Is the quad room at Del Senato as nice as the room they feature on their website? I am unsure if I should book the quad, jr. suite or what??? Good mattresses are key and a view would be a plus. Any suggestions?

Well forget inquiry above. When I went to book Del Senato my later dates were no longer available. We will be there only for two nights at the start of our trip. Any other suggestions for a quad in June for Rome???

Calamari, I just brought back up to the top the question I had two months ago, only to discover, as you, the quad was not available. They had two doubles which collectively ran double the price of the quad, so I gave up on that idea. I went for the other big recommendation, the Santa Chiara, but received zero responses to my emails and faxes. Ended up booking at the Hotel Modigliani for 300 euro/night; they were quick to respond and an absolute delight in emails and faxes. The reviews I've read have all been good except a problem, I guess, with the walls not being particularly thick. Which has never been much of an issue with us (I figure with 4 in a room, we're probably not going to be that quiet either). But I did hear the upper rooms with the quads have a good view and they have air conditioning, so what more could you want, plus a good location.

Hey Surfegirl - Thank you so much for your suggestions! I will follow up on your recomendations in the morning. Come to think of it, Santa Chiara has not responded to any of my requests either. Romeby.com has some good suggestions but few do respond possibly because they are already booked. Thanks again for your help!
Cheers, Calamari in S.D. (your a so. cal girl too?)

Yes, L.A.

Santa Chiara doesn't reply to messages alot. I remember last year sending a few emails to no avail. Then all of a sudden one was received, had a question and sent it to them, but got no reply. I think they are being selective as I guess they are so in demand they figure it's fine to do be selective. I could do without that.

I gave up on Santa Chiara after similar difficulties with email responses, and also their web site.

I stayed at the Santa Chiara in September and will be going back in 2005.I loved the location and the hotel. They gave me a room with a balcony . The balcony was 12'x15' wish I could remember the number of the the room.The price was great. Sorry, your all having the problem . I hope I dont.

Romeby.com has sent my requests to other hotels. Has anyone heard of Les Chambre D'ore or Hotel Daphne?

Surfergirl - I am originally from L.A. too. The beach to be exact but I never was a surfergirl.

Why would you ever email or website as opposed to calling. When you call, you get exactly the room/amenities you want and get booked immediately! It would seem that the most popular hotels don't need to be quick about emailing people back.

Phoning is expensive for long distance as you know.

And if a hotel is so highly regarded then it should also provide excellent service in answering its emails promptly.

Bardo and Francophile both have points. I waited too long to book Sorrento as well, and received no email responses to one centrally located hotel, so I ended up calling them. Managed to get the last rooms available. But we're on the 9 cents a minute plan, so it was not expensive, and we confirmed with a fax.

Calamari -- WLA, Uni High grad.

Francophile03,
You have a point. Unfortunately, there are many hotels that have great location and rooms that simply don't return emails promptly. This board is full of such stories. And yes, an international phone call cost a few dollars - but a ringing telephone will usually take precedence over an email in the general inbox.

Surfergirl - I knew some people who went to UNI, but I think I am a lot older than you are. I went to Brentwood.

Del Senato did get back to me. I confirmed a room for the first half of our trip and they said they would notify me if the quad room became avail. for the end of our trip. Hotel Abruzzi has come through with a two room apartment which is just across from Del Senato in Pza. D Rotunda. 40 euros cheaper but less luxe. Who cares it is ROME!

Calamari, I have two questions,
Does the Abruzzi have en suite bathrooms?
I thought they only had shared.
and what picture on the del senato site is the quad room?I thought there were only 2 pics, a double and then
the big blue room which I thought was one of the Senior Suites.

Thanks for any replies.
(the one we did not have)

Yes, Abruzzi has great en suite bathrooms. One of our rooms last year had a bathroom almost larger than the room. This year we are getting a remodeled apartment, two rooms with ensuite bathroom. I think the picture for del Senato is the Sr. suite. I will report back to this site about what the quad room is like. I have a feeling that it will be very small from what I have read. Our rate for it is now Euro 328. Only a week prior to booking they had quoted Euro 312. We shall see how it goes.

Just wanted to add that the beds at Abruzzi were brand new and very firm. Since I was recovering from a broken back (3 fractures) this was and still is of great importance. Air conditioning worked beautifully.

Calamari --

Our rate at del senato also went up from inquiry to booking (220 to 244 for a double superior.)

Calamari,
thanks for the reply.
Although I ENJOY the del senato and have stayed there twice, I do not think I would stay there again, unless I was going to stay in the senior suite as we did this trip.
and that was only to have a private terrace!
as it is really not excellent for 4 full sized people, and it is 465 Euro a night, it would only make sense if I won a lottery
So, next time around I can seeriously think of the Abruzzi

Thanks again.