tuscanlifeedit

bookmarking...thanks for the Reservation Italy rec!

judybarnes

I e-mailed the Ponte Sisto asking if there was a difference between the rooms booked through Reservation Italy. He replied no, to go ahead and book through them. Previously he told me he couldn't match their rates. I tried! Hope we like it. The courtyard is less important in the winter but still a nice feature.

I checked Reservationitaly for Venice and Florence and they had almost nothing in the areas where we want to stay. They had a nice one in Florence, but the website states they're replacing the elevator during the winter and I'm avoiding construction sites!

cruiseluv

Yes, it's too bad that they don't represent more hotels in other cities. I also visited Florence and Venice but wasn't interested in staying in the hotels they represent.

You can always try once you are at the hotel to see if they have something available that is larger ( and if they'll give it to you at the same rate). It doesn't hurt to ask. I would have if it wasnt that I had already wasted so much time with Reception finding a room with A/C that worked!

wliwl

I just love the look of Ponte Sisto. It is on a REALLY old street, and then you look in the door and get just this glimpse of shining brass and flowers. It is well located for some great restaurants too - don't miss going over to Trastevere for more reasonable food options.

Our favorite restaurant near Ponte Sisto was Pierluigi. Fabulous. (Not cheap.)
http://www.pierluigi.it/EN/home_en/index_en.php

cruiseluv

We liked Pierluigi too!

judybarnes

The proximity to Trastevere is definitely part of the appeal of the hotel's location.

Three of us four traveling are vegetarians. Is Pierluigi still a good bet?

I think I read that Ponte Sisto doesn't serve capuccinos at breakfast. I could have confused them with another hotel I read about. I've been hanging out at this forum and TA far too much! Anyway, is there a place nearby to go to first thing in the morning before breakfast to pick up a capuccino?

I'm sure I'll find out by wandering about the first day. Just thought I'd ask.

judybarnes

Thanks, Wliwl, for the link to PierLuigi. And to you, Cruiseluv, for seconding the recommendation. I checked the menu and there's plenty for vegetarians to eat! I'm excited. I'd rather have fabulous than cheap any day of the week!

I got my walking shoes for the trip. Two pairs of Keens. My first. I think I'm going to love them. They have a nice spacious toe box and good arch support. Of course the trade-off is that it looks like I have duck's feet.

wliwl

We always went to Campo de Fiori for "breakfast" and sat at a cafe. They have a big produce market in the mornings that was fun to watch.

Here was a bakery nearby that we liked:
Il Fornaio, 5/7 Via dei Baullari

There's actually a map on this web site of where Il Fornaio is:
http://www.romanvacations.com/pizzerie.htm
(Scroll to the bottom.)

I have no idea about vegetarian eating...I do know that if you go to Pierluigi and just have them make suggestions they will bring you a wonderful meal - but again, I'm not sure about the vegetarian part.

JaneRebecca

I have just returned from 3 weeks in Italy and 6 of those days was spent in Rome at the Hotel Ponte Sisto. Just so you know the breakfast is lovely and there are as many cappuchinos as your heart may desire upon request they are happy to accomodate. The servers in the breakfast room are very nice and very accomodating. They will even bring you your cappuchino out to the courtyard.

Everything about the hotel was perfect from the moment we arrived until the moment we left! I negotiated a rate with them on a suite and they came down considerably on the price. I preferred working with them directly. Their staff is excellent and were very helpful with all kinds of things.

However, there is nothing to stop you from having more lattes and coffees at the Café Farnesse, just next to the campo di fiori a short walk from the Hotel. Cafes in that area are plentiful so don't worry about that. I very much liked the location of the hotel. The campo and the surrounding area is beautiful and very happening and fun. We were very happy to be in that part of Rome; it was easy to get anywhere from there. Most nights we ate over in Trastevere. When I do my trip report I will have at least one restaurant name but am not good at writing those things down. Everywhere we ate we enjoyed the food.

wliwl

JaneRebecca: Thanks for weighing in on Ponte Sisto. Sounds like your trip was great.

judybarnes

Ditto, JaneRebecca. I'm excited about being there in December even if for only 3 nights. Hope it doesn't rain! And if it does, we'll have a great time anyway.

JaneRebecca

Hi Judy;

We had perfect weather in Rome-- actually very warm, which they said was not the usual. But everywhere else it rained or was cold or both with lots of humidity. (bad hair!) And in Venice we had Acqua Alta and talk about a mess! But the truth is that when I think about our trip (we just returned last Saturday, so it's recent) the weather never crosses my mind. We had the right outer and inner clothes, shoes, and umbrellas and never let it hold us back. I hope to do a trip report soon.

I have thought about going back to Italy in the winter to avoid the huge crowds. I would hope that winter would be better.