Also note that rates vary significantly depending on the time of year. Off-season travelers will naturally find the best prices and greatest availability, if not the most pleasant weather.

Truly budget-minded travelers will find several hostels just outside Rome. Near public transportation, many are only 20 minutes or so away from the city and many offer multi-lingual staff.

Old Rome does not offer much in the way of budget hotels, but nearby neighborhoods of the Vatican, Trastevere, North Center, and Esquilino-San Giovanni make up for that. Expect to find small hotels, family-run operations, and peaceful retreats away from the center of the city. Although many do not offer breakfast or bars, travelers will have no problem satisfying cravings for Italian delights among the many restaurants, caffes, and bars in the areas.

Mid-range hotels are primarily in the neighborhoods surrounding Old Rome, but some can be found within the city center. Notable hotels in this category include the Albergo Santa Chiara, which has been in the same family for over 200 years. The boutique hotel Daphne Veneto offers an intimate lodging experience with personal service.

For those with larger budgets, Rome offers a plethora of upscale and exceptionally expensive hotels. Chains, such as Hilton, Sofitel, and Westin fall into these categories. While many of Rome’s high-end hotels can boast some affiliation with history or celebrity, some truly stand out. D’Inghilterra in the North Center has hosted the likes of Liszt, Mendelssohn, Hans Christian Andersen, Mark Twain, and Hemingway. Eden, also in the North Center, was a favorite haunt of Hemingway, Ingrid Bergman, and Fellini. Those interested in modern celebrity sightings should try the Hotel de Russie or the Westin Excelsior, both in the North Center. For a more historic experience, venture ten miles from the city center to the Castello della Castelluccia, a renovated 12th-century castle, complete with watchtower, wooded park, and a shuttle to Rome’s center.

Rome also offers family-friendly options, such as the Hotel Lancelot, a mid-priced hotel run by the same family since 1970, in the Colosseo area. Breakfast and dinner are served around huge round tables, as both a play on the knight theme and a way to encourage communal dining among guests from around the world. Families with more to spend on lodgings should try Mascagni in the Modern Center. The “Family Perfect” room comes complete with a PlayStation, DVD player, and wooden blocks for small children.