What are a few moderately priced good hotels that are close to Termini Station. My husband has heart failure and cannot walk a long distance.
First you have to define moderately in Euro. It has little meaning by itself. One persons moderate may be expensive to someone else. We have used both Hotel Contilla and Sonya in the Termini. We prefer Sonya but it is a little farther away than Contilla. Difference of about two blocks. I would view both as moderate.
Well, I once stayed at a hotel called "Hotel Milazzo" that's pretty much in front of Termini, I was able to get a room despite not having a reservation and stayed the night for only 35 euros.
Considering how expensive things can be in Rome, I'd say that's a pretty good price.
If your husband cannot walk a long distance, you are likely to be taking taxis more than some other tourists might. In that case, being near to Termini is less useful than it will be if you're looking to take lots of buses or the Metro.
A friend of mine who doesn't have heart failure found out that a hotel "close" to Termini that was still a 5-10 minute walk away, was less convenient than taking a taxi right to the door of a hotel near the Campo dei Fiori or Piazza Navona. Once at the hotel in these areas, he was able to walk around the center.
So, in the same way that "moderate price" has different meanings, what exactly are your husband's mobility limitations? How many blocks can he walk on flat surfaces? What about hilly ones? How many flights of stairs can he handle - or are even a few steps difficult?
I have stayed near the Termini a couple of times and found that there are many hotels just a couple of blocks from the station.
I have stayed in Hotel Sonya (on an RS tour) and The Contilia on my own - it is about 3 blocks closer to the station.
You can search on TripAdvisor or Hotels.com for hotels near the station and can see maps and their prices.
(Conitlia was cheaper than the Sonya - just fyi)
I like the idea of taking a cab to the Pantheon/Campo dei Fiori/Piazza Navona area for a hotel as mentioned above. That way, your husband will already be close to some of the best sites. He can leisurely stroll in this area. The buses can get very crowded like sardines and hard to get on and off. Then, together you can take a €10 cab ride a couple of times to the Vatican and other sites like the colosseum, unless you want to try the bus. Avoid Spanish Steps. It's being renovated and is a complete bust at this time.
Definitely plan on taking taxis.
What do you consider long distances? Then maybe I can help you
Lorieann
Get a hotel near Piazza Navona/Pantheon/Campo dei Fiori. Then your husband can easily go to the hotel during the afternoon to rest if necessary - if you travel during hot months, this can be necessary.
Booking.com gives descriptions of facilities, but confirm that there are few or no stairs to get to the lobby/elevator/room. Make sure it has an elevator.
Hotel Mirage, Hotel Halifax, and B and B Caroline Suites, all managed at 4/6 Via Milazzo and all next door to Termini, on the corner of Via Marsala and Via Milazzo. Walk to the Farmacia at Track 1, go thru the hallway to the outside. 2-Star hotels but nice, great breakfast next door left upstairs, good people, some speak English. Email,
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We took my mother, who suffers congestive heart failure as well, to Italy last fall. We rented apartments in Venice, Florence and Rome and it worked out very well as it provided a comfortable place for her to relax.
As for transportation, the only city that presented problems was Venice. Our apartment, although down a delightfully quite canal just a five (or so) minute walk to Ferrovia, was not the best choice. Due to her heart condition (and lack o stamina), we should have chosen an apartment close to San Marco. The bridges were really difficult for her to manage and the vaporetti out of Ferrovia were insanely busy.
We found Taxis in Florence and Rome to be almost as cost effective as public transport and MUCH easier on my mother. I would plan on budgeting a little extra for using taxis but the payoff is the entire city is within reach. Example - Piazza Navona to the Vatican Museum and/or Coliseum was euro10.00. Piazza Navona to Piazza del Popolo was about euro8.00.
In Rome, our last stop on the trip, we took a private car to the airport for euro45.00. Much cheaper than a taxi to Termini and the Leonardo Express to FCO.
BTW - I had less difficulty finding apartments with elevators (lifts) than I did finding (city center ~euro125.00) hotel rooms with elevators access. Plus, we had room to spread out and relax AND facilities to do laundry.
Thanks for all your posts. It has been a lot of help.