Rome Hotel Overview

You can mull over these discrepancies while riding the bus or metro (for €1) back from your huge pasta-and-wine dinner (a steal at €10) to your cute but small hotel room (an agonizing €145) near S. Maria Maggiore. Rome isn't the steal it used to be, and tourist traps abound, yet food, public transportation, and museums are all reasonable. Just avoid taxis, especially at night. They're extremely expensive.

First off, it's quite common to find a Roman building hosting as many as five small "hotels" under one roof. This makes for some confusing entryways. It's important to note that the "birds of a feather" maxim does not apply in Rome. Two pensions separated by only a floor and ceiling can be worlds apart in every way other than location.

Now for the actual hotel rates. As a general rule, the closer you are to the hotspots, the higher the rates. Hotels a short distance away from the big tourist spots are often cleaner, cuter, and cheaper.

In October, a stylish room in a B&B-style hotel near the Piazzas di Spagna & Barberini will cost at least €180, while in Trastevere it will run about €150.

Near the Vatican and Prati, a family-run pension with few services will charge between €100 and €120. For the same amount, you can get hotel-style services with nicely sized, recently renovated rooms north of Stazione Termini.

If you're willing to share bathrooms, expect to pay €80 a night during high season at a guesthouse or €60 at a hostel.

Rates are highest in May, June, September, and October. You can snag lower rates during July or August, though it's rough to see the city as it bakes under the summer sun. Prices also spike around Easter.

Related posts from our blog

• Rome Hotels: Three central and unusual sleeps
• Rome Flash: Fab Federici B & B