This hotel is an easy 10 minute walk to Terminii for arrivals and departures in Rome, but the Castro Pretorio Metro station is just around the corner from the hotel and is very convenient - much easier than finding your way through the bustling crowds at Terminii Metro.
The hotel is quiet and well maintained - efficiently run. Rooms are quite large and traditionally furnished and our bed was one of the most comfortable we have ever slept in. The shower was superb - masses of hot water - lovely.
Breakfast was super - as much as you can eat and a great variety of cold food as well as scrambled eggs and bacon. Coffee and tea freely available - cappucino on request. People quite frequently needed to queue for a table but didn't notice anyone queueing for longer than 5 minutes.
Tried some of the local restaurants in the same street but they were, at best, mediocre. 'Seasonal fruit' dessert at one consisted of a pear and a knife on a plate - 3 Euros - you have to laugh - and then make sure you don't return!
We would wholeheartedly recommend the restaurant 'Il Cuore di Napoli' on Via Cernia 31, a ten - fifteen minute walk north-west of the hotel and recommended in the Eyewitness Travel Guides. Tourists were vastly outnumbered by Italians, which has to be a good sign, although menus were available in English and some staff were English speaking. We ate here twice - once choosing from the menu and the second time from their Halloween special menu. Steak and seafood were out of this world but there were a wide selection of pizzas available for the less adventurous.
We walked a lot during our six day stay in Rome and got around using the Metro with no problem. We wanted to visit the gardens at Tivoli and managed that by using the Metro from Castro Pretoria to Ponte Mammolo then catching a local bus to Tivoli.
The guide books recommended a visit to Ostia Antica which we managed by catching the Metro to Piramide then a local train to Ostia Antica railway station. This is an amazing place - not as dramatic as Pompeii but just as extensive.
Language isn't a problem as most Italians speak at least a smattering of English, but it doesn't take a lot of effort to learn just a few words of Italian - at least enough to ask for a railway ticket and order a cup of coffees.
The Metro tickets are 1 Euro flat rate to anywhere on the system. Take as much care with your wallets, purses, bags etc on the Rome Metro as you would on any tube / Metro system. The bus and local train fares were two Euros each way so there is no need to waste money on taxi fares in order to do your sightseeing and we found the bus drivers and fellow passengers helpful when help was needed.
Only returned yesterday evening so full of enthusiasm - as you may be able to tell! We can thoroughly recommend the Hotel Canada and a comfortable pair of walking shoes. you'll have a great time!
