan on seeing a lot of Italy during your trip.

The advantages of renting an auto in Rome

An obvious advantage is the freedom renting a car can provide. You can see it all at your own pace. You're also not limited to what the city centre has to offer (although there is plenty to keep you busy) and so when you've had enough of Rome's splendor you can check out nearby towns like Tivoli with the amazingly beautiful Villa D'Este and Orvieto, a magnificent hill-town in the region of Umbria.

Alternatively you can venture further out and head down to Naples or up to Florence.

You can also break up your holiday by visiting more than one destination. A rental car also gives you the opportunity to easily access adjacent countries like France, Switzerland or Austria.

Requirements for Italian car rental

You will need to be at least 25 years of age for most rental companies, although some will rent to you if you are over the age of 18, but that number is quickly diminishing.   In addition, you need to have an international driver's license before your trip. If you are in the United States, you can procure one from your local AAA office. There is also required insurance coverage as well as optional insurance that you may purchase.

What companies rent cars in Rome?

There is a huge selection of car rental companies in Rome to choose from. 
Some of the best known companies are:

• Maggiore
• Hertz
• EasyCar
• AutoEurope
• Europcar

Alternatively you can use a car rental service like the Leonardo Da Vinci Airport (FCO) Car Rental Comparison situated at one of Rome's main airports. They can compare the rates of all major and independent car hire vendors in Rome and then you just need to select your preferred automobile type.

Where can you pick up an auto-rental in Rome?

At both main airports, Leonardo da Vinci (Fiumicino - FCO) and Ciampino (CIA), you will find various car rental options. There are also a large variety of car rental companies through out the city.

Other tips

• Seatbelts are required to be worn at all times
• No right on red is allowed in Italy
• Driving while using a cell phone is prohibited, unless using a hands-free device
• Baby seats are required for those under the age of three

So if you want to rent a car in Rome, Italy - I recommend Auto Europe as they often will have free GPS available if you rent a car from them.  Many of my site visitors have had positive experiences with their services.

Related Links:

How to spend 3 days in Rome

Should I rent a moped in Italy?