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!