Rome: Where All Roads Lead - Italy - page 32

HOTELS NEAR THE VATICAN
The worst deals in town are around Vatican City, where hoteliers pilfer the pil-
grims' pockets. Many of the hotels here cater to large tour groups and the prices
are almost always too high for what they are getting. The exceptions to this rule
are the nonstandard options (p. 33) like monasteries and self-catering apartments,
where the prices are fair. Another strike against this district: The neighborhood is
not within walking distance of Rome's historical center and thus is convenient
only if you plan to spend the bulk of your time at the Vatican.
€€€€ The Bramante (Via delle Palline, 24; % 06-68806426; www.hotel
bramante.com) will at least make you feel as if you are getting what you pay for.
The rooms, which start at €150 for a double, are modestly furnished, but the
walls are soundproofed, the beds are large, and the bathrooms are bigger than
most (though none have bathtubs). Plus, the included breakfast here is spectacu-
lar, complete with eggs and toast.
€€€€ Another fairly good deal is, unfortunately, often fully booked. Why?
Well, the Hotel Sant'Anna (Borgo Pio, 133-134; % 06-68308717; www.hotel
santanna.com) is not all that economical, but its rooms are spacious and modern
with rare amenities like dataports and room service. Doubles start at €130, but
you're more likely to spend €175 because the cheaper rooms go to regular cus-
tomers like cardinals and journalists who have long-standing agreements with the
hotel. There is a small courtyard in the back for summer relaxation, and the loca-
tion, literally 1 block from St. Peter's Square, is unbeatable for those who are cen-
tering their attentions on the Vatican.
Staying with the Guides
€ - €€€ Visitors owe a debt of thanks to the multifaceted Enjoy Rome
travel agency (www.enjoyrome.com), with its innovative and always-
fascinating walking tours (including a night tour, a bike tour, and some
very interesting niche tours like “Fascist Rome: The Urban Planning of
Mussolini”). Now the company also has its own accommodations to offer.
The recently opened hybrid hotel and youth hostel Colors Hotel & Hostel
(Via Boeszio, 31; % 06-6874030; www.colorshotel.com) is as delightful a
place as you'll find near Vatican City. Here you can choose from dorm beds
or private rooms, some with bathrooms and others with shared bathroom
facilities in the hall. The most economical option is a dorm bed for € 18;
the most expensive is a private triple room with bathroom for € 145. The
establishment is clean, the owners are friendly and helpful, and the place
has a fully equipped kitchen for cooking your own meals; there are also
laundry facilities and Internet access. Enjoy Rome also offers two larger
self-catering apartments (called Valerio's Flat and Granny's Flat) with rates
starting around € 100 a night. These folks are on to something, and even
if you don't stay in their hotel, definitely try one of their walking tours,
which are around € 20 a person for 2 to 4 hours.