Can anyone suggest a hotel in Rome, within walking distance of the "sights".

I have looked on loads of hotel web sites but I find it's always better to have someone tell you what a hotel is realy like rather than believe the sales blurb on a web site.

I am budgeting on £100 a day for bed and breakfast.

Also, I will be visiting Pisa and Florence, so any suggestions for those too ?

I would fully recommend the Hotel Cesari- it's within 5 minutes walk of the Pantheon and Trevi Fountain and about 10 from the Piazza Navona. This hotel is ideal because of its location alone. The rooms are impeccably clean, comfortable, and well-equipped. Breakfast is continental style and served on the first floor. I stayed there this summer with my girlfriend and it was fantastic.

Sorry forgot to include a link

http://rome-hotels.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g187791-d203088-Reviews-Hotel_Cesari-Rome_Lazio.html

And this on Expedia:

http://www.expedia.co.uk/pub/agent.dll?qscr=dspv&flag=l&itid=&itdx=&itty=&from=f&foop=0&hwrq=&htid=70835&spsh=&spsi=&crti=4&nfla=1&&zz=1104399317341&

Originally posted by JonJParr
I would fully recommend the Hotel Cesari- it's within 5 minutes walk of the Pantheon and Trevi Fountain and about 10 from the Piazza Navona. This hotel is ideal because of its location alone. The rooms are impeccably clean, comfortable, and well-equipped. Breakfast is continental style and served on the first floor. I stayed there this summer with my girlfriend and it was fantastic.

Thanks, that looks ideal.

I think we are only going to be in Rome for 4 days so i don't mind spending a bit extra to get a good base location.

It is an ideal location. Have you been to Rome before? A few places to go...

- Colloseum (well worth paying to get in- also gets you in the Ancient Roman gardens too behind)
- Via Condotti (my credit card took a real hammering here)
- Piazza Novona (great place for a meal / night out)
- Salotto 42 (in the piazza just outside Hotel Cesari a book shop that is licensed!)
- Piazza di Spagna (Spanish Steps)
- The Vatican (both St Peters Basilica and the museums)
- Hard Rock Cafe (if you're a HRC fan like me!!)

My girlfriend and I are going back to Rome in early June for two weeks - can't wait.

I've never been before so I'm really looking foreward to it.
I'm very interested in architecture so I should be in my element, I want to visit all the places you mentioned plus a couple of others like The Pantheon and Trajans column.
We are also going to Pisa (the plane lands there for some odd reason - we are flying from Robin Hood International), and Florence (we wanted to see the cathedral after watching a TV program about the Medici family).

If you're into architecture you will absolutely be in your element! The Pantheon is good (it's free to get in) but less impressive than St Peters or Colloseum but nevertheless the largest dome in Europe - an achievement in itself!

Florence is fantastic (especially if you like art) - you must pay a visit to the Uffizi on the Via della Nina. The leaning tower of Pisa is all its cracked up to be (a leaning tower) with lots of pigeons - but worth a visit so you can say you have.

Are you flying back from Fiumicino? The tax free shopping is incredible - a 1 litre bottle of Bombay Sapphire for 9 euro!!!!

I have to admit I'm not overly excited about the leaning tower of Pisa, unlesss you can go up to the top.

Do you know where in Florence the statue of David is, is it in the gallery you mentioned ?

I think we have to fly back from Pisa too.

There was also a garden I wanted to visit just outside Rome, I saw it on some program about the ancient wonders of the world, but I can't remember what it is called.

The tower of Pisa is now open for tourists to climb to the top- it gets a bit hairy towards the top. (I don't like heights)

The statue of David is in the Museo Nazionale del Bargello I think.

The ancient garden outside Rome is Tivoli. It's about 1 hr from the centre by bus- we didn't manage to get to it last time but plan to go in June.

A friend if mines just got back from Florence and scaffolding surrounds David which ruins it, I’ve got a picture I’ll try and post for you.

We flew to Pisa with the intention of heading down to Florence but liked Pisa so much we stayed for a week their instead. If you only go to Pisa to see the tower it’s pretty foul but the rest of the city has a really nice atmosphere with some really interesting bars and cafes. I think Pisa is Italy’s biggest university town so that may be why it reminded me of Sheffield so much. Don’t know if that is a good recommendation or not.

If you are in the area with some time you should really try and take just day trip to Sienna, you can get really good regular trains from Pisa and it’s the best city I’ve ever been too. If you are interested in architecture the city is crammed with the most amazing cathedrals and their is a tower in the centre that is much more impressive then the leaning tower.

Thanks for the garden name.

I'm not very good with heights either but I made it to the top of the Eifel Tower (though I was scared s***less) so I should handle the leaning tower.

Thanks guys, I find it's much better to get peoples advice about places rather than relying on brochures etc.

It would be well worth investing in the Rough Guide for the region, it covers Pisa, Florence and Sienna, if only for the street maps in it.

Take care crossing the roads in Rome, life threatening stuff:o
I think on the main city roundabout, car insurance becomes
invalid because of the number of bumps:o
Have a good trip :thumbsup:

You're not wrong Draggletail! It's hair-raising at the best of times- I nearly got run over by a bus when there last August!

Just found my copy of The rough guide to Tuscany & Umbira.

In Pisa If your looking for food try the amazing: Osteria dei Cavalieri,
Via San Frediano 16
tel:050.580.858

To quote the guide: Outstanding quality with English speaking staff and a calm fresh atmosphere. The fish is exquisite, Tuscan meat and game dishes are expertly prepared and their vegetarian options are excellent. Eat a la carte or choose from set menus starting around 17 Euros. Closed Sat Lunch & Sun.

We turned up early when it was just opening and booked a table for later that night. Then went to some of the great bars around that area, best was Café dei Cavalieir, very generous cocktails. Greatest meal of my life. Seriously considering flying to Pisa just to go for a meal their again especially now you can fly from Robin hood

So can you guys speak Italian, or do you get by with just a phrase book and trying to make it up as you go along like I do ?

Originally posted by JonJParr
You're not wrong Draggletail! It's hair-raising at the best of times- I nearly got run over by a bus when there last August!
Bet the driver honked at you like it was your fault, too:hihi:

Originally posted by nick2
So can you guys speak Italian, or do you get by with just a phrase book and trying to make it up as you go along like I do ?

I can't speak Italian - not well anyway. A funny story actually, I was at an espresso bar on the Via del Corso and in Italy it is quite the norm to pay double the price for a drink if you want to sit down. Its a lot cheaper to stand at the bar. However, I looked at the menu and assumed the two prices were for "large" and "small". I asked the woman at the counter for what I thought was one 'large' espresso and one 'small' Coke (for the missus). However, what I'd actually asked for was one Coke 'standing up' and an espresso 'sitting down'.

The woman just howled!

Originally posted by Draggletail
Bet the driver honked at you like it was your fault, too:hihi:

Actually he had a smug look of satisfaction on his face. Git! Like he was happy he'd nearly run down a Brit!

Originally posted by JonJParr
I can't speak Italian - not well anyway. A funny story actually, I was at an espresso bar on the Via del Corso and in Italy it is quite the norm to pay double the price for a drink if you want to sit down. Its a lot cheaper to stand at the bar. However, I looked at the menu and assumed the two prices were for "large" and "small". I asked the woman at the counter for what I thought was one 'large' espresso and one 'small' Coke (for the missus). However, what I'd actually asked for was one Coke 'standing up' and an espresso 'sitting down'.

The woman just howled!

LOL - a good tip.

I find you don't have to be fluent, people just appreciate you having a go at their language instead of pointing and shouting (my grans method of dealing with foreigners in their own country).