- Places
- Plans
- Itineraries
- Experiences
Hotels aren't your only lodging options in Rome. In fact, hotels are often the most expensive options available, yet rarely are the most fun or remarkable. For a more memorable trip, you might want to try an alternative accommodation that (usually) costs less and (usually) affords you a better a chance to get closer to the local people and culture.
In Rome, I've rented apartments with view of St. Peter's dome or down the block from the Spanish Steps; stayed at B&Bs near Piazza Navona and the Pantheon; put up my entire boy scout troop on the cheap at hostels; and spent months living at a campground in a park just a bus ride north of the historic center.
Within an hour of meeting my Couchsurfing host a few years back, I was riding in his car to pick up a friend and take her to her surprise party at a Roman home (my arrival was an integral part of the ruse). Last—and far from least—it was at a Roman residence hotel in 1993 that I met the love of my life and future mother of my child.
None of that ever happens at a hotel, no matter how friendly the staff. And every single one of those experiences cost less than the local hotels (heck, the Couchsurfing was free).
Here are some of the best non-traditional places to stay in Rome:
English (Inglese) | Italian (Italiano) | Pro-nun-cee-YAY-shun |
Good day | Buon giorno | bwohn JOUR-noh |
Good evening | Buona sera | BWOH-nah SAIR-rah |
Good night | Buona notte | BWOH-nah NOTE-tay |
Goodbye | Arrivederci | ah-ree-vah-DAIR-chee |
Excuse me (to get attention) | Scusi | SKOO-zee |
thank you | grazie | GRAT-tzee-yay |
please | per favore | pair fa-VOHR-ray |
yes | si | see |
no | no | no |
Do you speak English? | Parla Inglese? | PAR-la een-GLAY-zay |
I don't understand | Non capisco | non ka-PEESK-koh |
I'm sorry | Mi dispiace | mee dees-pee-YAT-chay |
Where is? | Dov'é | doh-VAY |
...a hotel | un albergo | oon al-BEAR-go |
...a B&B | un bed-and-breakfast | oon bet hand BREK-fust |
...a rental room | un'affittacamera | oon ah-feet-ah-CAH-mair-ra |
...an apartment for rent | un appartamento | oon ah-part-tah-MENT-toh |
...a farm stay | un agriturismo | oon ah-gree-tour-EES-moh |
...a hostel | un ostello | oon oh-STEHL-loh |
How much is...? | Quanto costa? | KWAN-toh COST-ah |
a single room | una singola | OO-nah SEEN-go-la |
double room for single use [will often be offered if singles are unavailable] | doppia uso singola | DOPE-pee-ya OO-so SEEN-go-la |
a double room with two beds | una doppia con due letti | OO-nah DOPE-pee-ya cone DOO-way LET-tee |
a double room with one big bed | una matrimoniale | OO-nah mat-tree-moan-nee-YAAL-lay |
triple room | una tripla | OO-nah TREE-plah |
with private bathroom | con bagno | cone BAHN-yoh |
without private bathroom | senza bagno [they might say con bagno in comune—"with a communal bath"] | SEN-zah BAHN-yoh |
for one night | per una notte | pair OO-nah NOH-tay |
for two nights | per due notti | pair DOO-way NOH-tee |
for three nights | per tre notti | pair tray NOH-tee |
Is breakfast included? | É incluso la prima colazione? | ay in-CLOO-soh lah PREE-mah coal-laht-zee-YOAN-nay |
Is there WiFi? | C'é WiFi? | chay WHY-fy? |
May I see the room? | Posso vedere la camera? | POH-soh veh-DAIR-eh lah CAH-mair-rah |
That's too much | É troppo | ay TROH-po |
Is there a cheaper one? | C'é una più economica? | chay OO-nah pew eh-ko-NO-mee-kah |
In January, 2011, Rome began charging a hotel bed tax. This is the city's doing, and sadly it is not a scam.
The following tax rates are per person, per night for all guests over the age of 10 and can be charged for stays of up to 10 days:
So a couple staying three nights in a four-star room would pay an extra €18.
Some hotels have begun folding this tax into their quoted rates; others tack it on when you go to check out, so be prepared.
Planning your day: Rome wasn't built in a day, and you'd be hard-pressed to see it in that brief a time as well. Still, you can cram a lot into just a day or three.
To help you get the most out of your limited time in the Eternal City, here are some perfect itineraries, whether you have one, two, three, or four days to spend in Rome. » Rome itineraries
Share this page
Search ReidsItaly.com