I am in great need of help. I am making arrangements for twelve friends to stay in a villa for a week and then spend two nights in Rome before returning home. I have tried two travel agencies and Travelocity in an attempt to find six rooms in Rome for two nights, October 5 and 6. I have had no luck. Due to someone being made a Saint that weekend, every room seems to be sold out. We have a budget of $150-$175 per night. Does anyone have any ideas on how to secure a room. I assume large block must be being held by tour companies. <BR><BR>Thanks for your help.

Check www.venere.com <BR>You can type in the dates you want and it will bring up all the available hotels. You can book them online.

Hi there,<BR>I live and work in Rome as a tour guide so know many of the hotels in the centre. If you would like to email me direct with an idea of your budget I may be able to do a couple of quick ring arounds for you and your friends. <BR>Contact me direct at [email protected] and I will try my best.<BR>Regards<BR>

Careful of the previous poster. She's only being helpful so that she can advertise her business. Very sneaky lady!

.<BR>Here is a couple more sites to try,<BR>http://www.rome-italy-hotels.net/<BR>http://www.venere.com<BR><BR>Marianna has often posted on this forum and if she's in the travel business, then so be it! Yes, it's a fine line between advertising, self promotion & providing valid info. The getawaygal asked for help --- she'd clearly love to hear from someone who can assist her with booking accomadations, so ....<BR>

Marianna is advertising her business and I've yet to receive a reply to my request over a month ago. She answers almost every question. I don't believe this site should be used in that manner.

Our family just stayed in the GIOIA guest house which we secured through the referral service run by the beehive hostel. www.behive.com (Rick Steve's recommends it). It was airconditioned, very convenient to the metro (one stop from termini). Best of all, it was less than $100 per night for the four of us.

The suggestion of www.venere.com is a good one. Another possibility is to stay in an outlying area--Ostia Antica is interesting in its own right, and might not be so full of folks who want to be near the Vatican. (It's on a suburban train line.) Or up in the Alban Hills (even the Pope goes to Castel Gandolfo when it's hot, although I guess he won't be there if there is a canonization). Your money will also go further away from the center, and it's only about half an hour to Termini from Ostia Antica.