Has anyone stayed recently at Hotel Scalinata Di Spagna or Hotel Locarno. Any comments on specific rooms and location would be appreciated. I am planning a September trip.

We stayed at the Scalinata di Spagna last July. Our rooms were OK, not great, and there was a problem with our reservation at the last minute and we had to add a rollaway instead of our original request. However, it is a great location, and the people were very helpful with resturant suggestions. Since you are so far ahead ask for room 15 (I think) it has a private balcony right next to the room top terrace, and a very nice view of St. Peters in the distance.

I was in Rome this summer with another couple. They stayed at the Locarno 10 years before and was insistant on staying there. I didn't, but was cheecking in the next day in the De La ville. She had checked out after only one night . It was noisy from the outside, and she didn't like the room. Any questions, email. Wendy

We stayed at the Locarno this past November. The location near Piazza del Populo was convenient and our room (#602, in the building across the courtyard) was excellent - high ceilings, great antique furniture, and an elegant marble bath. The staff was friendly and helpful. I agree with the noise comment, however - there's a lot of traffic on the street that runs along one side and Rome drivers do love their horns. We like fresh air (if you can call it that in Rome), so had the windows open most of the time - with the windows closed the traffic noise wasn't really noticeable.

Scalinata di Spagna has a much more desirable location at the top of the Spanish Steps just opposite the Hassler and the Hotel de la Ville although I've heard that the rooms are pretty small. That said, I'd choose it over the Locarno.

My daughter and I loved staying at the Scalinata di Spagna.

Dorrie: <BR> <BR>We stayed at Locarno last July. Agree with others re: noise, but Rome is NOISY, and the noise died down by 11 PM. We noticed it mostly because we were traveling with our then three year old daughter and it was lights out by 9PM. Staff there was wonderful and helpful (Giovanni the bartender was great!) and the room was very nice, especially the bath. Location is OK - after visiting Rome my preference for location would be the Pantheon/Piazza Navona (sp?) area, price and all else being equal. Overall we liked Locarno a lot - it's a small hotel with a real welcoming cozy atmosphere. I don't know if there are other rooms that are less exposed to the street noise - it's worth asking. <BR> <BR>Buon Viaggio <BR> <BR>Dan