luxury hotel rome
 

Hi,

Firstly, your immense help I've received from just browsing various threads here is most appreciated.

Background:

My fiance and I are heading to Italy (Sorrento, Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan) and Paris for our honeymoon in August this year. We're from the Caribbean and this is our first trip together (ever - in 10! years) and I've booked all the hotels (3 and 4 star) everywhere but Rome. I'm spending 3 nights in Sorrento, 5 nights in Rome, 4 nights in Florence, 2 nights in Venice, 4 nights in Milan and 5 nights in Paris. I'm actually more excited about my honeymoon than I am about my wedding :)

Rome and Paris are the cities I'm splurging in and so my question is regarding hotel choice in Rome. I would prefer to be in the middle of the city, a balcony to sit and enjoy the view, luxurious accomodations (modern or traditional, once it's beautiful I'm not picky), and my budget is US$500 - 600 per night. I've been tempted by the summer promotion at the Cavalieri - the King Imperial Room with a view looks gorgeous. However, it is relatively far from the city center and so I don't know if it makes sense staying there and I've read about all of their extra charges. My other choices are:
1. Hotel Splendide Royal (jr suite with terrace)
2. JK Place Roma (it's really pricey - worth it?)
3. St Regis (imperial room)
4. Palazzo Manfredi (executive double)
5. Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese (luxury room)
6. Hotel Raphael (Deluxe Suite)
7. Palazzo Montemartini (Jr suite)

While I understand this is completely subjective, I would appreciate any suggestions - pros and cons of any of the hotels. Also, I would prefer to have a hotel without a lot of hidden costs - do not want to pay extra for wifi (who does that in these days??!!) or access to any pool/spa areas etc. They're already pricey so I do not want any surprises on my bill.

Thanks :)

Location is key !
I would choose the Raphael.

Don't go near the Cavalieri with a barge pole.

In Rome you want to be right in the center - so you can really enjoy the city - not searching for a cab to get back to a far distant hotel. Nothing as romantic as walking back from dinner to your hotel through lovely piazzas with floodlit fountains.

Of those listed I would go with the Raphael - but I've never wanted a balcony - too hot in Rome in the summer for me.

Undoubtedly the Raphael for location. In Rome, location is really key.

Many people who stay at the Cavalieri do so because they have hotels points. I would NEVER give cash money to stay there.

Hotel Splendide Royal: not a good location, IMO.

JK Place Roma: I love this location. If this isn't out of your price range, it is in or very close to my preferred pinpoint location in Rome.

St Regis: I would not choose this neighborhood. I'm not even always thrilled to be sightseeing there.

Palazzo Manfredi: another neighborhood I don't like.

Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese: nope. Same as Splendide Royal.

Raphael: charming. I would stay there if I could afford it.

Palazzo Montemartini: probably wouldn't stay there if they gave it to me for free, unless I was making frequent use of Termini.

Now, please be aware that these are only my preferences. I have not, and probably will not ever stay in any of these expensive hotels. I do like Rome very much and go as often as I can. Over the years I've stayed in most of the usual neighborhoods.

The Raphael and JK Place are in the places I prefer to stay and the neighborhoods where I've had the best time and return to.

In my experience, the Raphael has been a Very nice place, with an optimum location. I don't think it will disappoint.

I would not spend extra to get a terrace in a Roman hotel. The life of the party in Rome (and most every city in Italy) is the life of the piazza and the outdoor restaurant or bar.

I agree with you about how annoying it is to have hotels charging for wi-fi in the rooms (most will provide it free in the lobby), but it remains common practice (and not just in Italy). But even more annoying is to find after you've paid for it that it doesn't reliably work. That too is still common around Europe, especially in older hotels. So be sure to read reviews on booking.com to see what people who stayed in these places might say about the wi-fi connection.

I agree with tuscan regarding St Regis, the only hotel on your list where I stayed once on business. The hotel is nice but the location isn't great.

I'm wondering why you're spending 4 nights in Milan and only 2 in Venice, the most romantic of cities. Do you have a special interest in Milan?

I have stayed in the Raphael and it was really good. We had one of the Richard Meier rooms which is very modern in decor, it was lovely.

Have not stayed in the JKPlace Roma but have stayed in the JKPlace Firenze and it is my very favourite hotel, you really get spoiled, the staff there are the best I have encountered.
So if you can afford it I would go with the JKPlace Roma.

We stayed at the Splendide Royal for our 35th anniversary. It was WONDERFUL! Lovely, fabulous staff! The lobby is light-filled and beautiful. The rooms are luxurious and welcoming. Breakfast is lovely and the restaurant at the hotel has an incredible view...we did not eat there, but we did have after dinner drinks there most evenings. With most diners gone, they were very kind to seat us outside for that view.

I can say that we loved the Cavalieri...not sure what you meant by the extra charges. We had nothing but great experiences there.

True, it's not in the city center and you would have to utilize the shuttle or cab it into the main sight seeing areas. (I have lots of status with Hilton and their breakfast buffet is crazy good and it was included plus we had access to the club level lounge....the view over looking the city was wonderful and we loved seeing the city while sipping prosecco).

The hotel is gorgeous and the concierge was superb. It's one of our favorite hotels. Maybe I didn't get hit with the extra charges because of my Hilton status and using cabs to get into the center of the city didn't bother us- I can understand the recommendations to stay in the city center.

Thanks everyone for your responses.

tuscanlifeedit: thank you for your detailed response. You really made me narrow down my choices to the Raphael and the JK Roma.

nytraveler and sandralist: I know the terrace seems like a strange request, but somehow I always pictured lounging on a terrace in the night sharing a bottle of wine. I'm from the Caribbean, so the heat shouldn't be a problem ;)


mimar: As for why 4 nights in Milan and 2 in Venice, we plan on doing a lake como day trip as well as the expo, which will also be an entire day. It doesn't seem like a variety of things to do/see in Venice (of course, this is just from reading up on other people's views)

raincitygirl: can you tell me what you liked/disliked about the Raphael? What room did you stay in? The rooms in the JK Roma are pretty steep: while I can get a Richard Meier Executive Suite within my budget at the Raphael, the Superior Double at the JK Roma is US600+ a night. I would go over my budget if the JK Roma is FABULOUS. Really interested in hearing about your stay.

denisea: the Cavalieri does seem beautiful, and I really think you benefitted from being a Hilton member. But I've decided that being in the city center will suit us best - at least for my first trip to Rome.

So it seems like the Raphael may be the best choice.

Thanks again! :)

Totally understand...have you also checked recent reviews on the hotels you are interested in on Trip Advisor?

leekb, I have only stayed at the JKPlace in Florence but judging from JKPlace Roma's TA reviews they have the same philosophy of running a hotel as the one in Florence. What I loved about JK Place is everything! No seriously, amazing staff and I liked that you weren't nickled and dimed for everything as you are at some places.
You feel as though you are in the townhouse of your favourite rich uncle.

I did really like the Raphael too, location is great,( we walked everywhere from there), building is charming and tucked away. We stayed in a Richard Meier room, think it was a deluxe double, it had a cute little balcony looking over the little street in front of the hotel. Our room was very modern in decor, we loved it.

We were there in April so the terrace was closed. We went up there to sit and look at the view (rooftops and church towers) but there was no service so can't really speak to that. Breakfast was very good and we had Easter dinner in the dining room which was also good but there are probably better places to eat dinner in Rome.
Service was perfectly fine but lacking the warmth I found at JKPlace in Florence.

Considering the difference in price and because I haven't got personal experience with JKPlace Roma I would suggest you go with the Raphael.

I usually stay in mid-range places or apartments in a Rome so I can't help with the comparisons however, whenever you book at the luxury level you are going to want to at least check the travel agent rates.

High end agents such as Virtuoso or Amex Playinium a Fine Hotels and Resorts get lots of extras which can be worth a lot at these places. For example upgrades, sometimes confirmed in booking, free breakfasts which can be worth ALOT at fancy hotels and sometimes a spa or meal credit.

Anyway, just a heads up. Whatahotel.com is one of the few places to see these rates online but I'd recommend developing an individual relationship with an agent. They aren't always available at the cheapest rates but they are worth checking just in case.

Also they will let the hotel know it's your honeymoon which of course you should do anyway, why not email the reservations manager directly?

denisea: I've basically lived on Tripadvisor for the last few weeks. Read every review/ looked at every picture that I found. I've been researching so much I've dreamt I was in a hotel in Rome and George Clooney was there lounging right next to me! Swear I took more time planning the honeymoon than the wedding.

The only hotel that I'm now having some doubts about is the one in Paris - the Pullman Paris Tour Eiffel - really wanted the great view of the Eiffel Tower, but some of the reviews recently have been pretty bad. Hmmm... another thread, maybe?

Based on location alone, because I haven't stayed at any of these:

1. BK Roma
2. Raphael

3-6. All the others

7. Cavalieri

We once rented an apartment with two terraces on Vicolo Della Volpe, right by the Raphael. Nice to have views onto the Bramante chiostro but I actually prefer to be a little further away from Piazza Navona. Still, it's a good location. If you stay there, do drop by Gelateria del Teatro on Via dei Coronari. The Sicilian almond with raisins is to die for.

leekb...well, put in that planning so that you will have a great trip! Hmm, I don't know that hotel in Paris. I don't care for that area of Paris as it is loaded with ET visitors in the day and kinda dead at night. You'll be able to see the ET from all over Paris, so I don't know that I would use it as the criteria for my honeymoon hotel in Paris.

A few options (not knowing your budget)...Le Grand Intercontinental, Hotel Regina, Relais Saint Germain, Hotel L'Abbaye....all in different areas of the city. You could post under France on that one.

raincitygirl: thank you so much for taking the time to reply- I really think I'm going with the Raphael. Maybe on my next trip I'll try the JK Roma;)

welltravelledbrit: thanks for giving me some fresh ideas and never heard of that site before so I'm off to do some research now. I'll also email the hotel as well- I've heard of nice extras for honeymooners.

Leely2: food recs are always welcomed :) the general consensus seems like the Raphael is the place to be.

denisea: yes I think all the planning will be worth it. Off to check out some of your recs now.

Thanks everyone for taking the time to give me well thought out responses :)

You are welcome leekb. The Raphael is lovely, I'm sure you will like it.

Enjoy your trip!