We booked the Hotel Ducale the day we walked in, as we arrived in Rome and decided to "wing it," so I think we did very well considering the circumstances. It's about a 10-minute walk to the main train station, which was the reason we found it in the first place.
The staff at the hotel are all wonderful, smiling, friendly people. This is very appreciated. Most of the staff spoke English and even asked us to help them with some of their vocabulary, which was fun. Our room was in the basement portion of the building but still had high ceilings so I did not feel claustrophobic. The rooms are very, very small and the bathrooms are even smaller. There was, however, self-controlled AC (much appreciated), a large refrigerator, shelves in the bathroom, and a massive wardrobe for unpacking.
The bathroom is teeny. If you're a normal-sized person, be prepared to change the temperature of your shower every time you turn around. Two people attempting to pack at the same time will bump into each other a lot. I think we could have gotten this place for less than 80 Euros a night if we had booked in advance. The breakfast was typical Italian fare, but good, the coffee was strong and the service out on the patio was pleasant.
The staff were very helpful in recommending tour companies, places to eat, etc. There is a large supermarket about 5 minutes' walk away and we bought snacks there and kept them in the fridge, which was very convenient. You can walk to the Coliseum in about 20 minutes and we did not feel unsafe at all. I would stay there again.
- Ducale Hotel Rome
