ccthomp

A group of 6 couples are planning to stay at the del Senato thanks to the good reviews on this board. Could someone help me with the various rooms: the hotel now tells me to face the Pantheon, the double rooms are 40 euros per night additional ( I never saw that anywhere by other visitors). I understand those rooms with best views are smaller. I asked about a Jr.Suite on upper floor but was told they are on lower floors. I'm trying to decide if I should pay to guarantee a top floor pantheon view in a smaller room or get the lower floor Jr.Suite. While price is not the major concern, I do not want to pay more than I need to in order to accomplish my goals. Also, one of the couples will be on their honeymoon and it sounds like the rrom with a view would be better for them. Thanks for your help.

Grinisa

The Del Senato has gotten extremely popular and accordingly they have raised their rates. I stay in the Senior Suite which is room 602. It has a living room (with double sofa bed)large bedroom, large bathroom, hallway with windows facing the east view and an L shaped terrace (huge) that faces north and west with an incredible view of the Pantheon and the Piazza della Rotunda. I think the rack rate for this room in near 500 Euro per night, but I've received it for much less. That might be a good splurge for the honeymoon couple. I know that there is a Junior Suite on the opposite end of the sixth floor, with a small balcony facing the Pantheon and a small separate room or alcove in addition to the main bedroom. It might be booked the dates you want though. There is one double room on the sixth floor with a small balcony that faces the Pantheon. It is a very small room though. If I was making the decision, I'd go for the upper floor Pantheon view room over a lower floor Junior Suite considering I wouldn't be in the room all that much and when I was,I'd want the slightly quieter room on the top floor, although noise isn't that much of a problem at the del Senato.

francophile03

I haven't seen it on their website an extra charge for a Pantheon view room. I had asked for a quote recently and they offered a jr. suite on the 1st floor with Pantheon view for 345 euro (this is for July). I understand jr. suites are on different floors. I wouldn't pay extra for the view room-just my opinion-a jr. suite sounds ok enough.

NYCFoodSnob

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but Albergo del Senato does not offer much space for the money even though the hotel is very charming. Grinisa is correct, this is the new "hot" boutique hotel in Rome's city-center and they have no problem attracting customers and squeezing them into those cute but tiny rooms.

The hotel is very pretty, lots of creams, whites, pale yellows, and muted salmon colors with splashes of blue and violet. Many walls are covered in lovely fabric. Everything looks new because it is new and the decorators paid much attention to detail. The interior stairway is very elegant and there is a feeling of intimacy throughout the entire hotel. Service is very first rate. The elevators are tiny, they fit only three people with no luggage, and they're slow.

Looking at the Pantheon, Albergo del Senato is the pale-yellow, brightly-lit building on your left. There's no signage so it's easy to think you're looking at something else. The building stands six stories and there's a terrace on the sixth floor with a great view.

The building is practically divided in two. The front half which faces Piazza della Rotunda is where all the luxe rooms are located, this includes any room with a view. The back half is where you'll find the less expensive rooms (with no view and possibly quite dark). You can identify the difference by looking at your floor: wood = luxe, terra cotta = less-luxe.

I was told there is only one Senior Suite (they called it "Imperial&quot and there are three Junior Suites. Some rooms connect with others to accommodate larger groups. The Senior Suite is pictured on their website and frankly, this is the only room I could stay in. I couldn't see the Junior Suites because they were occupied. I'm sure they're fine.

I photographed Rooms 304 and 305, two very popular doubles in the very center of the building with full Pantheon view. Although nicely decorated with lovely marble bath/full tub, I was stunned by the size of each room. All I can say is the photos on the website are very deceiving. I measured two feet on either side of the bed and two feet until you hit the chest of drawers at the foot. And that is it! Nothing more. I couldn't quite figure out where you would put your luggage. Yes, the view is fine but unless you plan on standing at the window for hours, who cares in such a tiny space. All the rooms are remarkably quiet but the feeling of claustrophobia in these two prevailed. There is no way I could stay in anything smaller than a suite.

Hotels in Rome are tough, especially if you're like me and require some breathing space. When I'm unpacked, I don't want to see my luggage.

The competition for the three largest rooms at the del Senato can be quite intense, depending on the season. I suggest you book as early as you can and splurge on the going rate, unless a pretty shoe-box suits you.

francophile03

Hi NYCFoodSnob, thanks for the honest description of the Albergo del Senato; I guess as long as its popularity increases so will the rates. Will your pictures of the rooms be published so that we can see them?

Thanks.

ccthomp

Grinisa and NYCFoodSnob,
thank you for taking the time to post such informative and detailed replies. It does appear that popularity has increased the prices and especially since we are going in May. It would not be as difficult if it were just my husband and me, but I have the pressure of making a recommendation for our group of 12. I'll share your responses and let them decide. If one chooses a larger room without a view, there is still the rooftop terrace. Your help is appreciated.

ccthomp

I have now reserved our rooms for May but I am having some difficulty with information. I reserved through email directly with hotel and requested one of the rooms to be the senior suite on the 6th floor corner ( I thought there was only one senior suite from previous posts). My reply was that the corner was not available. Does anyone know if there is more than one senior suite and do they all have terraces? Venere.com still has a senior suite listed as availableThanks.

suntravler

ccthomp: For 4 nights we stayed in Room 306, a small double facing the Pantheon. The room, the hotel, and the service are EXACTLY as NYCFoodSnob describes. However, except to sleep and dress we spent no time in the room. And the wonderful advantage was that we were right in the middle of everything. We were able to walk to all the major places of interest. We would be delighted to stay there again some time. They have a webcam on the roof terrace. If you haven't already done so, you can view it from their website. What you see in the webcam is pretty much the view you will have from your room. (Remember the time difference and it may be nighttime there when you view the webcam and too dark to really see anything.) Enjoy your trip.

Grinisa

Room 602 is the only Senior Suite as far as I know. On the opposite corner of the 6th floor is a Junior Suite which also has a small terrace. Venere's availability isn't updated as frequently as the hotel books its rooms so if the hotel tells you that room is booked for the days you want, believe the hotel rather than Venere.

ccthomp

Grinsia,
I called the hotel to ask if there was more than one senior suite and the answer was "of course". I asked if I had the one from the web site reserved and the answer was "no". I have booked 6 rooms for May and communicated through email but have found the hotel to be less than accomodating about describing rooms. A phone call produced no better results. Since I have read so many helpful posts on this site, I felt like my questions were appropriate and I had a pretty good knowledge of the possibilities. I would not have booked the senior suite if I had known it was not the one I requested. Now they have no other available rooms , although I booked originally in Jan. I explained that one couple would be on their honeymoon and the 6 couples will be departing from Civitevecchia on a Med. cruise.
I suppose the hotel is so popular now, they don't have to be especially concerned. I appreciate your feedback.
Carol

Grinisa

ccthormp: I am sorry to hear that your are not getting the information and help that you need from the Del Senato. Although the hotel has become very popular in the last two years, it seems very out of character for them to treat you this way as I have always found the staff to be very helpful and accomodating. I can only say that 602 is the only Senior Suite with that huge terrace. Maybe they have designated other rooms, or combinations of connecting rooms, as Senior Suites as well. I guess if I was in your position, I'd send another email to the hotel and say that it was your impression that the Senior Suite was room 602, with the terrace, and that is the room you intended to book, and if they have booked you into another "Senior Suite" ask how that room differs from room 602. Depending on their answer, you can then decide if that Senior Suite will meet your needs. Good luck!

NYCFoodSnob

Welcome to the "don't bother me with the room number request game" from Italy hotels.

Look, readers, there are only so many "fab" rooms to go around in Italy hotels and management of these hotels is FULLY aware of the "request-a-room-by-number-game." The hard and fast truth is THEY DON'T LOVE THIS GAME. Why? Because there are too few fab rooms to go around and they don't want to find themselves in the position of guaranteeing anything they have little control over. They also want your business so, oftentimes, they will say yes to every query just to throw you off and secure your business.

Yes, you can challenge each and every hotel because you think (know) you're a smart shopper but this approach could very well leave you with nothing.

Unfortunately, to secure a great hotel room in one of Rome's top 10 hotels, you're going to need some finesse, luck, and street smarts and NEVER alienate management by trying to manipulate them with your knowledge and pushy personality. The Italians (and the French) just won't have it.

The sorry truth is most of the fab hotels are in a win-win position. There will always be demand for these prize rooms even if the booking service suffers. These are the basic rules behind supply and demand.

suntravler

ccthomp: Please don't let this difficulty about the exact room adversely affect your trip or your stay at Albergo del Senato. Few plans ever go exactly as desired. There are always some "glitches". I hope this is the most serious one you encounter. You will be extremely pleased with the location of the hotel, the elegant furnishings, the fine breakfast, and an exciting city with wonderful people, sights, food, and wine. Enjoy la dolce vita and don't let this detail spoil the mood.

ccthomp

Thanks for the replies. I had already emailed and, in a polite but hopefully not pushy tone, asked about the senior suite. It's tough being an incessant planner! The major attraction of the senior suite was the large terrace. On our last visit to Rome we had a wonderful experience at the Hotel Eden and it was due in large part to the rooftop lounge where we spent a part of every evening, enjoying the view and the people. We thought it would be nice to have our own terrace to share with our friends. But I'm sure we will enjoy whatever we get and the rooftop terrace lounge looks wonderful.
Thanks for "listening".