travel in italy in june - single woman (young)

ld,

One location that would be good is The Beehive Hostel, which is within a couple of blocks from Roma Termini. They offer both Dorm rooms as well as private rooms. They're very popular so it may be difficult to get a booking, but it's worth a try.

With a "relatively small budget", another she could consider is Alessandro Palace Hostel, which is also close to Termini. Rooms in a four-bed Dorm there are priced at €35 per night (as I recall, they only accept cash). If she doesn't mind "communal living" to save a few bucks, it's a good option. There's usually quite a lively crowd staying there from many places in the world.

If she hasn't stayed in Hostels before, she'll need to pack along a few extra items. If you need information on that, post another note.

You mention looking for lodging that is economical, safe, and fun. For the first two requirements – economical and safe – a convent would be a good bet. The website monasterystays.com has a number of properties. I like the convent of Suore di Santa Elisabetta, which is near the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore and a few blocks from the Termini train station. And there are another a number of other options that are closer to the historical center. But I wouldn't describe a convent stay as "fun." Also, you would need to be confident that she would observe a curfew; if she's late, the doors are locked and she won't be able to get in.

Hopefully some of the people who stay at hostels in Rome will chime in. Hostels might better meet the request for a fun environment.

Staying safe while being in a comfortable place with free breakfast that is in walking distance to most attractions and to public transport is possible at the small Relais Forus Inn. www.forusinn.com/en

It is a small inn that is like a b&b and they call themselves a B & B. It is safe. It is also affordable.The inn has very comfortable rooms (private bathroom, of course, what young woman wants to share a bathroom with strangers) with luxurious beds and pillows. In the bathroom she will find a glassed in shower and all sorts of amenities like dental kits and shower accessories (a hair dryer too). Since it is her room alone, she can lock the door and no one has access to her things so they are safe to leave there when she is out and will not sleep with strangers as in the case of hostels. Safes are available. They can offer use of a computer in her room. There is an elevator. The staff is young and friendly. The location is wonderful- she can walk right to many of the best sights she wants to see and there is also local transportation so she will save money on getting around. There is also free breakfast served whenever she wants it, prepared to her order, served right in her room and she can ask for croissants, pastries, breads, toast, cereal, fruit salads, egg, bacon, ham, cheeses, jams, and juices, various coffee drinks (like lattes), teas or hot chocolate to drink. I've lived in Rome and some family and friends have tried this place out and so I have gotten to see it inside out and yes, it would be a good place for your daughter. The reception desk is open 24/7 and like any hotel, she can come and go as she chooses and someone will always be there. They have many specials and deals at their site too.

Beehive and Cross-Pollinate would be my choices, I assume she wants something under €100.

Terri Lynn. Plenty of young women stay in hostels and manage to share bathrooms.

And she will get to meet other young people and have fun.

I've found the website EuroCheapo very helpful, as it not only lists hotels and hostels they've inspected, but has other budget tips, descriptions of neighborhoods, etc. Here's their Rome page: http://www.eurocheapo.com/rome/

Hostel World http://www.hostelworld.com/ and Hostelbookers http://www.hostelbookers.com/ are also good sources of information about inexpensive accomodations (not just hostels) - she can read the reviews posted there, which are written more from the perspective of young and impecunious travelers than the reviews of some other websites are.

How young is young? I assume legal? Some places and hostels won't rent to unaccompanied minors.

Thanks for the advice. She is 22 and if she decides to do a convent she will definitely abide by the rules of course. I like the idea of hostels and will put this information before her.

Hostels are a good choice for the younger crowd, as they're cheap and a good place to meet others and finding others to tour with. I'm an "older traveller", but still stay in Hostels on occasion. As long as she can tolerate the "communal living" of dorm rooms, she should have a good time.

The Alessandro Palace Hostel that I mentioned earlier has a Bar, which gets to be quite lively in the evenings.

I just checked the prices for a single room at the Relais Forus Inn, and with the 10 percent discount for a 3 night stay the rate is approx 165 euro per night. Not exactly suitable for a young woman on a small budget.

monasterystays.com
and
bookingmonastery.com
are two websites useful for finding cheap and clean, secure places to stay in Italy, often centrally located. They lodge travelers of all ages from all parts of the world, who may gather in the breakfast room every morning.

Not everybody goes to the Convent breakfast though. I got so tired of weak coffee and rosetta buns, I would sneak out at 7 AM to the Bar across the street for strong caffe' and a yummy hearty Italian pastry, my favorite has cream frosting at one end and chocolate frosting at the other, and this Bar always saw me coming! LOL!

I still can't look at a Rosetta Bun. But anyway convents are fun with so many people around, there may be a cranky nun here or there, curfew is 11 PM, I would hope not earlier, mattresses may be a tad hard, TV and WiFi are available in the Lobby only.

Rooms are roomy and clean, bathrooms are big with nice big showers. Great loving staff. Ring the bell and say your name for entrance as they may be locked all day too.