Tuscolana Inn

Hotel Tuscolana is the gem of Rome! Tucked away in San Giovani it is close to everything by Metro without all of the annoyance of the tourist areas. We arrived from Fiumicino Airport via local train, only $8 euro. We simply bought a ticket in the station at the airport and headed to the platform. Once we arrived, maybe 30min, we stepped out of the station onto via Tuscolana, turned right, walked under the bridge, across the first cross street and there it is, on the right. We were warmly greeted and given the key to our room which was lovely. It was very clean and warm. When I removed the bedspread, folded and tucked it away because I get too hot at night, much to my surprise and delight, the staff added a crisp white sheet on top of the blanket for additional comfort. The neighborhood of San Giovanni is quite safe even late at night. My 16 year old daughter and I felt quite comfortable alone on the street despite the graffiti on the walls throughout the neighborhood and we quickly discovered most of the neighborhoods in Rome apart from the tourist areas and ancient attractions are covered in graffiti and are quite nice otherwise. We began everyday at Hotel Tuscolana with a wonderful very traditional Italian/European breakfast and a cup of cappuccino, included in our stay. We left our key with the front desk daily, as is customary, and we utilized the Ponte Lungo Metro station to access the city which is quite easy. The weekly pass for the Metro, 24 euro, can be used on the buses and trams as well. Hotel Tuscolana offers easy access to all of the day to day amenites you would find at home. There is a grocer, a pharmacy, a market, convenience store, shoe store, clothing store, and pharmacy all within one block of the hotel. There are many small shops with pizza, calzone, etc... along the streets of San Giovanni and some great restaurants and gelato shops as well. The Re di Roma area is a 10-15 minute walk, and has several places to eat and shop. It also has a playground. If you don't want to walk, you can access this area via metro as it is one stop from Ponte Lungo. We loved Buono - Ristorante (order ravioli, you won't be disappointed) and the Procopio Gelato shop, which is open late. If you follow the Italian tradition of lunch from 12-3 and dinner after 7pm you will do well. Coming back to Hotel Tuscolana is like going home at the end of the day. The staff are warm, inviting, and very helpful. They are happy to receive your lost luggage and place it in your room while you are out exploring the city, give directions, share recommendations, make reservations for you, provide a map of the city, and most speak very good English, just as well, if not better than the concierge in the large hotels. The beds are firm but comfortable and the pillows are the same. We slept very well in this hotel. We stayed 6 nights and as we had planned we checked out and moved on to Hotel Boscolo Exedra Roma which is in the heart of the city and only a short walk from the opera. Within 30 minutes my daughter asked if we could return to Hotel Tuscolana because the people are friendlier and the environment is more relaxing than that of the five star hotel. Hotel Boscolo Exedra has the extravagance, late night noise, and awful pillows. Hotel Tuscolana has the heart and definitely a better night's sleep. We adore Hotel Tuscolana.