In all fairness to the hotel, you have to remember that they are in Italy. You never know when you will receive the permits...it could take years or months or weeks. You also have to line up construction people. Have you read Under the Tuscan Sun....that's the norm in Italy not a rarity. We stay in a hotel in Rome that didn't have a nice entry way. They couldn't get the permits for years, then all of a sudden they were there. So your hotel may not have been able to plan. At least they have offered to help. That says something about them. I can understand because my family is in Italy and I know what they go through.

Ann, you certainly have presented a good point on behalf of the hotel. How fortunate we are to have Fodor's talk to work through our travel problems.

I always confirm and reconfirm my reservations, I've never thought to ask if there is any possibility of remodeling concerns. Maybe that should be added to the contents of confirmation communications ;;) Deborah

Look at what I just found when I did a search on Fodors!

Author: khepps
Date: 03/10/2006, 02:30 am
I emailed the albergo cesari and inquired as to why they were booked and they said they are actually closing in the summer for renovation.

I wish I had found this thread earlier.

I went ahead and called Albergo Cesari directly. Of course I got the night person, who said they are clearing out by floors and renovation doesn't actually start until the 29th. Since our reservation is from June 24 - 29th he was a bit unclear about our situation. Suggested I call in the morning (9:30am their time) when the manager was there. That is 12:30am my time. Not what I want to do tonight, but I will do it.

I must say that we stayed there last March and thoroughly enjoyed our stay, and were really looking forward to our return visit. We absolutely loved the location and want to stay right near there, if can't be at the Cesari. I don't want to have to move for a night or two - so I will keep my fingers crossed!

I am kan3 - I saw that e-mail back in March, but the dates they were looking for were much later than ours in the summer - I believe July or August, so I figured it wouldn't affect us. Now I see that it might.

I saw upcoming renovation discussed also, but it was mentioned in posts I read that it wouldn't start until September. But, why would a hotel, one with excellent reviews and ratings, take reservations if they knew they would close for renovations during the high season? And why would a hotel choose high season to do extensive AC repairs (mentioned in our cancellation email)when they could have waited until after the need for AC? It just doesn't make any sense at all!

Jgg, once we stayed in Sausalito, CA in a hotel under renovation (we were not aware of this when we reserved) and I must say that it is not a pleasant experience.

After reading Ann1's remarks, I was about to give the hotel the benefit of the doubt.

Now, I am just angry.

Hello i_am_kane, getting permits etc in Italy for needed renovations is so different than here in the US. My Rome born and raised SIL who now lives here in California is "waiting" for his cousin in Rome to advice him when the City of Rome will issue all of the proper documentation for the replacement or repair of the sewer system at my SIL's house in Rome. It could be in two months or two years or ??? I would imagine that this has been the situation regarding the Albergo Cesari, they kept making reservations because they had no idea when they would be permitted to do the renovations. And then "suddenly" the documentation was received and consequently they are advising all their future hotel guest of their inability to host them for the period of time the renovations are expected to take.

That doesn't help your situation of course, but I honestly think that is what happened. Best wishes to you and everyone else that now needs to scramble around and find other lodgings.

The Santa Chiara is a lovely hotel where we stayed in 2000. It is on a tiny street a block from both the Pantheon and Piazza Navona. I just looked at their website and they do have 3 quad rooms in their hotel. Good luck.

My reservation has now been cancelled, too. Same e-mail as the one sent to i_am_kane.

abby97,

I really do empathize with you. This is probably a serious problem for many people who booked the Albergo Cesari.

I received two e-mails today from the hotel, stating that they are working on getting me into a different hotel, close to their location. However, the 2nd e-mail said they won't be able to tell me anything until Monday.

I'm still sending e-mails to hotels and have received lots of "fully booked" responses.

I am waiting for a firm confirmation from another hotel (kind of holding my breath).

Good luck to you in your search.

Kane,

Would you consider renting multiple apts in the same building? This listing is nearer to the Vatican than the Centro Storico, but take a look or maybe the agency Sleep in Italy would be able to help you find something that fits your needs? (The timing is horrendous, unfortunately, so I would expect you'll gets lots of "no vacancies" from hotels). Or perhaps a B&B that you might be able to rent ALL of?

Victoria

I don't see a listing in your post. Did you forget to type it?

Hotel Campo de Fiori also has apartments; I believe some are in the same building.

http://www.hotelcampodefiori.com/english/apartments.htm

Good luck.

I went over to SlowTravel reviews and found these that got good reviews in last year and have quad rooms. Good luck.

http://www.argentinaresidenza.com/hotel-rates.php

http://www.residenzacanali.com/01english.html

http://www.hoteltrastevere.net/en/index.html

This last one (below) has rooms that take up to six people.

http://www.daphne-rome.com/

Obviously, I haven't been to any of these, but I thought I could at least give you some more choices.

((H))

Sorry, here you go>>>

http://www.sleepinitaly.com/files/apt_vaschette.html

Here are a couple of others, of the B&B variety (generally no 24 hr reception); they may be closer to where you want to be:

http://www.sleepinitaly.com/banchive...chivecchi.html

http://www.sleepinitaly.com/files/bb_rinascimento.html

Feel so bad for you! My husband and I were in Rome last Sept. and we stayed at the Hotel Ponte Sisto, right near the Ponte Sisto bridge. When you cross over the bridge you are in the very trendy, fun area of Trastevere. Our room was so very clean, huge bathroom, good breakfast, great 'American' coffee and so convenient to every attraction. We never once took a bus or taxi...walked to everything. You would not be disappointed staying at this hotel. Terrific barmaid, Anna, and hotel staff spoke very good English and helped with mapping our walking routes! Let us know how you make out.

The following hotels are fully booked 6/29 - 7/3 for our requirements of 10 people:

Hotel Portoghesi
Hotel Modigliani
Santa Chiara
Hotel Locarno
Hotel Julia
Hotel Due Torri
Lancelot Hotel
Hotel Arenula
Hotel Rinascimento
Residenza in Farnese
Hotel Aberdeen
Hotel Ponte Sisto
Residenza Canali
Hotel Sonya
Hotel Santa Maria (in Trastevere)
Hotel Navona
Residenza Zanardelli

No Answer to Date:
Daphne
Hotel Mascagni
Hotel Miami
Accademia
Nazionale Roma
Hotel Parlamento
Hotel Adriano
Teatro di Pompeo
Daniel's Hotel
Concordia Hotel
Residenza Cellini


Very High Room Rates, but Availabiity:

Hotel Sole al Pantheon (break-the-bank)
Hotel Pantheon
Hotel Internazionale
Hotel Piazza di Spagna (not too high)

The Leonardi Hotels have availability in the Genio, but after researching this hotel, I can't take a chance. I don't like reading reports that the hotel "lost" customers' reservations, or overbooked and transferred them to another Leonardi hotel in Rome.

I'll work on the new suggestions from posters tomorrow, plus I have a list with about a dozen hotels to contact.

I appreciate everyone's help.

Hi Kane, perhaps you should post a question asking which of these folks here would recommend based on your needs.

Very High Room Rates, but Availabiity:

Hotel Sole al Pantheon (break-the-bank)
Hotel Pantheon
Hotel Internazionale
Hotel Piazza di Spagna (not too high)

I remember reading your posts and know how much effort your put into making the best trip for your family, so I really hope you'll find something that works. If it was me, I'd probably book one of the places above (if it meets your requirements) and pay the extra money.

Best of luck!

I just want to say that I feel for your situtaion....you do everything you are supposed to do and then something like this happens...Follow up w/some of the fully booked, as some (unscrupulous, IMO) people may be holding multiple reservations that could be cancelled as the time draws nearer.

Also, maybe you could try laterooms.com and ratestogo.com--both of whom specialize in last minute reservations.

i_am_kane, I am so sorry about your situation. I have stayed at the Cesari numerous times, and the A/C really did need overhauling. However, timing could not be worse!

To the situation at hand: www.smeraldoroma.com (Hotel Smeraldo) is 2 min. walk from Campo de Fiori, about 5 min. from Piazza Navona. Rates are 140 for double, 170 for triple, sorry no quads, but 2 rooftop terraces!

Best of luck to you.

Yesterday I received an e-mail from Hotel delle Torre Argentina, and they had availability for our group. So, I accepted, via e-mail, stating that I would send my acceptance along with my personal and credit card information via fax (machine said transmission completed).

I sent the fax to the hotel and followed up with another e-mail indicating that the fax was sent and to please confirm the reservation.

This morning there still was no e-mail, nor a confirmation via fax from the hotel. So, I called the hotel and spoke with a gentleman who told me not to worry; my reservation is confirmed and he proceeded to go over the details with me. However, he cannot send me anything in writing, because the woman taking care of my reservation is off this weekend.

He told me he would leave a message for her that I called, and to please send me a written confirmation on Monday when she returns to work.

I'm still a little uneasy about this reservation, so I will continue to search out other hotel options.

Once again, I must thank everyone who has responded for their support and their hotel recommendations. I am following up on every one of them.

(And I thought the Trenitalia web site was a challenge booking for 10 people in the same car, with seats next to each other). That's another story...but mission accomplished!

I_am_kane, this is so interesting. We also are trying to get a firm confirmation from the same hotel! Today, I called to try to get the confirmation so I could be secure in it and were also told to call back on Monday to speak to the woman who took our CC info and reservation requests. We were told she gave us the wrong rate! I have her email so I hope it works out. In the meanwhile, we are still looking!

PS: This is like a conspiracy! We should write a book!

Okay Folks,

I just spoke with Marianna and the Hotel delle Torre Argentina quoted both of us the same low room rate, and they are not confirming our reservations.

This has all the markings of a bait and switch. How could this be happening to both of us with the same two hotels?

I won't buy a lottery ticket today.

It has very good reviews on Tripadvisor -- I bet you are not getting a bait and switch, but that they are simply relaxed about their reservation procedure. (Not uncommon in Rome.)

Sorry, no quad rooms from what I've seen on the site, but another to try is Teatro Pace 33.
http://www.hotelteatropace.com/

Good luck all!

Hi again Kane, we stayed at the Torre, albeit a couple of years ago and had a good experience. Be sure to check the room sizes--ours was rather large whilst my in-laws room was tiny (but nice). The staff were very helpful too. I think wliwl is right, I think they're more relaxed about confirmations and it's the weekend. I bet on Monday they'll confirm the original rate. Hang in there--your family is so lucky to have you!

Again, best of luck to you and Marianna and everyone else who's dealing w/this problem.

i_am_kane, just a thought: You might need to give up the idea of finding quad rooms in the Centro Storico location, especially if you're trying to book online. Most hotels there have only one or two quads (which fill quickly.) When I was trying to find accommodations for 15 family members, I needed to insert smaller numbers in the reservation form to NOT get the "Sorry, there are no available rooms for booking online" message.

Hope you hear from your reserved-but-so-far-unconfirmed place on Monday!

mvor,

This is how the story is unfolding with my unconfirmed new hotel reservation:

The reservation clerk quoted me a low-season rate (6/29 - 7/3 is high season). I called the hotel today and was told that my reservation is in the system, but because of the error in the room rate quote, the hotel director needs to review it. The original reservation clerk is off this weekend, so I have to wait until Monday for an answer from the "director."

This is some story. Also, today I received "fully-booked" from these hotels:

Daphne-Roma
Hotel Mascagni
Hotel Accademia
Hotel Oceania

I still have about 10 hotels that haven't responded yet. The list of new hotels is getting shorter and shorter.

I wonder if you could quick book a couple of apartments? Email Maura at Underground Viaggi
[email protected]
and see if he has any appartments available that might be close together.

His web site seems to be down. There are other rental agencies too that are good. Look on here or at slowtrav.com.

Mvor, thanks for your thoughtful good wishes!

I'm sure we will be able to work it all out on Monday or go with our back-up plans. In the meanwhile Kane and I and others, I'm sure, have been emailing numerous hotels for availability. Some have room for us but rates are high. We will need to make a decision ASAP after we contact hotel on Monday as Kane will do also.

I am sure, however, that all will work out for all of us and our families will enjoy the trips we have planned for them...and Kane and I will meet in Rome after all!

Thank you to our fellow Fodorites for all the support!

I can't vouch for what will be available, but try here:
http://www.bookings.org

I've gotten great deals there before, although not for Rome in high season.

You might also try venere.com as it seems to be a pretty good site. Good luck to you!

All my hotel problems are resolved. I want to thank everyone on Fodors who offered helpful information for alternate hotels in Rome. Where would I be without the precious help and information I get on this forum?

This morning I received a firm confirmation from Hotel della Torre Argentina, which had one double and two quadruple rooms at a fair room rate for our family. We are all set.

The Albergo Cesari also sent an e-mail to me offering rooms at the Hotel Oxford. I did not have any knowledge of the Hotel Oxford before today, and on their web site it looks lovely. However, the location is not where we want to be in Rome, so I did not accept the reservation. The Albergo Cesari worked with me and kept in touch every day until they were able to provide alternative lodging.

I can't forget to thank bookchick for recommending the San Carlo because they were able to provide us with a one-night only (Friday night 7/7/06) reservation at a fair rate.

All's well that ends well. Now I'm happy again!

The wine bar awaits you. Glad it all worked out!

((H))

Buon viaggio!

The Cesari came through this morning by email with a reservation at the Hotel Regno which we did not accept. However, it was kind of them to make arrangements for us just in case we did not get a hotel for our dates.

We also got an email from the Della Torre Argentina this morning, as I told Kane, offering a compromise room rate which we considered to be very fair so we went ahead and reserved the two rooms. The person who called us was very apologetic about the confusion over the room rate. She seemed genuinely concerned and wanted to please us. When we originally made the reservation, we had asked about the two rooms on top floor with private terraces but we were told they were reserved, but less than an hour after I accepted the adjusted rate the rate, I got an email informing us that the two rooms on the top floor (5th) with private terraces were the rooms we would get! I hope they are as as nice as the other rooms she described. Anyway, it will be lovely to have a private terrace for our own use. The hotel has a roof top terrace for all guests to use, but it will be lovely to have our own! So, it worked out just fine with us also.

Mvor, or anyone else who has stayed there, do you know anything about these fifth floor rooms with private terraces? Are they a good size and as nice as some of the others look on the website?

Excellent news for Kane and Marianna! I hope others fare as well.

Marianna, alas, we did not have the rooms w/the private terraces but that sounds heavenly.

Don't forget to visit the Torre Argentina cat sanctuary. In February, we met the most wonderful one-eyed black cat there named Watson.

http://www.romancats.de/romancats/index_eng.php