MarieF

I'm starting to plan for a visit to Rome in May 2009. I've been reading about the following hotels (both here and on Tripadvisor): Hotel Modigliani; Hotel Campo di Fiori; Hotel del Senato and Hotel Smeraldo. We want a centrally located hotel (we enjoy walking around and exploring) with friendly staff. I'd like to keep the price around $300 USD per night. Any recommendations for the ones I've listed or suggestions for other places to check out? Thanks.

gard

Hi

I think this is a tricky question to answer and I think you will end up with going with your gut feeling based on the feedback from TA. But in general inner ROme is a pretty small city so you can walk more or less everywhere. Maybe you can find some useful info in my trip report with pictures and links on my homepage http://gardkarlsen.com/rome_italy.htm . If you take a look at the map that I have made on http://gardkarlsen.com/rome_italy_map.htm you will see where the various attractions are located. Get in touch if you have any questions

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

Weekender

I loved the Albergo del Senato. The location is perfect. Lovely rooms, rooftop bar, and great staff.

LuLu

Second vote for Albergo del Senato. Wonderful location and great staff!!

ekscrunchy

Third!

bobthenavigator

Everyone loves the del Senato and hard to argue with the location. However, do not overlook Albergo Cesari--also a great location and less noisy.

Grinisa

I've stayed at the Del Senato about five times. We always have the Senior Suite on the sixth floor. We have never been bothered by noise. It's a great hotel.

MarieF

Thanks, everyone. I appreciate your replies. I'm still in the early stages of planning this trip and you'll probably see me back here with more questions. This is our first visit to Rome (fourth trip to Italy) and we plan to spend about 10 days. We are planning our trip around the Rome Masters Tennis tournament (DH and I are tennis players and have been to the French and Swiss Opens and go to the US Open every year). We love Italy and are looking forward to combining a trip to Rome with some tennis. Thanks!

tower

Marie:

We find Modigliani to be a superb small hotel (with elevator and full buffet bkfst)), and on a quiet street near the Spanish Steps...walking distance to most of Rome's major sites. We've stayed there on two occasions and have sent family twice.

http://tiny.cc/ETumf

stu t.

Mamaw

Marie

I love the Empire Palace Hotel. Check it out online.

Theresa in Detroit

kakiebell

Sofitel, 2 minutes to the Spanish Steps---fabulous breakfast buffet included. Our room looked into a garden in a residential area of Rome so very quiet and peaceful. It may look far from a map but it is about 10-15 minute walk to most sites of the city. We walked from there to the Colosseum and back. Some people do not like brand name hotels but this one is a delight!
I stayed at the Albergo del Senato in 2004 and would not put a monkey there. The staff were very unfriendly, the room was very hot and they would not turn the air conditioning on and so therefore we had to open the window for air. Guess what, party city outside your window until 3 a.m. If you do not go to bed until then, then no problem but if you want class with quiet, choose the Sofitel.

Connie

Smeraldo was in a great location, was very clean with decent sized rooms and bathrooms--all nicely appointed.

metre

I stayed at the Hotel Manfredi and loved it. Located right by the Spanish Steps on a little side street. They are excellent with responding to any pre-trip questions via email. Could walk and explore the entire city from this location. Will definitely stay there when I return to Rome.

MarieF

Wow - you guys are great! I thought my post had disappeared...

I will look into the other suggestions - you've given me a lot to research. Thanks.

anna_roz

I really doubt that a room at Del Senato could be had for $300/night, not in May anyway. Probably more likely 300 Euro than $$.

Albergo Santa Chiara offers the same superb location for about $300.

Anna Roz

TravelingVal

Are you staying in Rome for the entire 10 days? If so, I will suggest the place my sister and I stayed in September. We also were in Rome for 10 days and found this a perfect place to stay. The Hotel Mozart had the Ripetta Suites which are a small apartment that is only a block away from their main hotel. It was the best of both worlds. We had all the convenience of a hotel as we had daily maid service and they provided breakfast items each day. It was a very nice place and provided more room than the average European hotel. There was a separate bedroom and sofabed in the living room and a small dining table. It also had a small kitchen that included a cooktop, a fridge, a dishwasher, a toaster oven and a clothes washer. We liked having the kitchen facilities even though we didn't cook alot. But we were able to pick up lunches or snacks and bring them back to the room to eat. It was also in a good location. Not far from the Spanish Steps and the Piazza de Popolo. We walked everywhere from this location. The other good thing was that you had the use of any of the hotel services. They had a computer in their guest lounge that we were able to use and we went over there a couple times to ask questions. You receive a discount for a longer stay so this may fall in your budget. Another thing to note is that their website still shows that there is no lift but they did install one earlier this year and their apartments are on the 2nd floor(3rd American). And it's a very secure place as the apartment is behind a door that requires a keycode to enter the hallway where the apartments are. Anyway, we really enjoyed our stay there and I thought I'd throw that idea out there for you. Valerie

dorkforcemom

Grinisa - tell me about the senior suite. Would it work well for 3 adults? Describe the layout please. I'm considering it for a girls' trip in May.

MarieF - I love Albergo del Senato, having stayed there at least 5 times. I don't think you can stay there for $300 per night, as others have indicated. I think it would, indeed, be more like 300euro per night. The location is superb but it is pricey.

Grinisa

The Senior Suite was refurbished this Spring. My family was the first to stay in the newly done suite over Easter week. The Suite consists of two rooms connected by a hallway, a bathroom and large L shaped terrace. The first room had two twin beds, a dresser, TV and closet. The main room had a double bed which was really two twins pushed together. This room has a larger closet with shelves and drawers and mini safe. The room also has a desk, mini bar and TV. The bathroom has a tub, separate shower etc. It could work for three adult women if you don't mind sharing the bath with its one sink and limited counter space.

dorkforcemom

Grinisa - thank you very much for this well worded description. Were you impressed with the ambience/decor of the senior suite as well? I'm mulling over the price - it's 490 euros per night. I'm just mulling over how to spend our vacation budget. Thanks!

risab

If you are interested in a suite since you are staying 10 days you may also want to consider renting an apartment. You can get a beautiful space for the amount of money you are looking to spend for a hotel and you would have a nice amount of space considering the time you will be spending in Rome.

If this is appealing to you there are many good recommendations for apartment rentals, too.
rentalsinrome
sleepinitaly
www.slowtravel.com (check out Italy apartment rental reviews)

You have apartment choices in all of the prime areas.

As for hotels My daughter stayed at Hotel Smeraldo this summer. She loved the location (Campo Fiori) but did say the room she stayed in was very small (even by European standards) however, she was traveling with a group of students so they may have given them the smallest rooms. But this hotel has been recommended for years.

THe hotels you mentioned all receive excellent reviews and they are all in great locations.
Rome is an easy walking city, especially if you are staying in the historic area (but even if you are in the Piazza del Popolo area or Monti areas you would be fine.