Well, until this point I've have no problems booking hotels for our 25 day jaunt through Europe. Now, I've come to Rome and am having the toughest time. No hotels have websites (very few anyway), so I either have to book through a booking company who wants my CC # to charge a fee (which I don't want to do), or fax the hotel directly. I've done the latter, but even hotels in the budget category are more expensive than quoted in any guide book, plus they want me to send them a cashier's check for the deposit. We're going in mid-march which is still the end of the low-season. Am I going about this the wrong way? Should I be bargaining a price with them? I just want a hotel at this point for $100-125. Is this unreasonable in Rome? HELP!!!!

Kristen~ <BR> <BR>When are you going? Your dates? I write travel itineraries to Italy for big companies and work with many Rome hotels! I would be happy to assist? <BR> <BR>Feel free to e-mail me directly at [email protected]... <BR> <BR>Ciao! Wendy

Booking directly via fax is the way we've done it for years, with no difficulty. <BR> <BR>Some hotels do want a a deposit, often a personal check. Have never heard of a cashier's check being required. <BR> <BR>With hundreds of hotels in Rome to choose from this should not be a problem in finding a good choice. <BR> <BR>Since "current" travel books were written, not published, 6-12 months prior to the time you read them, at least, you should expect, anywhere, that prices will be at least somewhat higher. It's also common that the low end rate quoted in guides may be for one of the (few) cheapest rooms in the house, not run-of-the-house. <BR> <BR>Ed

Go to www.venere.it and click on Rome. You'll find so many hotels and most, if not all, have websites. We stayed at the Hotel Springhouse by the Vatican. The website is www.hotelspringhouse.com and the email address is [email protected] it was about $160.00 (US) for 3 of us. Good Luck

I agree with Sandi -- Italy Hotel Reservation (www.venere.it) is a good, reliable way to book hotel reservations throughout Italy. You will be able to check availability and book rooms through this website. They will pass your credit card information on to the hotels, but no payments will be taken from your account -- you pay the hotel directly at check-out. <BR> <BR>I have personally booked rooms this way in the past, and have had no problems. Both Italy Hotel Reservation and the hotel will confirm your reservation and price via e-mail.

I just came back from Rome and I stayed at Hotel Margutta. It's great location, it's very clean and the staff are helpful. The only problem is that the bathroom is tiny. Since I am not big myself, that wasn't a problem. It's less than $100 for a double w/ bath and it comes with breakfast. I would go back there again and again. You can find out the info at Ed's website. But book now if you are interested. I think there is litle vacancies left from looking at their book. All you need is to give them your credit card info in the fax.

Have you thought of using Best Western for they have many 3 star hotels under their umbrella. It is simple to book in the U.S. and easy to cancel. They are on the internet and give pictures and good descriptions of each hotel in each city. We have stayed with them in every country in Europe and have not been disappointed with their standards. They seem to have hotels in every section of a major city and we stayed in one of their hotels in Rome near the station and had a newly remodeled room with a great breakfast for $115. three years ago when the dollar was weaker.