planning rome trip - getting worried
 

Hi, I'm planning a trip for myself and my boyfriend to Rome in mid-September and I need to book a hotel. For two days straight I've been reading hotel reviews for Rome on Fodors, TripAdvisor, Venere, SlowTrav...

I'm getting really worried... it seems like every place that people recommend is already booked. I've sent emails about apartment rentals out, but so far they've all been booked.

I'm getting really worried and discouraged and was hoping for some advice. My info:

Never been to Italy before
Would like to stay near the Pantheon
Hoping to not pay more than $250 (USD)/night

Thanks!

Did you try Romeby.com? They have great pictures and lots of choices. YOu can search by area or price and put in your dates to get a list of availability.

Please list the places you have contacted that are already booked for your dates so we won't re-suggest them to you.

Have you contacted the Residenza Farnese?

Here are some other possibilities:
http://www.eurocheapo.com/rome/listings/navona.asp

Click on your screen name in a day and you may have some additional suggestions waiting here. There may even be some ideas for last possible second reservations such as this trip.

Welcome to Fodor's and good luck.

I am currently booking hotels for a trip to several locations in Europe at the end of next month. When checking availability on line I couldn't get any hotel I wanted, so I called some direct, emailed and faxed to others and am now staying at our first choices in each location! At one hotel in Venice they told me by phone that there was no rooms, but then responded to a previous email that they had a room available. While calling is somewhat of a hassle and definitely added expense, you will find everyone speaks english and they can be sooooo helpful. So don't get discouraged, at least fax requests to your favorites or email directly to them and you may have some luck. I also ask them to recommend a comparable hotel if they don't have availablilty and have found in the past that those recommendations can be equally as nice. Keep in mind that it is not hard to get around in Rome and if you do not get your preferable location you still will be able to easily get to the Pantheon and do things in that area. Rome has so many great areas to stay that you should be able to find something terrific. Good luck!

Two suggestions. Go to Venere.com, and enter your dates of arrival and departure. They will give you a list of hotels with those dates available.

Also, try directly with two of my favorites not far from the Pantheon, Hotel Arenula, and Hotel Delle Torre Argentina. They are pretty big, they may have something.

Thanks for all of the helpful info! I'll try faxing or calling rather than just checking their websites. Also, thanks for the hotel recommendations.

Hi shaiutto

If you dial 1016868 before the 011, you can call Italy for 10 cts/min.

((I))

Have you tried the Hotel Due Torri? Its a nice little hotle with lots of Italian attitude near the Piazza Navona. It's very quiet and has a really friendly staff.

http://www.hotelduetorriroma.com/

I forget this link, there are photos and a description on my websight.

http://richardab.home.comcast.net/Fl.../DueTorri.html

faredolce, because you mentioned the Arenula, in the 2005 Rick Steve's book for Rome in his description of Hotel Arenula it was described as a gymnasium.

As we are booked there for 10 days in early November, I thought the wording was rather curious. It made the hotel seem rather unappealing. Why would they describe it like that?

Shaiutto, didn't want to hijack your post but thought the information might help your decision also. Have a great trip.Deborah

Try the Hotel Genio(http://www.leonardihotels.com/Genio/index.jsp). It's at Piazza Navona, close to Pantheon area.

It has a nice rooftop terrace with good views.

Byrd

As already suggested, my idea is to call or fax hotels directly. Using websites and email don't always get you the true picture or the best results.

I usually use websites like travelocity, orbitz or venere to find out what is available for my dates, then do a search online to find out if the hotels available have websites with pictures. From there I determine where I want to stay, usually by contacting the hotel directly.

Good luck!
Tracy

Deborah Ann, I have no idea why Rick Steves would call the Arenula a gymnasium. It is not a fancy place at all, but a good solid find in the area. I loved it there, I was there two years ago. The front desk managers were always sweet and helpful. The location is great. It is small, but it was clean, clean, clean. I had a very small single room, it had a TV and private, tiny bathroom with a shower.

Did Rick Steves say he did not recommend it? It isn't a romantic, cute place, but for me it had an old-time charm to it. It is a good value. I am surprised that he doesn't like it. I don't get the gymnasium reference at all....

I posted the same worry in June and it was difficult then, it can only be worse now. We have an apartment reserved for 95E/night close to Piazza Navona and just across the bridge from the Vatican. Campo di Fiori area. Try the Sleep in Italy by Latte e Miele
people, maybe they can help you out. I wish you luck and relief from your worries!

I wanted to give an update after all of your helpful advice! I sent enquiries to about a dozen of my top picks and all were booked for my time period. I finally decided to postpone my visit to Rome until another trip. I was trying to tack a visit to Rome onto a two and a half week trip where we're already booked to visit the UK and Prague. It was getting a little hectic... especially for last minute planning. I finally had to tell myself that this isn't my only chance to see Europe. I've noted down all of your suggestions, and will check them out again when I can make a trip to Rome and have a proper planning time. Thanks!

thanks for the update shaiutto, being flexible and asking lots of questions makes you a very wise traveler, I hope you have a wonderful trip

Faredolce, sorry about not seeing this thread to respond. Hotel Arenula is still recommended by Rick Steves, he just used the description gymnasium, I was looking at many books at a bookstore trying to decide which book if any I wanted to purchase and saw the description. too many books still haven't purchase one but I sure make use of the local library until I buy the right one ;;) thanks, faredolce. Deborah

I second the Della Torre Argentina. Nice rooms. Affordable, too.

venere.com has many great choices

General tip - avoid the Atlante Star hotel at all costs! dump!!

Have a nice trip!!

In June we stayed at the Teatro di Pompeo, near the Pantheon. It is a small hotel but has a/c, nice staff (Tonino, concierge, a gem) It ran 190e per night. It may be less in mid September.

If you book consider dining at "Pietro Valentini's". Say hello to Tonino from Anthony and Carole of NYC.

By the way I never use websites other than to gather information. I always call the hotel for reservations, etc.

Anthony

I ran into the same thing. Finally got a place at Colors - not my first choice, but it looks OK. I also got a response from this place that there are 2 rooms still left. http://www.italianbandb.com
Since it's right next to Colors, I'll stay there for now. I'm on 2 waiting lists also.

Good luck!