Ercoli

Located on the fifth floor of an apartment building near Termini Station, the two-star Hotel Ercoli is accessible by a glamorous, old-fashioned elevator that conjures up images of classic films.

The Hotel Ercoli’s 14 guest rooms can be on the small and dark side, but they are comfortable, modern and decorated in a mix of blue and light wood. Standard amenities, including air conditioning, a TV, and telephone, keep the rooms comfortable and modern.

The white-tiled, private bathrooms are equipped with toiletries and a hair dryer.

Look out for the owner’s daughter Marta, who runs around helping guests with everything from booking tours or airport transfers to offering shopping tips. (“Ask Marta” is even the Hotel Ercoli’s motto.)

The family-run hotel is located near public transportation connections to the historic center and the Vatican.

The morning meal, included in the room rate, is served in the large, cheery breakfast room. Note that the old elevator, while quite charming, only functions when the external and internal doors are closed. When we visited, we had to walk both upstairs and downstairs as the lift was stuck at reception—so if you stay here, please remember to close the doors!