I
wanted to avoid using public transport in Rome, as the tourist attractions are
within walking distance of each another. I had already read that Rome is best
explored on foot anyway. I therefore looked for a hotel close to the city.
Prices
of hotels within Rome will rise the nearer to the center you are. But I was ok
with 1 or 2 kilometres or so which meant cheaper prices.
I
searched Trivago, Expedia and TripAdviser and found a hotel that declared it
was within 2 kilometres of Central Rome’s border. I looked at the map, and it
was just a straight road.
The
hotel looked modern, clean and spacious with air conditioning, crucial for Rome
in mid-August.
I
went for a modern hotel in the Colombo district. I looked at the map and it
seemed I only had to walk a little way to get to the Caracalla Baths, not far
from the Coliseum. The major sights of Rome are all within walking distance of
the Coliseum.
Read my other articles on Rome
a Survival Kit
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| Is the walk from the hotel safe? |
On
the Expedia site, it said:
‘This hotel is within 1
mile (2km) of Roma Tre University and the Baths of Caraculla. Basillica of St
Paul’s and the Coliseum are also within 2 miles (3km) (of the hotel).’
I’m ok with walking because I often go on walking holidays and the map showed
green areas and quiet roads to get there.
Little
did I realize I could not walk to Rome from my hotel, for the district was
really run down. The road leading to Rome was very busy with no usable walkway.
In a word, it was horrible and felt dangerous.
 |
| The hotel was close to Rome central but I still had to get a bus |
No
way could I walk from my hotel to Rome. We had no choice but to get bus passes
on the day we arrived despite my plans not to use public transport.
As
I had already booked some excursion online, purchasing the OMNIA or ROMA Pass
was pointless. These passes work only if you throw in the excursions.
Lesson learnt:
Be
careful if the description of the hotel insinuates it is walking distance from
the major attractions of the city. The walking route could be dangerous, dodgy
or un-walkable.
Make
allowances for getting a bus pass when visiting a big city, even if the sites
are within walking distance.
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| Busy Roads in Rome with little walkway |
 |
| Rundown areas of Rome |
