I had a fleeting visit to Rome for 48 hours at the beginning of March this year (2020) before lockdown and was surprised how easy it is to get into the centre of Rome from the airport by bus and then metro. As you come out of the arrivals at Ciampino airport the ticket desk is almost opposite the exit and the bus stops are to the left. The journey to Roma Termini is only about 45 minutes and the ticket costs less than €10. From Roma Termini you can jump on the metro straight to the Piazza di Spagna which is about 5 stops. Taxis are €30 from the airport to the centre though they may not be able to get you right to your door.

Within 10 minutes walk of the Piazza di Spagna there are some charming boutique hotels as well as some fantastic 5 star hotels. Here are just 4 of my favourite boutique hotels in Rome, something for every budget.

Crossing Condotti

Less than a minute’s walk from the Spanish Steps Crossing Condotti is in one of the best locations in Rome. Small, with just 9 rooms and suites, it’s a little hidden gem which packs a punch with plenty of style, ancient and modern rubbing shoulders. Beautiful oil paintings and family antiques are features in each of the rooms with modern en-suite bathrooms and individually controlled air-conditioning.

Step outside the door and you’ll be swept up in the bustle of Roman day to day life. There are Nespresso machines in the rooms but I prefer to head to a local café (Doris Ristorante around the corner makes a delicious cappuccino and cream filled cornetti (croissant)) for my coffee fix. Remember it’s frowned upon to have a creamy/milky coffee after midday!

Families may prefer something a little larger and independent and Crossing Condotti’s apartment around the corner fits the bill. It sleeps up to 4 and has its own sitting room and kitchen. There’s also no minimum stay which is a bonus.

Book at Crossing Condotti.

Casa Montani

A short walk up Via del Babuino (which is a stone’s throw from Crossing Condotti) past designer shops and fashionable boutiques is Piazza del Popolo. Whatever you do DO NOT stop for a drink or coffee at the cafés here, not only are they ridiculously expensive but the wash rooms are pretty revolting! Head across or around the piazza and across the Piazzale Flaminio and you’ll find Casa Montani. There isn’t a big sign so look carefully for Casa Montani on the door of Piazzale Flaminio 9.

Casa Montani is managed by owners Giuseppe and Charlotte who have put their heart and soul into every detail in every room. Furniture and fabrics from the best Italian and French brands, family antiques, headboards and paintings mix happily together in the rooms. The 5 rooms are decorated in a palette of soft neutral tones, with silk fabrics, luxury throws and hardwood floors. The tiled, marble en-suite bathrooms boast only the best Frette towels and large showers, one also has a bath.

Continental breakfast is delivered to your room at a time to suit you. There's a metro stop close by (Flaminio-Piazza del Popolo, line A), as well as some of the main bus stops. Wander for 10 minutes or so and you'll reach the Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona and the Vatican.

Small and personal, Casa Montani is a chic boutique hotel, perfect for a luxury city break at a great price.

Book at Casa Montani.

JK Place Roma

What’s not to love about this stunning masterpiece? A short walk from the Spanish Steps amidst residential Roman life (there’s a food market opposite) JK Place Roma is the epitome of Roman elegance. The say you could visit Rome 55 times and still have plenty to see and discover which is why it’s called the Eternal City, a never-ending journey of awe, wonder and adulation.

No one does it better than the award-winning brand JK Place. JK Places started with JK Place Firenze, the first boutique hotel in Florence, in 2003 and then moved to Capri, followed by Rome and in 2019 they opened JK Place Paris to great acclaim. Needless to say they have won bucket loads of awards between them.

Each one of these luxury hotels is small and achingly beautiful. JK Place Roma houses 30 rooms and suites each with architect Michele Bonan’s signature style, elegant, timeless and classic. En-suite marble bathrooms are standard as are the complimentary soft drink mini bars and own-brand bath and body products. The attention to detail at this luxury hotel is second to none; pleats in the curtains are corrected and tidied before each guest arrives, sheets ironed on the bed if need be and every bit of chrome polished to a mirror shine. The massive beds are so comfy you may prefer to have breakfast in your room. Head downstairs and browse through some of the coffee table books in one of the sitting rooms or enjoy a late-morning cappuccino in JK Café before hitting the streets to explore the neighbourhood.

Rates at JK Place Roma start at around £360 per night, book at JK Place Roma.

Relais Rione Ponte

A further 5-10 minute walk from JK Place Roma towards Piazza Navona on the second floor of a 17th-century palazzo you’ll stumble across Relais Rione Ponte a charming art boutique hotel which features various art exhibitions throughout the year. The 9 rooms are chic and contemporary with modern en-suite bathrooms. The location of this boutique hotel is perfect if you’re looking to take in some culture and explore the Eternal City on foot, it won’t break the bank either.

Rates at Relais Rione Ponte start from £129 per night including continental breakfast, book here.