Rome August

Dear Adel,

Please spend some time researching this site. There are plenty of low costs places near Termini station. Have you considered a Hostel? Check the Beehive for starters.

Yes, you are going during the peak season so prices are higher- no getting around that. Go anyway and have a great trip!

My main question was is being near the Termini better?

second,

Would the fares go down the closer I get to August? Should I just pay the cost now?

I think you've listed the pro's and con's of the two locations so it's pretty much a personal choice - how do you like to holiday?

For what it's worth the metro is very user friendly (only having two lines,) and cheap €1 per ride or €4 per day unlimited (as of last summer.) If my memory serves it was about 10 mins from Termini to the Vatican. There's also a stop opposite the Colosseum. I've stayed near Termini, mainly because I prefer walk but that's my quirk. I also didn't really notice too much noise around the area (although I really suspect that changes on a street by street, hotel by hotel basis.)

I concur with Peter in that we always stay in the Termini area just for the convenience. When asking about prices it would be well for you to use actually numbers. What may be cheap for me might be expensive for someone else. All of Rome is pretty much a touristy area. Personally view the Metro as fairly marginal as transit goes because of the two lines do not run into the heart of the old city. The bus system works much better. August will be super hot and super crowded but if that is your time to go, plan for it. Early mornings, late afternoons and evening with nice nap mid-day. Call the Med schedule.

Just to confuse the issue 'Ancient Rome', where most of the tourist stuff is, wasn't that big; so everywhere is pretty walk-able from everywhere else.

It's an easy, pleasant walk from the Vatican area to the 'Centro Storico' over one of the famous bridges over the Tiber. Also, and I may be misremembering as I don't have a map handy, but some of the more northern attractions (Spanish Steps etc.) are actually nearer to the Vatican than to Termini.

I think, all other thing being equal, I'd stay in Termini again but I'd have no qualms staying near the Vatican knowing I could still walk to a lot of things. TBH it would almost come down to which hotel I preferred. One thing Termini does have is easy access to the airport, but unless you stay within walking distance (with luggage) of the station any advantage there is nullified.

If anything the Spanish steps are pretty close to the middle and about a mile north and little east of Pantheon which would make the Pantheon closer to Termini because of the north/south distance.

That's why I mentioned the Spanish Steps as an example, not the Pantheon ;-) The 'Steps are about as far north as the Vatican so it's a straight line east, rather than NW from Termini.

For fun I just had a play on google maps. From Termini station it reckon 2km to the steps (taken from the nearest corner of the station which must be pushing 0.5km its self). From St. Peter's Square it reckons 2.3km or 1.5km from Castel St. Angelo. So depending where you stay near the Vatican and where near Termini (I think most hotels are south of the station) you're either closer or about the same distance.

I'm not trying to be argumentative here, Termini is more central I just didn't want the OP to think the Vatican is in the middle of nowhere.

Hi Adel - regarding Roma - Please check out this website - I have stayed there many time and highly recommend it. http://www.hotelforte.com/en/index.htm
Located directly at The Spanish Steps it is easy walking to The Via Veneto, The Trevi Fountain, and The Roman Forum. Great cafes on the side streets by the Steps, Fun Buggy rides out of the area.
My friends Emanuel and Emanuella run the front desk and will take very good care of you . No pricy taxis required!! Up on The Via Veneto you can pick up an open air bus that will show you many of the major sites , allowing you to get off and back on as often as you like.
Regarding the Airfare - Please give George a call at - http://www.airfareplanet.com/Pages/itinerary.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1
Airfare is a Wholesaler/Consolidator and George is my friend and the manager - He should be able to give you the best pricing for roundtrip or open jaw flights.

Ciao, Greg

Thanks for all the replies. I am checking into everything that was suggested.