Rome Termini And San Lorenzo

Termini abounds with hotels, hostels, bed and breakfasts, and pensioni. There's a roughly one-to-one ratio of extremely cheap to extremely overpriced options, so do research beforehand and try to book at least one week in advance, especially for summer stays. Although the proximity to Termini Station makes living here convenient, the area is not the safest place at night. Be wary of pickpockets and, if possible, avoid walking about in the late hours.

• M and J Place Hostel, V. Solferino 9 (☎06 44 62 802; www.mejplacehostel.com), A prime location, helpful staff, and clean rooms grace this wonderful hostel. M and J Place boasts great common spaces (kitchen, balcony, and TV lounge) as well as a calm feel enhanced by rooms that are neat and not too crowded. Private rooms are more reminiscent of a hotel with A/C, computers, TV, and towels ensuite. The reception desk posts weekly events in the city, provides laptop rentals, lends books, offers printing and photocopying services, and has public computers in case you need to get organized. If you'd rather relax, head to the downstairs restaurant, bar, and club, which provide food all day, an aperitivo hour at 6pm, and a chance to dance at 11pm. Termini. Walk down V. Marsala away from the station, and turn right onto V. Solferino. Breakfast included in some reservations; book online (€3 otherwise). Lockers outside room. Free luggage storage until 9pm. Towels €2. 1hr. free internet with booking; €2 per hr. or €5 per 4hr. thereafter. All-female dorms available. 10-bed dorms €25; 8-bed €26; 6-bed €32-35; 4-bed €35-37.50. Singles €75; doubles €80-120; triples €150; quads €180. Reception 24hr. Restaurant/bar open daily 7am-late. Kitchen open 3-10pm. Does not take credit cards. No wheelchair access. Has internet. Has air conditioning.
• Alessandro Downtown, V. C. Cattaneo, 23 (☎06 44 34 01 47; www.hostelsalessandro.com), This conveniently located hostel is a bit less party-hardy than its sister, the Palace, but it offers great services to backpackers and students. Large common spaces, communal kitchen, and dorms make it less cramped than nearby hostels, although bunk beds can bring down the comfort level of the largest dorms. Other than the midday cleaning which prevents you from resting in your room until after 3pm, Alessandro Downtown is ready to take care of you after a long day in the city. Termini. Take V. Giovanni Giolitti and turn left onto V. C. Cattaneo. Breakfast included. Free pasta dinners M-F 7pm. 30min. Lockers ensuite; free luggage storage before 2pm. Towel rental. Book online 1 week in advance Apr-Aug. 30 min. free Wi-Fi daily; €2 per hr. thereafter. 8-bed dorms €14-29; 6-bed €15-30; 4-bed (co-ed) with bath €19-40; doubles €50-53, with bath €55-110. Reception 24hr. Rooms must be vacated 10am-3pm for cleaning. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access. Has internet.
• Alessandro Palace, V. Vicenza 42 (☎06 44 61 958; www.hostelsalessando.com), A historically decorated bar (check out the “frescoed” ceiling) turned modern (check out the speakers and TV!) makes this one of the most social hostels around. While the nightly pizza giveaway (8:30pm) goes fast, great happy hours and drink specials keep guests around all evening. A/C keeps the rooms bearable in the mid-July Roman heat, though big dorm size can make restful sleep difficult. Still, this is as close as a hostel gets to being a palace. Termini. Walk up V. Marsala away from the station and turn right onto V. Vicenza. Breakfast included; free pizza daily Apr-July 8:30pm. Lockers ensuite. Fridges in some doubles. Reserve online at least 1 week in advance during high season. 30min. free Wi-Fi per day. All dorms have private bathroom. 8-bed dorms €15-30; 6-bed €16-36; 4-bed €18-38, with bath €21-42. Doubles €55-115, with bath €65-130; triples €75-135/€81-147. Reception 24hr. Free luggage storage before 3pm. Bar open daily 6pm-2am. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access. Has internet. Serves alcohol.
• The Yellow, V. Palestro 44 (☎06 49 38 26 82; www.the-yellow.com), This hostel isn't called “yellow” because it's scared, but because it's so darn happy. The perfect place for social butterflies, this establishment boasts a full bar (customers will likely spend more time here than in their somewhat small rooms) and over five floors of dorms as well as colored lights and funky posters in the hallways. Skype headsets, locks, and even laptops are conveniently available to rent or purchase at the reception desk. Come here for fun times.not to wake up at 6am for a hike to the Vatican. Termini. Take V. Milazzo away from the station and turn left onto V. Palestro. Breakfast €2-10 at the bar next door. Lockers ensuite; free luggage storage before 1:30pm. €10 towel deposit. 30min. free internet per day on public computers. 12-bed dorms €18-24; 7-bed €20-26; 6-bed €22-34; 4-bed €24-35. Reception 24hr. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access. Has internet. Serves alcohol. Has air conditioning.
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• Legends Hostel, V. Curtatone 12 (☎06 44 70 32 17; www.legendshostel.com), This cramped but well-equipped hostel close to Termini brings in a mixed crowd of backpackers and older folk. There's little common space, and rooms are fairly distant from one other (some in a separate building). However, the small kitchen gives the place a sense of community, especially during delicious breakfasts and pasta dinners. The low-key staff is ready to assist you during your stay in Rome. Shared bathrooms can be a bit messy, but at least they come with soap. Termini. Walk up V. Marsala away from the station; turn right onto V. Gaeta and right onto V. Curtatone. Buzz and walk to 1st fl. Breakfast included; free pasta M-F 7pm. Lockers ensuite. 5hr. free Wi-Fi; €1 per hr. thereafter. Public computers at reception desk. Fans in rooms. 8-bed dorms €23-33; 6-bed €25-37; 5-bed €28-41; 4-bed €30-44. Triples €48-51; doubles €41-71. Reception 24hr. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access. Has internet.
• Freedom Traveller, V. Gaeta 23 (☎06 48 91 29 10; www.freedom-traveller.it), Termini. Take V. Marsala away from the station and turn right onto V. Gaeta.Free pizza and beer party Tu evenings. Free luggage storage until 2.30pm. All-female dorms available. Free Wi-Fi in common spaces and some rooms.6- and 4-bed dorms €17-32; doubles €60-110; triples €75-135; quads €80-160.Reception 24hr. Lockout 10:30am-2pm (except for private rooms). Quiet hours 11pm-8am. Communal kitchen open until 10:30pm. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access. Has internet. Has air conditioning.
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• Mosaic Hostel, V. Carlo Cattaneo (☎06 44 70 45 92; www.hostelmosaic.com), Right below the busier Alessandro Palace, this similar hostel's reception boasts a comfy leather couch, warmly painted walls, and a helpful staff that immediately fosters a sense of home. Rooms that feel less utilitarian than those of your typical hostel (despite the requisite bunks) provide everything you need for a comfortable stay in Rome. Termini. Take V. Giovanni Giolitti and turn left onto V. Carlo Cattaneo. On the 2nd fl. Breakfast included; free pasta dinner M-F. Lockers ensuite; free luggage storage upon arrival. Towels €2. Kitchen access M-F. Female-only dorms available. Reserve online at least a week in advance. 30min. free Wi-Fi per day; €1 per hr. thereafter. 8-bed dorms €22; 6-bed €24; 5-bed €25; 4-bed €27. Reception 24hr. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access. Has internet. Has outdoor seating.
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• Casa Olmata, V. dell'Olmata 36 (☎06 48 30 19; www.casaolmata.com), This quiet, well-kept, and cheerfully run hostel finds itself in a nicer region than most. Mixed 6-bed dorms, triples, doubles, and singles are a bit cramped, but wooden bunks and homey decorations (check out the old clocks and lace curtains in some rooms) provide a comfy, lived-in feel. Many rooms come with fully equipped ensuite kitchens, TV, fans, and private bath; others have access to a communal kitchen down the hall with microwave and fridge. It's definitely not a party hostel (quiet hours after midnight), but all the better for it. Termini. Walk toward P. Santa Maggiore and down V. Paolina. Turn left onto W. Quattro Cantoni and left onto V. Olmata. Breakfast included. Lockers in hallway and ensuite. 15min. free internet per day at public computer. Roof terrace. Free Wi-Fi. Dorms €18-20; singles €38; doubles €56-58. Inquire about discounts for longer stays. Reception 8am-2pm and 4pm-midnight. Does not take credit cards. No wheelchair access. Has internet.
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• Hotel Papa Germano, V. Calatafimi 14/A (☎06 48 69 19; www.hotelpapagermano.com), Hopefully, a stay at Hotel Papa Germano will put a smile on your face, if for no other reason than the especially friendly reception or free Wi-Fi. The modest rooms' TVs, A/C, and telephones make them good deals. The dormitory is an economical alternative that remains slightly nicer than hostel options. Termini. Take V. Marsala away from the train station, proceed straight as it becomes V. Volturno, and turn right onto the small V. Calatafimi. Breakfast included. 3 public computers. Dorms €15-30; singles €30-60; doubles €40-95, with bath €50-120; triples €50-100/€60-140; quads €70-130/€80-150. Reception 7am-midnight. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access. Has internet. Has air conditioning.
• Bed and Breakfast a Casa di Zia Serafina, V. Filippo Turati 107 (☎06 44 66 458; www.casaserafina.it), A gracious host welcomes you to her four furnished and immaculately kept rooms off the bright central hallway of her apartment at this intimate bed and breakfast. A great deal amid most of Termini's less than charming accommodations, Signora Serafina's rooms are equipped with Wi-Fi, TVs, A/C, and cheerful decor. Chambers without bathrooms have access to a sparkling clean one in the hallway. Homemade breakfast cooked each morning by the signora herself. Termini. Walk down V. Ratazzi and turn left onto V. Filippo Turati. Buzz and proceed to 3rd fl. Call in advance to set up arrival time; guests are given a key to enter. Doubles €70, with bath €80; triples €110. Does not take credit cards. No wheelchair access. Has internet. Has air conditioning.
• Affittacamere Aries, V. XX Settembre 58/A (☎06 42 02 71 61; www.affittacamerearies.com), The lovely owner might be reason enough to stay here—she'll be happy to offer you coffee upon arrival. A bit removed from the Termini cluster, this charming hotel decorated with flowers and frescoes offers six simple but spacious rooms. The stone floors and metal-framed beds might not be the warmest and fuzziest things around, but the accommodating service, friendly dog (which sometimes follows the owner around), and great amenities make up for it. Termini. Veer left toward P. della Repubblica, proceed onto V.V.E. Orlando, and turn right onto V. XX Settembre. Buzz and take Scala B to the 2nd fl. Breakfast included. Free Wi-Fi. Singles €50; doubles €80; triples €105. Ask about a discount for longer stays. Guests are given a key to enter, but reception essentially 24hr. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access. Has internet. Has air conditioning.
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• Hostel Ivanhoe, V. Urbana 50 (www.hostelworld.com), A bit removed from Termini, this small hostel is a real find. Free Wi-Fi and a communal kitchen are particularly convenient and will save you a few euros (which you can spend on breakfast, since it's not included). Modern and brightly decorated hallways lead to eight comfortably sized dorms with big windows. The midday lockout, though, means you better stay busy in Rome through siesta. B: Cavour. Head down the stairs and walk up V. Urbana. (Or, a 15min. walk from Termini.) Don't confuse the Hotel Ivanhoe across the street with this hostel. Breakfast €2. Ages 18-35 only. Book online. Free Wi-Fi. 12-bed dorms €12-24; 8-bed (co-ed) €13-26, 8-bed (female-only) €13-28; 6-bed €13-26, with bath €15-27. Doubles with bath €26-36. Reception 24hr. Lockout 11am-4pm. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access. Has internet.
• Hotel Scott House, V. Gioberti 30 (www.scotthouse.com), On the fourth floor of a building full of hotels, Scott House is more welcoming than the rest. Warm orange hallways, attentive staff, and clean facilities engender confidence and comfort in the tired traveler, despite the hotel's proximity to a particularly busy street. Private bathrooms, free Wi-Fi, flatscreen TVs, and big windows in every room vault Scott House over and above the other tenants of 30 V. Gioberti. Termini. Walk down V. Giovanni Giolitti and make a right onto V. Gioberti. Hotel is on the 4th fl. Breakfast included. Free Wi-Fi. Singles €70; doubles €98. €5 discount if you pay with cash. Reception 24hr. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access. Has internet. Has air conditioning.
• Hotel Positano, V. Palestro 49 (☎06 49 03 60; www.hotelpositano.it), This is a decent option for both hotel- and hostel-seekers even though it's probably not on most students' radar and is less suped-up than the average hotel. Private rooms will get you A/C, a TV, a bathroom, and even a fridge. Five- and six-bed dorms are simple and share a common bathroom. Termini. Take V. Milazzo away from the station and turn left onto V. Palestro. Breakfast €6 across the street. Email or fax to reserve. Dorms €15-25; singles €40-60; doubles €60-90. Reception 24hr. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access. Has air conditioning.
• Hotel Pensione di Rienzo, V. Principe Amedeo 79/A (☎06 44 67 131), No-nonsense and chipper owner Signor Rienzo offers 15 sparse but clean rooms. The metal bedframes may not inspire a sense of home, but the big windows overlooking a central courtyard make the rooms sunny and quiet. Ceiling fans help offset the lack of air-conditioning, but with no TV or internet, there's not much to do here except sleep. Termini. Take V. Cavour and turn left onto V. Principe Amedeo. Buzz, walk to the right in the courtyard, and take stairs or elevator to 1st fl. Singles with bath €40; doubles €50, with bath €70. Reception 24hr. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access.
• Hotel Cervia/Restivo, V. Palestro 55 (☎06 44 62 172; www.hotelrestivo.com), Hotel Cervia/Restivo's friendly owner keeps the place clean, with small, cheerful, high-ceilinged rooms. A/C and TV make it better than a hostel, but the lack of internet is inconvenient. Still, this hotel's central location and generally pleasant aura are definite pluses. Call the owner to set up an arrival time. Termini. Take V. Milazzo away from the station and turn left onto V. Palestro. Free luggage storage. Singles €40, with bath and breakfast €65; doubles €70/90. Reception 24hr. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access. Has air conditioning.