cindytag1

My husband and I are planning a trip to Rome for our 10th wedding anniversary. We would like help in choosing a hotel (5 star) and also help with itinerary for 5 days.

Iowa_Redhead

What is your budget... you said 5 star hotel but a budget would still be helpful. Does the 5 days include travel time, or is that 5 days plus travel time?

What are you interested in? Art, history, architecture, etc. Why you picked Rome for your vacation is a good place to start for what you're interested in. How active are you? Do you want a constantly going type vacation or a slow and relaxed vacation?

Give us a bit more information and we can try to help. You might want to pick up a guidebook (bookstore or library) to find some things that interest you. You can also look through this forum for trip reports that people have written after their trips and also for itineraries people are currently discussing. Get a few ideas to point people in the right direction first and then we can help.

fmpden

A five star is more than a little out of range for my recommendations. THIS IS JUST A PERSONAL OPINION -- but I always wonder why someones comes to Italy or anywhere else in Europe and wants to stay in 5 stars hotels? I suppose if money is no object it makes sense.

Ann1

Even with money not being an object, I don't feel that a 5 star gives you a real feeling of the real Italy. We can afford a 5 star but refuse to pay it. We get much better care and attention from our favorite 3 star and never see the palm of their hands.

But, if you want 5 star, the Baglioni is a 5 star. We visited some friends there.
http://www.baglionihotels.com/en/des...baglioni/hotel

It's up near the embassy on the top of the Via Veneto. The room was the same size as our 3 star and the bathroom wasn't much bigger. We paid 1/4 the price.

Tiggy22

You could always stay at the Hassler, but my preference would be something a little more central so I would choose the Boscolo Excedra. I was there about 1 1/2 years ago on business and it was a lovely experience - lovely restaurant and lounge and a rooftop pool/lounge. It is centrally located in the Piazza della Repubblica - I had a balcony room facing the piazza and it was really a beautiful experience with exceptional service. http://www.boscolohotels.com/eng/hot...hotel-rome.htm

ThinGorjus

I would NEVER stay on the Via Veneto. This was the place to stay in 1969, but it is well past its heyday. You see many SE Asians and people from the Middle East eating at the overpriced and mediocre cafes on this street. I guess no one told them that Anita Ekberg won't be jumping into any fountains whilst they nosh on a prawn cocktail.

The Excedra is very posh and what I would call "new money." The only bad thing about it is that there is a McDonald's right next door. If you sit out front at the cafe of the hotel, you will witness the Great Unwashed trekking over from Termini for a Big Mac. This is a VERY busy McDonald's.

Take a look at the Raphael. I think it is a very beautiful hotel and it is right off of the Piazza Navonna. There is a beautiful garden restaurant next door where you can sit under shade trees and have a relaxing cappuccino.

http://www.raphaelhotel.com



Thin

ThinGorjus

Another great hotel is the Hotel de Russie. The garden is exquisite. The back of the hotel faces the Borghese Gardens and it is a nice stroll up the back steps of Piazza Poppolo up to the Pincio for amazing views of Rome.

The Hassler is very "old guard," very "old money." It is very sedate. The people who stay here are the type who don't like anything showy or vulgar.

Thin

cambee

Five years ago we stayed at the Grand Hotel De La Minerve( a 5 star hotel). I received many excellent comments on this Fodor site for this hotel. We had a wonderful room (242). It was a Suite. The room was huge since there were three of us. It had a king size bed and a cot for our teenager. Breakfast was excellent. This hotel is located conveniently so we did not have to take taxies to see the sites. The Pantheon is just steps from the hotel’s entrance on the Piazza di Minerve. There website – www.hotel-invest.com

nytraveler

We stayed at the Minerva and loved it - a really great location. You don;t say when you will be in Rome- random dates in May for a double are about US $450 per night. But they do seen to have an internet offer for advance payment.

suec1

Not many itinerary responses yet - what month are you going and what are your interests? I would assume you would want one day for St. Peter's and the Vatican - try to find time to climb up the dome. Then another day (at least) for ancient Rome - Forum, Colesium, Planatine Hill. Maybe a day trip to Orvieto, Assisi (further but very special) or Ostia Antica or Pompeii. I would get a guide book, I like Rick Steves, I almost always agree on how he rates sites as far as being worth your time or not. Also he has several self guided walking tours that will take you thru Campo di Fiori, Piazza Nuvona and others. Have a great trip!

Weadles

I totally agree with Thin. We stayed at Hotel Eden on the Via Veneto several years ago and HATED the location. It is far from anything that you want to see, and nearly impossible to get a cab back late at night from some of the more interesting neighborhoods like Trastevere.

I have not stayed at the Hotel de Russie, but that would be my first choice. My second choice would be The Minerva, which has an excellent central location. And, if you decide NOT to spend big bucks, try to book the suite overlooking the Pantheon at Albergo Del Senato, another very well located hotel. Then with the extra money, you can have lots of drinks on the lovely rooftop terrace.

cindytag1

Thank you for your responses, we are thinking of going in mid October. Is that a nice time of the year there? We are very active and like all of the historic sightseeing that we can possibly get in 5 days. We are interested in a very nice hotel in a central location. I will check into your suggestions

ellenem

Definitely Grand Hotel de la Minerve

http://www.grandhoteldelaminerve.com/

Ann1

October is a great time of the year to go but you will have more of a chance to have rain. We never let rain stop us. Let me emphasize "chance". You have a better chance of great weather all 5 days. Just be prepared. The weather is cooler which is great for walking. I doubt there will be a line at the Colosseum. If there is, go to Pallentine Hill and get the ticket that covers the hill, Colosseum and the Forum. Then you can go back and just walk in the Colosseum past the line. Other than that, you'll have a great, comfortable time.

bardo1

cindy,

Another 5-star in hisroric center you should look at is the St. George: http://www.stgeorgehotel.it/luxury-h...me_302_ENG.htm

The Raphael is also a great location.

TravMimi

When I travel, I'm seldom in the hotel long enough to care about stars. I'm up and out early, and back in late. I look for clean, good location and in a big city QUIET!! Check hotel reviews on tripadvisor.com and look for "quiet"
When in Rome we stay near the central station because we do a lot of day trips by train. If you are planning day trips that might be a good idea.
There are lots of good places to stay around Piazza Repubblica, the opera house, and just off Via Nazionale and Via Cavour. The Boscolo is quite nice, and I do agree that Via Veneto is not at all what it used to be.
For staying in Rome the entire time, we like Minerve, Del Senato and Hotel Pantheon. All around the Pantheon, and all very nice. Have a wonderful trip.

Ann1

When I said the Baglioni I wasn't suggesting that the Via Veneto was good. It isn't dangerous, but it is overpriced and not my type of place. It's just the only 5 star I knew because we visited some people there. I agree with the above poster to just look for a good, clean location. The hotels she mentioned are really nice, will save you a ton of money and will probably give you better care. We can easily afford a 5 star, but I guess we just enjoy a more comfortable, caring hotel. When we went to visit our friends at the Balgioni all I saw were palms (on hands not in pots). We're in Rome a few times a year and go to the same hotel. When they hadn't heard from us for our next reservation, they e-mailed to see if everything was ok. One year we had to cancel because my husband was severely ill. Now, 9 years later, they always ask how he is feeling when we arrive. The list goes on. That's the kind of care I like.

ThinGorjus

Ann, what is the point of telling us all about this fabulous hotel you stay at but not revealing its name????

That is just naff, in my opinion.

Thin

laurie_ann

For inspiration for an itinerary we like any of these series, each of which has a guide for Rome:

Frommer's 24 Great Walks in Rome

Frommer's Rome Day by Day

Rome (EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDE)

Be sure to plan some time with no plan. The smaller neighborhoods, churches, piazzas are wonderful too.

Ann1

I am truly sorry for that. It is the only hotel I can't reveal that we like. Any other city I'll share my favorites but this one in Rome is really hard to get a reservation in even 4 months ahead. I'm not trying to be mean, I was using it as a reference. There are a lot of fabulous affordable hotels in Rome.