Calamari

Nanb - I do want to stress that Abruzzi does not have the ornate decor that Del Senato seems to have. Rooms have hardwood Cherry floors (v. nice) simple beds with solid blue or green coverlettes, white walls and marble bathrooms. Simple, very clean, friendly and what a view. You can practically touch the Pantheon. The reception area is lacking. I think it has one chair and the reception desk (tiny) and an elevator. Hotel does not have a restaurant so they give you vouchers to go across the Pza. to a v. nice bar where you are served breakfast in Pza. Rotunda.

socialworker

To Calamari re:mattresses--we stayed in 4 different hotels in different parts of Italy and had the 4 best mattresses we have ever slept on!! We have even toyed w/the idea of trying to order an Italian matttress, since it cannot possibly just a coincidence that they were *all* so good. There must be something about Italian mattresses....Sweet dreams in Italy.

nanb

Calamari, thanks for more Abruzzi input.
While I enjoy the del senato, and it's ornateness and lobby, I do not need that to survive.
I like green and blue so that is no problem
and I have always thought the outside of the building very romantic .
and i never spend time hanging in lobbies/reception rooms.

And I bet I know which bar one can get breakfast at.
and I really like that place!

So, thanks again for turning me on to an alternative hotel, esp. if I am feeling the pinch of pennies.

Surfergirl

Calamari, Class of '70. Bet I have you beat.

Calamari

Surfergirl - yes, you have me beat by almost 10 years. I went to Brentwood and had many friends at Uni.

I emailed asking Del Senato what our quad would be like. I am a bit nervouse. Roberta said it is one double bed and ONE single bed. Uhhh, surprised she did not mention a roll away. I am now looking into Hotel Daphne just incase.

Elena

Samohi, class of '71. Had to chime in. Have nothing to add to hotel discussion but since I'm living in Alabama, it is nice to hear people reminiscing about the old neighborhoods.

Surfergirl

My friend's son goes to Brentwood now, as do Ahhnold's kids.

Waiting to hear about the room at Del Senato.

Bigdog

My wife and I and 20 y/o son and daughter stayed at Del senato last year. Had requested the quad w/balcony and although the view over the Pantheon was great, the twins bedded room had the balcony and my wife and I would have been stuck with the small room with a lumpy hideabed.
Wasn't going to happen, so they changed us to aroom on the 3rd floor with a large 4 poster, with a hideabed in the same room and a single in a small entry foyer. The room itself was excellent - high coffered, frescoed ceilings, but it certainly wasn't designed for privacy with 3 in one room. But - we were stuck - at $500.00 per night. Yikes!

NYCFoodSnob

I hate to say it but Rome boutique hotels aren't designed for families of four or more, especially if the kids (depending on age) are used to their own room and their own bed.

Whenever you get into this "triple" and "quad" description, you will most likely find boutique hotels combining two rooms to accommodate the number of guests. One room may be just lovely while the other room is merely OK, or downright lousy. After all, the Del Senato isn't the Waldorf Astoria.

For $500 a night, no view or balcony is worth a restless sleep or cramped quarters, IMO. This is when I would change gears and find myself an adorable two bedroom and two bath apartment and really live like the Romans, and spend much less than $500 a night.

Calamari

Bigdog. Thanks for the info. Roberta is very non specific when I ask what the room will be like. At least she now confirms that the room will be one large bed??? and TWO single beds. We have a two room apartment for the last leg of the trip.

Calamari

Elena - Both of my parents went to Samohi and so did my brother.

Surfergirl - I recently took my kids to something at Brentwood. It sure has changed. When I was there and my parents were spending ALL THE MONEY, we were learning Latin in trailers on the field (lower school) and then up at the main building for 9th up.