Can you give me some info on Canali ai Coronari?
 

We have been offered a quad room at this hotel at a rate of 259e per night. I made this reservation through hotelnet.com. I cannot get any info on how the quad room is configured. Might I hope for two rooms and 1 bath? I saw someone post that they had stayed here with this arrangement. Please let me know if you have any info.

Since posting this I found the direct website for Residenza Canali ai Coronari so I have e-mailed them. The hotel's web site did not show up until Page 3 of my google search results! It is www.residenzacanali.com for others who might wish to know it. Still welcome any comments.

I am shocked that you would pay that much for a room! It seems very high, is there no way you can look into other properties with 100 euro range rates?! Of course, it is dependent on when you are going, but rates drop in September.

I also find the rate a little high, but I would disagree that rates drop in September. September is, if anything, considered higher season than August.

We are reserving a room for the weekend of Palm Sunday next March. And it is a quad - this rate is much cheaper than I can get two double rooms. Is this really overpriced?

We're stying there in December. There are good reviews in tripadvisor about them. It's right around the corner from Piazza Navona.

I still think the rate is a little high, considering that it's more of a bed-and-breakfast than a full-service hotel, but 259 Euros is, in fact, somewhat less than you would have to pay for a quadruple or two doubles at a three-star hotel in that area.

But are you aware that "There are four floors in the building and there is no elevator"?

And please, whatever you do, do not follow their instructions for finding the hotel: "From Railway Station: Follow the indications to Piazza Repubblica, than take the street called Via Barberini and follow this street until Via Belsiana. You will find us on your left." (According to the Web site of the bus system of Rome, from Piazza della Repubblica to Via dei Tre Archi is 3 kilometers!) Via Barberini at no point intersects Via Belsiana; moreover, Via Belsiana is near the Spanish Steps and Via dei Tre Archi is near Piazza Navona.

And it's total nonsense for the establishment to state "Residenza Canali ai Coronari is located in Via dei Tre Archi, a few yards from the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Roman Forum, Coliseum, Pantheon and 10 minutes from Piazza San Pietro." Again according to the bus system of Rome Web site, from the Colosseum to Via dei Tre Archi is 2.8 kilometers or considerably more than a mile; from the Spanish Steps, it is 1.9 kilometers.

Please believe me that I am not trying to rain on your parade; I simply have an uneasy feeling about a place that would make such nonsensical claims.

Hi Eloise,
Thank you for that info. I was aware of the lack of elevator. Climbing steps will build character, I think! Especially in my two teenagers. You're right about their ridiculous claims of distances to various sites. Still, it is close to Plaza Navona and I understood that that would be a good location. Do you think we would want to be closer to another area? In general, I have read good things about this B&B, but I am still open to suggestions.

As far as the area is concerned, I don't think you can do any better!

I've read the reviews on www.tripadvisor.com and, as you say, they are very good.

Perhaps I've allowed myself to be too put off by the location claims...

And I'm afraid I cannot offer other suggestions. Except this year, when I stayed in a convent (which I don't think your teenagers would appreciate at all!), I've always stayed with a friend who had an apartment near the Campo de Fiori and who, unfortunately for me, moved back to North America earlier this year.

I am topping for myself just in case there is any new info out there. I never had an answer from the hotel on the room configuration. Thanks to all who replied, even Huitres who I shocked!

Suki,
Depending on how many nigts you plan to spend in Rome, an apartment might be another option for you. There are pros(space, cost, privacy, etc) and cons(no front desk to help, limited cleaning, etc) to staying in an apartment as discussed by other threads. I don't know anything about your specific B&B, but just wanted to point out an option. We will be staying in an apartment, that can sleep 4 people, at 'via di coronari 45', for a rate of 100e in november. It should be more expensive in september but i doubt that the price will triple.

Just wanted to chime in that your hotel on Via Coronari is a drop dead perfect location. Make sure you eat at Osteria dell'Antiquario - Piazzetta di S. Simeone 26 (on Via Coronari).

Reservations are a must - in good weather, get an outside table looking toward the fountain. Phone: 06-687-9694.

Thank you, bardo1. I will definitely try the restaurant that you recommend.
Ssachido, we will only be in Rome for 3 nights so I don't think an apt. will work.

I should have mentioned, our apt reservation is for 4 nights. I think 3 nights is the minimum for many apts. However, thats what I found for nov, don't know how the in season rules change. Again, I'm not trying to convince you to do one or the other, just pointing out another option.

We stayed at the Residenza Canali ai Coronari for 5 days in early July of this year. We were in Room #1 on the top floor. We paid 165E/night and booked through romeby.com.

First of all, let me say that you will be most surprised by the outside of the place. Our cab dropped us off when we saw the Via dei Tre Archi sign. We thought it was like one of those movies where the cabbie peels off because he doesn't want to be caught dead in that neighborhood. We were standing in what looked like a deserted ally (it was noon on a Sunday) with graffiti on the walls and all the store fronts barred. There is no sign indicating the hotel. When we finally found the number, we saw a little label maker sign next to a buzzer. It was with extreme trepidation that I buzzed to be let in.

However, on the inside, it was fine. We were in Room 1, which was on the 4th floor. Yes indeed, there is no elevator. And let me tell you that every time we came back to the hotel after walking all day in the blazing Roman sun, we dreaded all those stairs to get to our room. But once inside, it was fabulous. The room was enormous by Roman standards and large even compared to the rest of Italy. We had a huge private terrace upon which we enjoyed a lot of romantic dinners and people watching. The a/c worked like a dream. It was like heaven to come into the icy room after being out in the heat and then trudging up all those stairs.

The location, for us, was ideal. We spent a great deal of time at the Vatican, and it was about a 20 minute leisurely walk, much of which was spent waiting to cross the street. I loved walking across Ponte Sant Angelo every day. It is just off Piazza Navona, and we spent part of every evening there hanging out, watching the street performers, and people watching. Very close to the Pantheon as well. Even the Colosseum and Roman Forum are within walking distance. Not so close to the Spanish Steps, but with bus passes, everywhere is accessible. Had we stayed closer to the Trevi/Spanish Steps, we'd have been further away from Piazza Navona and way too far from the Vatican. With bus passes, it was easy enough to get to all the places we wanted to see.

What we did was to set out early in the morning (after eating breakfast at the hotel's yummy breatkfast) and be first in line for whatever we were going to see that day. We'd see it, and we'd check out our second option. If that line was too long or we were too hot, we would leisurely walk around in the area, check out the churches there (big church fans), shop, and then head back to the hotel for a mid-day siesta. We'd usually get back to the hotel around 1:30 and nap until about 3:30 (hey, it was our honeymoon). We'd go back out around 4:30 and still have plenty of daylight left to do something else, without withering in the broiling sun.

All in all, we were extremely pleased with Canali ai Coronari. Ideal location, and although we complained about the stairs, they weren't terrible. The a/c was fabulous, the hotel staff was wonderful and always informative, and the experience was a good one overall. If we return to Rome, we would not hesitate to stay there again.

Wow, ItalyHoneymoon, thanks for the great information. We will have our 17 and 14-year old daughters with us and I was hoping to let them explore a bit on their own during the day. I assume you never felt unsafe in the area of the hotel after your initial trepidation? Also, nothing is more important to my 14-year old than breakfast: do they serve croissants and hot chocolate by any chance? I hope your honeymoon was great, and the source of many happy memories for years to come.

Good to hear that review, thanks.

Sorry, I forgot to mention that our initial impression of the area was inaccurate. Because it was a Sunday afternoon, all the shops were closed, which is what made it look like a deserted ally. Never did totally get over the fact that there was no sign and no real entry-way, but it was a totally acceptable place to stay. Never felt unsafe in any way. Great restaurants very nearby. There is a really good grocery between Piazza Navona and the Parthenon, where we bought a lot of bread and cheese and bottled water to have on our terrace.

Yes, the breakfast always has croissants. Some plain. Some with marmalade or what have you inside. Don't think there was hot chocolate though. Actually, maybe there was. But in July, I didn't want anything hot, even for breakfast! LOL

I never saw any of the other rooms, so I have no idea what they were like. I think Room #1 might be the only one with the terrace. There were several families staying there when we were there, so I'm guessing there are rooms for more than 2 people.

Stayed at this hotel for 4 days (October 3 thru 7). We had room #2 on the 4th floor which had a balcony. Spacious room, modern bathroom, very clean. Staff very friendly and helpful. Breakfast good - fresh pastries, meats, cheeses, cereals, fruit, etc., along with coffee, juice, tea. We knew up front that there was no elevator so we did not consider that a problem. Location is great - just outside Piazza Navona in a quiet neighborhood. Within walking distance of almost all major sites in Rome. Would definitely stay there again.

Can I ask those who have stayed here if they corresponded directly with the hotel? I have e-mailed them 3 times in 3 months and never received a response. As I mentioned above, I made the reservation through hotel.net but I wanted some additional info, and I am a little nervous that I am getting no response.