I am going to Rome Dec. 11-17 to meet up with my boyfriend, who is studying in Italy. We were there this summer for a weekend, but without advance reservations ended up overpaying for a dingy hostel which ran out of hot water. I'd like to stay someplace a bit nicer and less noisy, but we're both grad. students on a budget. I know hotel prices drop considerably during fall and early December, so I was wondering if it would be cheaper to try and book a simple hotel room, using a $$ off code from Orbitz or Expedia, or rent an apartment for a few nights, which would provide the convenience of having a refrigerator and the ability to not eat out every meal. I found some nice looking places on rentalinrome.com or even on Craigslist. Has anybody had experience with apartment rental, or advice on hotels?

You might look at www.hostelbookers.com. My son and I stayed at Village Roma last December. Really inexpensive, but workable. The rooms are halves of little trailer houses. Shower, refrigerator, on a bus line, and across the busy street (a walkway over) is a huge supermarket. Never ran out of hot water.

You have to either rent or supply your own towels, but bed linens are included. The only problem we encountered was the unit wasn't tied down like a fixed trailer house is suppose to be. So - any walking, tossing in bed, etc. from either your side or your neighbors shakes the whole unit.

Oh yes, and the heating system is kicks in very noisily. Ear plugs solve that. Otherwise the area is very quiet.

There are other places on the site, its just that this is the only one I have experienced.

Spotlessly clean.

And the One Euro wine from the supermarket is very good.

Note the 40% discount for stays 3 nights or more. Makes it really reasonable.

Romelle

please continue to follow this thread in our Italy forum

regards

chrissxb
moderator
europe forum

Sorry, guess I should have scrolled down more to see the Italy forum. I guess it's too popular for the rest of Europe

Thanks so much for the input on Village Roma. I've looked at hostelbookers before, along with about every site on wikitravel and the usual expedia/orbitz/kayak string. The 40% discount does make it really cheap but the location is a bit farther than I'd like, and the whole shaky foundation thing that you mentioned scare me a little. Right now, I am thinking that rentalinrome.com or craigslist short-term apartment listings would be more affordable and homey than a hotel. Anyone used either of these?

I am not sure what is your budget. My guess is that if you are meeting your bf you want something nice a quiet to enjoy the time together.
This is a nice hotel, quiet room facing inside but on via del corso. Tons of places to eat, close to everything and you are right in the center of Rome life.
They have specials for December.
http://www.hoteldelcorsoroma.com/spe...6en18658en.htm

[QUOTE=angelsgirl85;10579826]Sorry, guess I should have scrolled down more to see the Italy forum. I guess it's too popular for the rest of Europe

Not too popular--too fashionable for the rest of Europe.

That hotel looks lovely. It's a little bit more expensive than I was thinking, and for some reason the online availability isn't working, but I'll email thema nd see if they have any rooms or discount on longer stays. Thanks!

should try venere.com, and look at B&B's , self catered appartments, etc. skip farmhouses.