We are honeymooning in Italy (3 nights in Venice, 4 nights in Tuscany-a farmhouse there outside of S.Giminano) and the last 4 nights in Rome. We want the Rome hotel to be a nicer one (with a terrace?) since we are doing the farmhouse thing right before that, and have reserved the Hotel Medeterrraneo, which is a 4-star by the train station. Is the area around the Stazione that bad? Should be forsake our suite at what seems to be a nicer hotel for a 3-star closer to the Spanish Steps or Piazza Navona? We do not want to spend any more than 650,000 Lire a night. Please help!

Hi Lisa, I stayed at the Mediterrano for 11 nights in '96. And it is a nice 4* with all the "whistles and bells". The area is safe and you would have to cross Via Cavour (the Via the hotel is on) and walk 4/5 blocks to find the seedy section. But the area just *isn't* romantic, to me it's just like a business/retail area in a US city. Not what you'd like for romantic memories of Rome esp if you wanted to stroll around at night or go for a drink. My romantic choice would be a 3* around the Piazza Navona. HTH Regards, Walter p.s. I *believe* there is a 4* located *right* behind the Pantheon in that price range "Crown Plaza Minerva"??? IIRC. <BR>

Thank you Walter! I will continue my search and check out the Crown Plaza...thanks again!

Lisa: I did a quick search and found one website that claimed the rates are between 325,000L & 600,000L and it's a 5* hotel. It seems to be that Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza are partners, so check-out this site http://www.basshotels.com/holiday-in...=eur4less.html If you're in the US there is a "800" number to call on that site and if you use an American Express card they *claim* a discount of up to 40%. To check Rates & Availiably click-on "Italy" and scroll way down to "Rome" then "Crowne Plaza Rome-Minerva" and click-on "Rates" and e-mail them. I have only walked by this hotel but you are in the center of history, right behind the Pantheon, and the church (which has a statue by Michelangelo inside) across the Piazza was where Galileo was tried, and ~250M away from where Julius Caesar met his end. Just to name a few. Again I haven't stayed at this hotel so if you're interested post and search about it. HTH Regards, Walter <BR>

Mediterraneo is fairly good hotel. Used to be 5-star. Location, not bad, is certainly not convenient. <BR> <BR>HI Crowne Plaza is an excellent hotel. I expect you can get a nice small suite for your price with a little bargaining. <BR> <BR>Crowne Plaza and HI are not 'partners'. CP is trade name for up-scale HIs. Quite upscale in the case of this one. Excellent location, excellent property. About the quality of hotel the Mediterraneo used to be years ago, but in a much better location. <BR> <BR>Rome.Switzerland.Bavaria <BR>www.twenj.com <BR>

We stayed for 3 nights at the (2 adults/2 children) at the Crowne Plaza Minerva last year. Great hotel - wonderful staff and great location. It is right by the Pantheon and within walking/bus/metro away from most of the major attractions. We felt like part of history staying there. Romantic as well. The rooms were clean and good size, but did not have a balcony. <BR> <BR>Also check out this web site http://www.hotelbook.com/brands/HB/promos.htm - sometimes they have specials on 4-5 star hotels. <BR> <BR>Good luck. - Sunni

Wow! Thanks for all of this good information! I appreciate your responses. The Crowne Plaza is sold out and only suites are left for 1.2M lira-yikes! But the location opinion really stuck with me and I was able to get two other options- the Grand Hotel Plaza (but that's also near the station) and The De La Ville Intercontinental. The Intercontinental room is not a suite, but I think I'd rather be by the S. Steps for our honeymoon.It's about the same price for a deluxe room as we were paying for a suite, but location is much better. So thanks, Walter! We are staying at the Bisanzio in Venice-has anyone ever stayed there?

Lisa, <BR>Another place you may want to consider is the Raphael which is in the Centro Storico area, as well. It is very highly regarded among tourists and Italians and does have a rooftop terrace which is supposed to have lovely views of the city. We were going to stay there but the 660,000 lire was a little more (actually a lot more)than I wanted to spend. Good luck and no matter what, you should have a great honeymoon in Italy. They call it vacanza di notte, by the way but you can get away with luna di miele. Ciao!

Lisa, my husband and I just stayed at the De la Ville- InterContinental in the end of May and LOVED, both the location, and the very professional service. Our fisrt room was akin to a dark closet so we rallied hard for a better room and got one overlooking the Via Sistin. It was much bigger and brighter. The concierge was unbelievable: I faxed a list of restuarants prior to my trip and they made them all, as well as giving us great directions each day. The doormen assisted us in getting taxis and told them our destination, and there's a charming terrace bar that's full of flowers and had a fountain. It was a romantic predinner stop for cocktails. The location is great for shopping and close enough to the ancient/old Rome area. It certainly would fall under a "honeymoon" category. We paid about $325.00 a night for a double room w/ private bath, breakfast and tax. If you want a good view, you must request it as early as possible.Have fun wherever you go.

Thanks for the Italian, Luigi, and thanks for the advice, Lisa...it is good to hear from someone who has actually stayed there! We are going with the De La Ville, and will play up the "vacanza de notte" angle to get one of those bright rooms...thanks again!

Lisa, if you like the location of the Crown Plaza Minerva, then check out the Santa Chiara. It's literally behind the Pantheon, a block from the Minerva. I've never stayed there myself, but others on this forum have. The web site is: &lt;http://www.venere.it/roma/santa_chiara/&gt;

Can't help you with hotels (I don't stay in places that are that nice!), but FWIW I've always seen and heard the term "luna di miele" on my travels, in reading, and from Italian friends & teachers, so I'm sure you'll do fine using it. I've never heard "vacanza di notte," but of course that doesn't necessarily mean that it isn't used.

I stayed at the Raphael hotel. It is in a great location, friendly professional service and a great roof-top terrance. ask for one of the bigger rooms.