$82 a night in April and located next to the Spanish Steps?
Newly renovated?
Anyone have any thoughts on if this is just a good deal?
I have booked it but have the right to cancel.
I also booked Hotel Stella, but it sounds less appealing.
sk3
Mar 1, 12, 12:20 pm
Out of curiosity I just googled this place a bit.
Its location is 226 Via di Ripetta (just south of Via del Fiume), down the street from the grand Piazza del Popolo. You can see its front door in this Google street view (http://maps.google.it/maps?q=Via+di+Ripetta+226&hl=it&ll=41.908062,12.475947&spn=0.000008,0.005659&sll=41.890026,12.486541&sspn=0.00968,0.022638&hnear=Via+di+Ripetta,+226,+00186+Roma,+Lazio&t=m&z=18&layer=c&cbll=41.907918,12.475927&panoid=U2z_l2qDb44SssBeYhxBIw&cbp=12,333.24,,0,3.67), and up the street you'll see the piazza's obelisk (so the location, while not "next to the Spanish Steps" is a great base for your visit, IMO). It's just north of the Accademia di Belli Arti di Roma (http://maps.google.it/maps?hl=it&ll=41.907525,12.475869&spn=0.000006,0.00283&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=41.90738,12.475845&panoid=LjHuLILf0o3tBTKfTEGmzQ&cbp=12,278.32,,0,-1.62)- where it takes its name. And further south is Augustus' Mausoleum, Ara Pacis and the much hyped Gusto restaurant complex. Check out this satellite view to get your bearings:
http://maps.google.it/maps?q=Via+di+Ripetta,+226,+Roma&hl=it&ll=41.907962,12.475877&spn=0.009294,0.022638&sll=41.907595,12.477121&sspn=0.009294,0.022638&oq=226+via+di&hnear=Via+di+Ripetta,+226,+00186+Roma,+Lazio&t=h&z=16
Here's the Streetiview (http://maps.google.it/maps?hl=it&ll=41.911016,12.475812&spn=0.000008,0.005659&t=m&z=18&layer=c&cbll=41.911044,12.47592&panoid=_H76PqN_vfanyteKuhyNMw&cbp=12,157.21,,0,0) looking south from across the Piazza: you see the twin churches ahead of you and on the right you see the umbrella-tabled restaurant that Fellini loved. Via di Ripetta is the street on the right, Via del Corso in the middle, Via del Babuino on the left. This is the so-called "Tridente". (Very upscale area, for instance the preeminent Hotel del Russie (http://www.hotelderussie.it/maps-and-directions/)is right at the tip of Via del Babuino).
Looking at a few websites listing the B&B Le Belle Arti it seems this was an apartment that was divided up into 4 rooms - a common practice. I couldn't find any reviews for this place - but that's not so odd since it was just constructed in 2011. But it is one caveat - you'd be treading in new waters. My other concern is that I can find no mention what floor these 4 units are on - but I do see mention that there's an elevator. (In "historic" buildings it's common to have no lift). My other concern would be for noise. There'll be significant traffic noise coming from Via di Ripetta and I see no mention that their renovation included soundproofed windows.
If this was my trip I'd email the property and inquire what floor the rooms were on (and remember, they'll consider their first floor to be what Americans consider our 2nd floor), confirm they have a working elevator, and ask if the rooms face the street or the back of the building.
It's in a great location, and new furnishings are always a plus - you could have stumbled on a real find.
Buona fortuna!
Here are the other sites I found listing the place:
http://www.bedandbreakfastworld.com/italy/rome/b-and-b-le-belle-arti/59608
Always amazing how much we can discover about where we go before we go there. Don't forget to hit the Pantheon a few steps away past the fountain. Nice enough facility, but the roof has a leak.:D
Out of curiosity I just googled this place a bit.
Its location is 226 Via di Ripetta (just south of Via del Fiume), down the street from the grand Piazza del Popolo. You can see its front door in this Google street view (http://maps.google.it/maps?q=Via+di+Ripetta+226&hl=it&ll=41.908062,12.475947&spn=0.000008,0.005659&sll=41.890026,12.486541&sspn=0.00968,0.022638&hnear=Via+di+Ripetta,+226,+00186+Roma,+Lazio&t=m&z=18&layer=c&cbll=41.907918,12.475927&panoid=U2z_l2qDb44SssBeYhxBIw&cbp=12,333.24,,0,3.67), and up the street you'll see the piazza's obelisk (so the location, while not "next to the Spanish Steps" is a great base for your visit, IMO). It's just north of the Accademia di Belli Arti di Roma (http://maps.google.it/maps?hl=it&ll=41.907525,12.475869&spn=0.000006,0.00283&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=41.90738,12.475845&panoid=LjHuLILf0o3tBTKfTEGmzQ&cbp=12,278.32,,0,-1.62)- where it takes its name. And further south is Augustus' Mausoleum, Ara Pacis and the much hyped Gusto restaurant complex. Check out this satellite view to get your bearings:
http://maps.google.it/maps?q=Via+di+Ripetta,+226,+Roma&hl=it&ll=41.907962,12.475877&spn=0.009294,0.022638&sll=41.907595,12.477121&sspn=0.009294,0.022638&oq=226+via+di&hnear=Via+di+Ripetta,+226,+00186+Roma,+Lazio&t=h&z=16
Here's the Streetiview (http://maps.google.it/maps?hl=it&ll=41.911016,12.475812&spn=0.000008,0.005659&t=m&z=18&layer=c&cbll=41.911044,12.47592&panoid=_H76PqN_vfanyteKuhyNMw&cbp=12,157.21,,0,0) looking south from across the Piazza: you see the twin churches ahead of you and on the right you see the umbrella-tabled restaurant that Fellini loved. Via di Ripetta is the street on the right, Via del Corso in the middle, Via del Babuino on the left. This is the so-called "Tridente". (Very upscale area, for instance the preeminent Hotel del Russie (http://www.hotelderussie.it/maps-and-directions/)is right at the tip of Via del Babuino).
Looking at a few websites listing the B&B Le Belle Arti it seems this was an apartment that was divided up into 4 rooms - a common practice. I couldn't find any reviews for this place - but that's not so odd since it was just constructed in 2011. But it is one caveat - you'd be treading in new waters. My other concern is that I can find no mention what floor these 4 units are on - but I do see mention that there's an elevator. (In "historic" buildings it's not common to have no lift). My other concern would be for noise. There'll be significant traffic noise coming from Via di Ripetta and I see no mention that their renovation included soundproofed windows.
If this was my trip I'd email the property and inquire what floor the rooms were on (and remember, they'll consider their first floor to be what Americans consider our 2nd floor), confirm they have a working elevator, and ask if the rooms face the street or the back of the building.
It's in a great location, and new furnishings are always a plus - you could have stumbled on a real find.
Buona fortuna!
Here are the other sites I found listing the place:
http://www.bedandbreakfastworld.com/italy/rome/b-and-b-le-belle-arti/59608
Always amazing how much we can discover about where we go before we go there. Don't forget to hit the Pantheon a few steps away past the fountain. Nice enough facility, but the roof has a leak.:D
Ha ha... and to think the oculus recently allowed snow to fall through!!!
I don't mean to be coming across as an obnoxious know-it-all.... but your mention that the Pantheon is a few steps away is misleading to the OP. Here you see the distance (it's about a 15 minute walk):
http://maps.google.it/maps?saddr=Via+di+Ripetta+226&daddr=Piazza+della+Rotonda,+Roma&hl=it&ll=41.903459,12.476048&spn=0.019356,0.045276&sll=41.90202,12.47453&sspn=0.019356,0.045276&geocode=Ff12fwId312-ACl55vwwVmAvEzFotoZh-tGc3A%3BFdRTfwIdkmO-ACGVxASsUvCPfyln35UdTmAvEzFga3Cgmk8JEw&oq=Piazza+della&dirflg=w&mra=ltm&t=m&z=15
sk3
Mar 1, 12, 2:55 pm
OT somewhat, but related to the area where the OP's B&B is located:
When I was in Rome last November I ended up walking down Via del Vantaggio a bunch of times to meet up with a friend (which is one block north from Via dei Fiume) and had noticed a new, very cool and modern looking boutique hotel. I just spotted it on google's map and figured I'd throw up its website and TripAdvisor page. Its rates look about 3 times more than the OP's but thought someone out there might be interested, and the OP could read about the area on the hotel's site and on the TA reviews:
The First Luxury Art Hotel Roma (http://www.thefirsthotel.com/eng/index_eng.html)
Since this is FlyerTalk, figured I should also give the link to this boutique hotel's frequent guest program:
I Prefer Guest Benefit Program (http://www.iprefer.com/)
poorbanker
Mar 2, 12, 2:04 am
Thanks Sk!
I actually did more research after booking the hostel and realized also that it is not next to the Spanish Steps (even though it was listed as next to them at one of the travel sites). I clicked the map on the travel website and it showed me a great location - but when I typed the address into google it showed that it was a mistake.
I am not sure if I should cancel it or not due to the location.
I will only be there from Sunday afternoon to Wed. afternoon so I am trying to make the most efficient use of my time and it seems that the hostel is a 30-45 minute walk to any of the sites (Trevi, spanish steps, Ghetto).
1) Do you think it makes sense to pay an extra $50 a night to be a bit closer?
2) Is anyone familiar with the walking route? Is it at least a nice/safe walk to the hostel? I tried to avoid staying at the Temini station to avoid the riff-raff.
3) Is it fine to walk back very late at night?
They emailed that : "From Fiumicino airport you can take train called "Leonardo Express" until Termini station,at Termini station you can take metro A until Spagna stop.We are far 400 meters.
If you take a taxi,it costs max 45-50 euro."
Thanks for any advice from someone that has been to Rome... This is my first trip there.