Hi all and esp.Virginia, Thanks for your input into Hotel Portoghesi! We are staying there for the week of Sept.14. Saw some of the negative posts and was a little apprehensive. Your posts made me feel better! I really liked the roof garden too! And the location looks great...Any good restaurants close by? Thanks again>

Virginia: <BR>Like Judy, we also have reservations at the Portoghesi (in October.) I was interested to see that you mentioned walking to the Vatican - on the map it looks as though you would have to take a bus or a cab (there didn't seem to be a convenient metro stop), but I would much prefer to walk. About how long did it take you to get there on foot? (And I would also love any information on restaurants near the hotel.) Thanks!

Hello Judy and Ann. <BR>With regard to restaurants near the Portoghesi, we ate at a neighborhood trattoria just a few doors down on the same street, called Orso 80, the first night we arrived because it was late and we didn't want to spend time looking for a restaurant (was recommended by hotel staff). It was not at all elaborate, but the food was good. We were heartened that there were Italians eating there! <BR>There is another restaurant right across the street from Orso that I don't remember the name of. We didn't end up eating there, but it looked more upscale and the menu seemed interesting. <BR>For other meals we went to other neighborhoods, like Campo di Fiori or some of the small piazzas, either choosing a restaurant from guidebook recommendations or on instinct just wandering into places we saw. <BR>I probably am not the best to give restaurant recommendations, as I thought EVERY place we ate at had good food--we even found tasty, well-prepared food at a train station take-away place!! <BR> <BR>With regard to walking to the Vatican from Portoghesi, I think it took us about 25-30 minutes to walk to St. Peter's. <BR>HOWEVER.....it is another 10 or 15 minute walk to the Vatican Museum entrance. So, an option is to take a taxi or bus and save your energy for walking the museum and cathedral; then walk back. I recommend taking the "Angel Bridge" (don't think that is the official name, but it has beautiful statues all along the sides). <BR>In thinking back to my trip--I had conveniently put this out of my mind!--but we mistakenly thought we had arrived once we reached St. Peter's. <BR>I'm embarrassed to say that we hadn't done our homework, because we didn't realize that the Sistine Chapel is in the Vatican Museum (duh!) which has a different entrance several blocks away. We felt really stupid when we realized this and by then we had wasted time when we should have been on line! <BR>So, a Warning....go directly to the Vatican Museum entrance, not to St. Peter's! <BR>Hope this helps. Enjoy! <BR>

Thanks Virginia about the restaurant and Vatican info...I read about the Orso80 trattoria. They(some guidebooks)said it was good.. But it is nice to hear from someone who has been there. I love this forum, and I think it was created for situations like this! Thanks fellow Fodorites you have really helped me with my Rome vacation! (I think I am addicted to this site!) HELP!

The Hotel Teatro di Pompeii in Rome has been recommended to us. Notations about it in Fodor's are more than 3 year's old.

From anyone who has been there recently:

-Were you satisfied?
-Our budget is $200 a night-are we in the ball park?
-How is location?
-Is it air-conditioned?

Is Rome in mid-June bearable as to weather?

Grazie.


Anthony

Powell, you might want to start a new thread as this thread goes back 2000. A new thread might catch more attention. I am not famaliar with the hotel but June should be alright for Rome. I say &quot;should be&quot; because Rome has had some unusal weather patterns the past few years. This most of the world has.

June is defintely better than July or August. August is usually terrible.

Have fun planning your trip!

Thanks , LoveItaly. The website weatherwise.com provided very helpful information too. Thanks, all.

The Del Senato is wonderful in every regard. Perfectly located, well maintained, clean and preofessionally run. The standard rooms are small but have all the amenities. The view is unsurpassed.

We, and many of my friends, have stayed at the Portoghesi, for several years straight over the holidays. I found it to be a wonderful hotel and the staff very helpful. We particularly like the breakfast room on the rooftop. The block the hotel is on has a couple of restuarants, a bakery, a grocery or two, and the cafe Portoghesi. Anyone can have a bad experience at a hotel, but I love the Portoghesi.

I've been to Rome 5 times and never stayed anywhere but the Portoghesi. I've grown to love the glum &quot;Buona Sera&quot; of the front desk clerk and always book way in advance to secure the best room in Rome. I'm reluctant to provide more detailed info about this room as an increased popularity will hurt my chances of booking it. We leave again to Rome this September -- I look forward to introducing my six-year old daughter to both the City and the hotel.