Reserving a hotel in Rome without paying a fortune isn’t easy. A sprawling and rather chaotic city, it doesn’t benefit from the best subway system in the world, so finding a good location close to a stop can complicate things. As if that weren’t enough, the city is perpetually overrun by tourists, so there’s a huge risk that dawdling for even just an hour while deciding whether to confirm or not means— whoops!—someone else has snatched up the room you wanted. Just like airline tickets. Of course, the magical atmosphere of Rome’s squares and narrow streets is unrivaled, so that even Italians, inured to the allure of history, are agape when they come here. But as we all know, the hotel counts for at least half of the overall experience of a good vacation. So here are a few addresses for a stay without any surprises, but with a little charm. The only piece of advice: write or call many weeks in advance. Better yet, avoid May, as rates are sky-high. Plus, Rome is enchanting any time of the year.
1. HOTEL GOLDEN
Beautifully restructured rooms, a fabulous breakfast with homemade cakes and croissants, the kindness and smile of a family-run business, and, most importantly, a fabulous location. Situated in a nineteenth-century building, Hotel Golden is just around the corner from Via Veneto, Villa Borghese (which boasts a stunning collection of works by Titian, Rubens, Caravaggio and Bernini) and the Pincio, the most spectacular panoramic point affording of a view of the entire city (in other words, the romantic spot that has attracted Roman couples for ages). The price for a double with breakfast ranges from 80 to 120 euros a night. www.hotelgoldenrome.com
2. HOTEL DE MONTI
Just 200 yards from the Colosseum, the Monti district has intriguing buildings (and the subway!) and chic shops alongside ancient artisan shops: it’s where every Italian would want to live if he or she moved to Rome. You can sleep without frills but with all amenities at Hotel de Monti, which has seven rooms in a building dating back to 1500. Doubles are 70 to 150 euros a night. www.hoteldemonti.com
3. THE BEEHIVE
Sure, it’s around the corner from the Termini station, but the value for money is unbeatable. The location couldn’t be more central and the management is hipster. The food is completely organic, there’s a lovely garden, and the patrons are young and international. Not all rooms have a bathroom and in most cases they’re shared, but you couldn’t ask for more. Double rooms are around 80 euros a night. http://www.the-beehive.com/
4. B&BS
And to finish, two B&Bs. In the past five years, the number of B&Bs in Rome has quintupled. Every day dozens of families decide to transform the apartment in the center inherited from grandma or the unused office into a vacation home. In short, there is no lack of places. These are just two of the addresses from an endless list of possibilities. But with the advantage that they’re excellent. The first, Al Colonnato di San Pietro, is telling from its name alone: it’s close to St. Peter’s, and is comfy and immaculate. The other one, Gianicolo Artist’s apartment, is a mini-apartment with the huge advantage that it is run by the sweetest people in Rome. Plus it has a terrace just 200 yards from Villa Pamphili, the city’s most beautiful public park. Average price for both is around 80–90 euros for a double. www.bbcolonnato.com, www.gianicoloartistapartment. com/
