Albergo Cesari vs. Hotel Portoghesi, Rome
 

Hello,

I am helping a friend plan her first trip to Rome. This is the background: family of four, two children a boy and a girl ages somewhere between 19 and 22. A quad room is what they are looking for and both of these hotels have availability. I think they are both very good, but possibly in different ways.

The Portoghesi is more expensive for their total stay by $100 - three nights at the end of June, 2016. Not an issue, but thought I should mention it.

Does anyone have comments that I could pass along to them that might be helpful in choosing one of these hotels?

I know the Portoghesi very well. I don't recall a quad room - do you mean the hotel's apartment? They also have a rooftop suite with a king bed and a pull out couch - whether that qualifies as a quad room is debatable. If the suite is the one, I wouldn't recommend it for four as the kids will have to share the pull out sofa.

The Cesari is on a busy street whereas the Portoghesi is in a mostly residential pocket a few minutes from Piazza Navona. Both are in a good location for sightseeing.

Thanks for responding Blueeyedcod. If my memory serves me correctly, somewhere on the Internet I found a negative comment about the Portoghesi's apartments, which (I think) are located in a separate building. You're right about sharing the pull-out sofa - not happening at their ages.

I know exactly where the Cesari is located, but isn'tit a pedestrian street and no late-night cafes are close by. The hotel's website indicates soundproof windows. Perhaps if the quad rooms are in the rear of the hotel, that would work for them.

Location-wise, both are great.

Yes the Cesari is in a pedestrian zone - just lots of foot traffic but in terms of sleeping that won't be an issue at night. I like Piazza di Pietra and how the columns of the Temple of Hadrian have been incorporated into the bank building. There are always some interesting buskers in that little piazza.

The Portoghesi's apartment is next door and it also has a pull out sofa but there would be enough room for a rollaway. It also has the convenience of an apartment - with a small kitchen - always great when you have kids, although they're both adults - not really kids.

I think with a quad room there will always be pull out sofas or someone sleeping on a rollaway. I would tend to lean toward taking the apartment for its space. It's easy enough to head next door for the hotel's breakfast on their rooftop terrace.

Would you like to throw another hotel's name into the hat because they don't have a tie-breaker?

The Hotel White near the Trevi Fountain has quad rooms

http://www.whitehotel.com/en/

The Hotel Santa Chiara has a quadruple and a suite, each of which would accommodate your friend. Neighborhood is a little noisy, just behind the Pantheon. I preferred the Portoghesi location.

Sorry, link.

http://www.albergosantachiara.com/english/

Fra_Diavolo, I believe you have been a member for many, many years on this board. Thank you for your input. I too suggested the Santa Chiara, but didn't think it would be noisy because of the narrow pedestrian street. Good to know. Thanks.

Thanks, my friend has booked the Portoghesi.

Great choice.
Wonder if they know the film 'Eat Pray Love' was filmed at the apartment opposite and Julia Roberts stayed in one of the Portoghesi's rooms while filming?
There is a great cafe just down the Via dei Portoghesi - called 'Papa's Cafe' - excellent pizza and pasta, and around the corner is one of my favourite Roman restaurants, 'Old Bear'.

Hope they have a great time.

http://www.yelp.com.au/biz/old-bear-roma

Blueeyedcod, Trivia is always fun...I'll tell my friend about the café. Old Bear, I'll have to check that one out myself!