Hotel Raphael in Rome Italy
 

Hello All..I am considering this for my mid Sept trip and all of the previous reviews on the message board are over 5 years old. Has anyone stayed recently? I am considering the standard room which I know is quite small. I am more interested in the overall charm, AC, and location of the hotel which all seem great . Many Thanks!

Thanks..I had already checked Tripadvisor and was looking for firsthand info from other Fodorites :)

Hi Kelbo, I stayed at the HOtel Raphael recently, from April 22nd to April 26th. My friend and I loved the hotel.

Our room was on the 2nd floor at the front of the building and it was one of the Richard Meier rooms which was a surprise to us as we had just booked a standard room. The decor was gorgeous, very modern,lovely spacious bathroom, super comfy beds with lovely bed linens etc.
There was AC but we didn't use it, I'm not a fan of it unless it is about 110 degrees outside.

We loved being able to look out into the little square and see what was going on. THe only small drawback, being two women friends (not a couple)was that the twin beds were smack up against one another due to the width of the room and the desk on one side and nightstand on another. This was not a major issue for us.

The breakfast room was lovely with great staff and a very nice assortment of food. We found the front desk staff to be pleasant and helpful as well. The lobby area is very charming with art pieces and interesting ceramics on display and comfortable seating areas.

The location was perfect and we walked to most places or took taxis which we found to be quite reasonable.

I will definitely stay here on my next trip to Rome.
If you have any other questions for me, feel free to ask.

We stayed at The Raphael for 10 days, this time last year, and would return to this hotel. As mentioned, wonderful, plentiful breakfasts. Every concoction of fruits, sliced meats, cheese and cooked breakfasts, if this is your choice, just too much for one sitting.
Gorgeous setting and decor. Close walking proximity to most sites, and the buses are 1 easy block north of the hotel. Very close to Piazza Navona, which is a very busy square. Do not eat on the square but travel further for preferred restaurants. Gorgeous rooftop terrace for drinks or dinner.

look at www.booking.com
Hotel Raphael has 293 comments ( from ppl who actually stayed there, unlike tripadvisor) and they have 9,3 points out of 10, which means it is a top top hotel !!!!!!

Thank you so much Everyone! I cannot wait and will post when I return :)

Just back from the trip and would recommend the Hotel Raphael. Great room, service and wonderful breakfast buffet. This hotel is at the very top of my price range but I am glad I splurged in Rome as the temps were in the 90's with 100 percent humidity and this hotel was a nice respite from the heat and crowds.

Just found this. Did you get to the rooftop, kelbo? Glad it went well.

Yes, it was lovely. We had drinks a couple of nights but did not eat dinner there. They give you nuts and nice little finger sandwiches with your drink. Also, the entire staff there is very helpful and sincere. I really enjoyed it.

So glad to hear you were happy with the Hotel Raphael kelbo!