Rome Hotel -- 22-27 Dec -- short list
 

Help!

The hotel I had booked in Navona for 5 nights (arr 22 Dec, dep 27 Dec) emailed me that the room I had booked had "building issues" and wanted to put me in a much smaller room in an annex building. Uh, no, so I cancelled.

And now I have to find a new hotel for those five nights. One person ( middle-aged female), budget up to $125/night (could stretch slightly).

In general I have to choose between non-refundable bookings, or cancel by ~15 Dec bookings.

If the weather permits, I am a keen walker and street-wanderer. Not a shopper. Activities planned (still working on this, but it might help hotel location advice):

Dec 22: arrive early afternoon from Assisi. walk and walk and walk. Get oriented.
Dec 23: Vatican museum, Basilica, etc.. Walk and walk and walk around Rome
Dec 24: nothing planned in day yet -- still researching. Lots of walking. Visiting presepio, etc. Midnight mass at Pantheon to hear Gregorian chants
Dec 25: Urbi et Orbi, then the rest of the day in the old Jewish quarter. Tour? Walk and walk and walk
Dec 26 and 27: Coliseum? Forum? Borghese? other? still reading ....

NIghttime walking safety: I want to enjoy the Christmas lights/decorations, and this will entail walking by myself in the evening back to the hotel. Also I will need to return to my hotel after Pantheon midnight mass -- walking by myself (or is that a really bad idea?)

After hours on booking.com and tripadvisor I have come up with the following possibilities. And now I have analysis-paralysis! Does anyone know these hotels, or can make recommendations for location?

Hotel Condotti * * * (Spagna)
Via Mario De' Fiori 37, Spagna, 00187

I Tre Moschettieri (Trevi)
Vicolo Sciarra 61 (angolo Via del Corso, 241), Trevi, 00187

Domus Fontis (Trevi)
Via Dei Crociferi 41, Trevi, 00187

Rome River Inn (Navona, NW corner on River, nearest to Vatican City)
Via Dei Bresciani 23 (angolo Lungotevere del Sangallo), Navona, 00186

Hotel Navona * * * (Navona, central near Panthenon)
Via Dei Sediari 8, Pantheon, 00186 Rome, Italy

Locanda Navona (Navona, NW of Pantheon)
Via Tor Millina 35, Navona, 00186

Hotel Ponte Sisto * * * * (Navona,in former monastery near Ponte Sisto)
Via Dei Pettinari 64, Navona, 00186
In budget only if non-refundable.

Casa De' Fiori (guesthouse @ Campo de Fiori)
Piazza Del Biscione 83, Navona, 00186

Casa Campo De' Fiori
Via Dei Pettinari 73, Navona, 00186

Suggestions/advice, anyone? I really want to get this settled so I can get on with planning how i am going to spend my time in Rome at Christmas!

Thanks!

It's been years, but I have stayed at the Hotel Condotti. A fine location.

With midnight mass in mind, I might choose to stay close to the Pantheon.

I checked out of Relais Le Clarisse in Trastevere yesterday. I loved it. Kind staff, good breakfast, great location steps from "Mastai" stop on the #8 tram line (meaning getting there, if you use public transport, is easy from Trastevere Station, from FCO no need to go to Termini). Also easy walk from Centro Storico AND Colosseum/Forum.

It's affordable & popular, may be booked up, I didn't check:
http://www.leclarissetrastevere.com/

Thanks.

BTW, is "Relais" a particular type or class of hotel? Perhaps a guesthouse? I've seen it in the name of many places.

have u thought about Air BnB at all. I know few ppl who travelled Italy and Europe like that. Specially in big citis it is easier asu have more competition and a lot of demand

"I've seen it in the name of many places."

You may be thinking of "Relais & Châteaux...a global fellowship of individually owned and operated luxury hotels and restaurants."

This one is a very nice but modest individual small hotel.

Hmmmm. Yes, but ....

I've seen it elsewhere: for example, when I fly in to FCO from LHR on the afternoon of the 19th, I've booked a hotel by Termini for one night -- Relais Cavour Inn (Termini)-- as I will be catching an early train on the 20th for a two-night stay in Assisi. Definitely not luxury!


That aside, Relais Le Clarisse in Trastevere looks perfect. Alas, they don't have availablilty. I've noted them for my 2018 trip to Rome (planning to go to Puglia, etc on that trip, and will fly into FCO. And stay for a few days, based in Trastevere).

I don't know the particular hotel, but I like the location of the one on Via Dei Bresciani. Pretty area, very central but usually a bit less clogged and hectic feeling than some of your other choices. Just my personal preference/opinion, and you and others may feel otherwise--for example, I'm not crazy about Via Dei Pettinari but many people like the Hotel Ponte Sisto.

I've been to Rome a few times by myself and haven't felt uncomfortable walking around solo late at night in the center. Never been to midnight mass, however, so cannot speak to how many people would be out on the street afterward.

"I've seen it elsewhere..."

One definition is something like a place that serves food and may also have rooms, now used liberally.

FWIW, the last few times in Rome I've stayed at somewhat pricier hotels, but a number of years ago I stayed at the Hotel San Carlo. I booked last minute when I arrived at Termini from Bologna (long story). It was inexpensive, my room was comfortable, and the staff was very, very kind and friendly. Old-fashioned but not too barebones. I would definitely go back to the San Carlo.

http://www.hotelsancarloroma.com/gallery_new.html

Thanks, all. It did occur to me that if coming back after the midnight mass -- say, between 0100 and 0200 -- the hotel would need a 24 hour desk to let me in assuming that room keys don't double as front door keys?).

Rome River Inn only has staff until 2200. Domus Fortis has reception 8:30-5:30 (and, it turns out, only 4 rooms).

Or do I not understand how late-night entrance to a hotel works without a staffed front desk?

The Hotel Ponte Sisto sounds promising if you get a quiet room (and I suspect those are NOT given to folks who book via booking.com -- that's where I have read the complaints about noise). And it is probably out of my budget.

Leaning toward the Hotel Navona -- three minute walk from the Pantheon (per Google) and has a 24 hour desk...but now I read in the reviews that their rooms are spread over three buildings... sigh.

The San Carlo sounds good ... but then there is the problem of getting from the Pantheon back to Spagna at 0100. I'd hate to give up the Gregorian chants with the Pantheon acoustics!

I will look again in the morning. Thanks again.

For future reference, though there's no one on the desk from, I believe, 2-6am at Relais Le Clarisse, I did have a front door key as well as room key. The several budget rooms are in an adjacent building. Not in the least an inconvenience because it's so close.

Good morning --

Thank you for clarifying the front door key and annex building practice. in Europe I have mostly used hostels in Europe (finally said "no more!" to that!) and I have no clue how this is managed in budget hotels.

Back to the task this evening. I enjoy planning travel, I love travel, But I absolutely loathe finding accommodation -- I spend hours wallowing on the 'net and get very stressed.

I probably need a better approach/strategy to this aspect of my travel planning.

Relais is a French word that literally means relay station, as in where travelers in years gone by could find a bed and a meal as they were traveling.

My favorite hotel in Rome is the Modigliani, though I don't know their current prices.

You probably know that all public transportation ends early on Christmas Eve, so if you're going to the Midnight Mass, check the walking time on Google Maps. You might not want to be walking for half an hour under pouring rain. Most of the lodgings you mention are 20 minutes or more walking distance from St. Peter's Square. In the dark, it could well take longer. The closest is the Rome River Inn, 15 minutes.

I know someone who's stayed several times at the Ponte Sisto and liked it very much. I made a note of it for future reference, but it's usually somewhat over my budget. It's not very near St. Peter's Square, though. Neither is the Pantheon, the Spanish Steps, or Trevi Fountain.

On my most recent trip to Rome, in early October, my daughter and I stayed at the Bollo Guesthouse, or Bollo Apartments. They have rooms in their main location (the Guesthouse) on Vicolo del Bollo, but they also manage offsite apartments. We stayed in one of these, on nearby Via dei Pellegrini. We liked the location very much. It's near Campo de'Fiori. The main office on Vicolo del Bollo is open 9 to 5, if I remember correctly. They give you keys for after-hours access. They made up the room once during our four-day stay, and were very responsive to requests and questions. They don't provide toiletries, other than hand soap. Our room had a little kitchenette, which was useful for my daughter, who has food allergies. Not all rooms have this.

The hours for public transportation on Christmas Eve 2017 haven't been announced yet. In the past, regular transportation has ended at 9 PM, when the last bus/tram/metro starts its run. Night buses start running at 11:30. They may start running earlier on Christmas Eve, but I wouldn't count on it. You'll need to be at the Vatican well before midnight, so if the night buses aren't running, you'll need to walk or take a taxi. Taxis may also be scarse that evening.

Google Maps also gives directions by public transportation. When I put in a hypothetical journey to St. Peter's Square at 10 PM on December 24th, they show night buses running. I don't know if they have some special source of information.

The OP's plans for Christmas Eve are at the Pantheon, not the Vatican...

Oh, sorry, I missed that. In that case, I think all of the hotels are fine as far as location.

Hello all --

Thanks so much for your inputs.

Google shows that Hotel Navona and Locanda Navona are both less than 5 minutes walk from the Pantheon, so that should be quite safe as the mass lets out and hundreds of people depart. (Note to self: arrive by .... 2230? to secure a spot?)

Considering all the inputs, I am now thinking about splitting my 5 nights between two hotels -- one in Navona, and then the last night in Spagna. (leave carry-on bag at the Navona hotel on the morning of the 26th, go to Colosseum, etc., get the bag at the end of the day, head over to Spagna, and then on the 27th do Piazza de Popolo and the Borghese. Hmmmm).

Again, thanks for your suggestions. Finding bookings always stresses me, and this last minute change had to be figured out in the wee small hours of the night.

TANGENT QUESTION: is there a thread on the forums about how people research, decide upon and book hotels? I figure out what neighborhood(s) I want to be in, my budget, my minimum review score, and then spend hours and hours on booking.com per destination. Surely there must be a more efficient way?

The center of Rome is quite compact and I see no reason whatever to move for 1 night. It just seems a waste of precious time. Find one that will work for you and enjoy the luxury of staying put for the duration.

Regarding a system for finding a place to stay, if you're like me, where you stay is important and there's no shortcut. I think the best idea is to learn to enjoy the hunt. Start your planning early to avoid panic and when you get frustrated just stop until it beckons again. I treat it like a game and I play to win, a great place at a modest price, no one to please but me.

The Via Giulia is a very interesting street in Rome. It is within easy walking distance to the Vatican and the Pantheon.

Have a look at Residenza in Farnese.

Thin

I love the area around Piazza Navona and would choose either the Locanda Navona or Hotel Navona, especially if you want to be close after the mass lets out from the Pantheon (looks like a great thing to do!).

I completely agree with MmePerdu - there's no reason to switch locations during your short stay; it will only eat up time you could be spending taking in the sights.

I use booking.com but never spend hours on it. I usually just specify "Rome (or other) centre city", because most of the time I'm not fussy about the neighborhood, and just don't want to be out in the hinterlands. I check the box that requests to show only lodgings that have vacancies for my dates.

I then sort the list by price and go down the list until I find a place with a guest rating of 8 or more, and with more than 20 reviewers. I open up that page, and go back to the main list and continue. When I've got about six to ten pages open, I stop searching and begin reading the details. Free cancellation an option? Convenient location? Staffed at least ten hours a day? Wifi? Air conditioning (in summer)? I close any pages that don't meet my minimum requirements. Then I start reading the guest reviews. Within half an hour, I've usually whittled it down to two or three and I pick one that suits me.

I sometimes sort by guest rating and work down the list, ignoring places with few reviews, until I hit my price range.

bvlenci --

that sounds like a very good, systematic approach. One of my challenges is that when I read reviews, the "negatives" stick in my mind. But then, the same happens on Amazon....

ANOTHER QUESTION: when you all find a hotel, do you always book it on booking.com (or tripadvisor or hotels.com), or do you then go to the hotel's website and book directly?

Case in point: I will save significantly booking directly with Hotel Navona (who have been very responsive to an email with a couple of questions) -- about 15%, or the booking.com fee. Assuming that you are dealing with a well rated hotel, are there any downsides to booking directly?

I think there's a sort of nebulous upside to booking directly. I'll always book directly if the price is same or, obviously, less than booking.com. There's always been the thought floating out there that hotels, airlines, anything you can book through 3rd part sites, that service may be better and it also removes one layer of things-that-can-go-wrong, like losing the reservation. And I think it's a nice thing to do.

That's how I think about booking directly when there is no communication issue (language, responsiveness to an email with a question) and the website has the https:// etc.

If I am thinking about booking direct through the website, I first send an email with a question -- a bit of a litmus test for response, etc. This approach revealed sheer chaos at a hotel I tried to book in Cambodia last year.

So, are there any red flags (other than the above) that would keep you from booking directly with a hotel?

Thanks for this discussion.

"So, are there any red flags (other than the above) that would keep you from booking directly with a hotel?"

Any red flag would likely stop me from booking at all, rather than the question of with whom to book it. No matter the means of booking, a bad hotel is still a bad hotel. Or have I misread the question?

Here's an example: a hotel that has a score of, say, 9.2 with 1,267 reviews on booking.com. And the website looks quite professional, etc. But they can't/won't answer an email within 48 hours. Or they do answer, but it is unintelligible/doesn't address the question posed.

So...do you write off the hotel completely, or assume that their front desk is a mess but continue with booking.com or gamble and book directly via the website anyway (if the rate/offer is significantly better than booking.com)?

Put another way: if something goes wrong with a booking made via booking.com, do they have your back or is it between you and the hotel?

Sorry this isn't being put clearly.

1. An example, I was recently trying to book a guide. I emailed a company that was universally well-reviewed, even recommended by some of the best informed Fodorites. I waited some time for answers and, just as you say, responses never addressed my question. So after 2 tries I wrote them off. I'd do the same with a hotel, no matter the reviews, wouldn't book, period.

2. The problem I've heard most often with booking through a 3rd party site is the hotel doesn't get the reservation, or do but can't make good on requests. These days I think it's less likely but, still, when you book directly and the response is good, I have more confidence that what is promised will be delivered. A case in point is an email I sent to the hotel I mention above in Rome. A friend had had a streetside room and I requested a quiet one and got it. I was communicating with a person with a name who I could find if need be and I find that very reassuring. And my room was great.

I've had good experiences with reservations made on booking.com, but I still like to book directly with the hotel. Just personal preference. I haven't had any problems with a booking.com reservation, so I can't comment on the 'what if' scenario.

BTW, not every Italian hotel uses booking.com or similar websites, and many hotels still prefer communication by Fax or phone over email. Starting out with an email as a test of an Italian hotel's quality/efficiency probably won't tell you as much as you'd learn by making a (cancellable) reservation and then asking the questions.

But a hotel that doesn't reply within 48 hours regarding a reservation starting in less than 3 weeks would give me pause. Then again, I wouldn't wait by the computer. I'd pick up the phone and call them. If you're still not happy after the phone call, then move on.

Meredydd, I love your term "analysis-paralysis." Having just spent two days with excitement and frustration and exhaustion, deciding on a place only five hours drive from home...may I join the club?

The worst part is, you can do your due diligence and still mess up! Pertinent Rome example: Wish I'd have know about Le Clarisse yrs ago, instead of choosing a highly rated, well-reviewed (on t.a.) place, after communicating a lot with the "friendly helpful" owner. It still ended being one of the worst dumps I've stayed at anywhere in the world!! (Don't worry, it's not on your list!) And i left a great place to "experience a different area." Agree with others...for just a five day trip, stay put...assuming you are happy where you are.

"If something goes wrong with a booking made via booking.com, do they have your back or is it between you and the hotel?"

Booking.com does NOT have your back In a recent issue with a place, they--including managers--politely but clearly told me "We are merely a platform for bookings--any issues you have, deal directly with the hotel." Sure, use their lists for possible price comparison and a quick look-see--then use that knowledge to book with the hotel, and even (alhough I;ve never found it necessary) to get the same price as on booking---IF it was truly a better price.

Read the fine print. I have never found booking.com saves money. Hotels' own prices are the same (or, in rare ceased they are not, the hotel will price- match). More and more hotels are giving perks to book--for the same amount of money as on a third -party website--direclty wit them. I just rec'd free airport transport in Naples, and a $70 credit for dinner at a London hotel, for booking directly instead of via third party.

I agree with above from Mme Predu: I would much rather book with the hotel, and have a name of someone. Not only is it useful, but also much nicer to arrive at a place and greet someone by name.

When a "third party" will or should "have your back" is when you book via a reputable travel company. I've never done that in Europe, but have done in other parts of the world. But that's another conversation.

Good luck!!!!

I generally book with booking.com . I've been doing so for years and never had a problem. I wouldn't expect them to resolve a problem that was clearly a matter of hotel management. They <b> have </b> resolved problems regarding prices in the past.

There are several reasons I prefer booking.com. The main one is that I trust their web security more than that of the unknown booking engines used by many hotels.

Another reason is that they have an excellent "Manage my bookings" feature. If you lose your reservation, you can find it there even if you can't remember the name of the hotel. (It's happened to me.) Plus you can see all your reservations for the trip in one convenient list. It's easy to verify that all your nights are covered, with no overlaps. I don't even print out my reservations, just this list.

If I have to cancel a reservation or change a date, again it's very easy using "Manage my bookings". I once had to cancel an entire vacation because of a family emergency. I was able to cancel all the hotels, except one, in about ten seconds. The one hotel I had booked directly required several emails and they charged me for one night. (I generally choose the free cancellation option on booking.com.)

"Manage my bookings" also allows me to review past trips. If I return, or if someone asks me for a hotel recommendation, I can easily find the names of hotels I liked.

I have <b> often </b> found lower prices on booking.com than on the hotel's web site. If I'll be staying more than a night or two, I check both, but if the difference is small, I'm willing to pay a little more for the convenience of booking.com.

Even if I book through booking.com, I still often call the hotel to make a request or ask a question. It doesn't in any way hamper personal communication. I've also never felt that I was given second-class service because I'd used a booking service. They have no incentive to give me inferior service or an undesirable room; after all, they do still want me to return. I've more than once been given an upgrade.

By the way, in reference to Calinurse's post, I'm very cautious about reviews on TripAdvisor. Anyone can post a review there, and may have a vested interest in (or bear a grudge against) the hotel. They can even make a mistake about the hotel. I once saw a bad review on TripAdvisor of a restaurant near where I live. I knew they had mistaken the restaurant; from things they said, I even knew at which restaurant they had actually eaten. I informed TripAdvisor of the error, but they didn't remove the review.

Booking.com doesn't accept unsolicited reviews. After your stay is over, they send you an email asking you to review the hotel. So all the reviews you see there are from actual guests. Of course, the reviewer could still confuse two hotels, but in general the reviews on booking.com are reliable.

I don't take ANY reviews to heart unless they are detailed. This requires really reading them, not just looking at numbers of responders and a general "star" ranking. Whether on booking.com, tripadvisor, yelp, expedia,etc (or buying sites in general) prefer useful, well-explained information, not brief, vague reviews e.g. "Good location, nice people, good breakfast" which tell almost nothing.
I always start with negative reviews, to see if there's a clear explanation of the bad experience, or if it's just an isolated person with a grudge, or a fake competitor who may be trying to ruin a reputation. The fakes to me seem rare, and quickly spotted. And there is always the factor of what's the eye of one beholder, vs others' eyes.

That said, as noted about, I've still made a some bad decisions over the decades, ncluding before the internet, when there was much less to rely on for "real people" feedback. Ultimately, you never know until you arrive!! Part of the adventure, for better or worse.

May your Rome and other choices turn out great, Meredydd

Thanks to everyone for this discussion of booking in the 21st century.

On my 3-month Asia trip last year, I used booking.com almost exclusively. That saved my bacon in Cambodia with a major hotel foul-up (I changed dates once, and they booked me rooms for the first date AND the second date) , but in Chiang Mai, as I got to know the hoteliers at 3 Sis, I realized I would have been better off booking direct. Next time ....

On this trip (5 weeks, UK, IT, ES) I have used booking.com for all but two reservations (but I can still change the ES reservations to book directly with hotels).

I am beginning to plan 8 weeks in IT and UK in March and April, and will follow a strategy more along the lines of (1) identify hotels in booking.com (2) look at the hotel website, and (3)book directly with the hotel if advantageous.

That said, (1) is my problem -- identifying the most promising hotels. I need to stop focusing on the negative.

Will hotels offer the same or better online? Last year in Thailand a vacationing hotelier from the UK told me that they cannot undercut booking.com for the exact same offer. So they offer something different.

So in Cambodia, booking directly gave me the same -- plus a massage and breakfast --- at a lower total price. Technnically a different product than offere on booking.com.

In Rome, Hotel Navona is offering a "CHristmas in Rome" inclusive of breakfast at a _much deeper_ discount than booking.com for the same room/terms. I've booked directly.

Now to look at my booking.com reservations for the NYE weekend in Spain and see if I can optimize by booking directly....

The true test will be at what point I am willing to lock in with non-refundable. (which I have done with Hotel Navona).

Thanks again to all for this disscussion. I am learning a lot to apply to my next trip.

You may have already secured your hotels, but my 2 cents to this conversation is I love the Campo de' Fiori area. It is central to so many areas in Rome and is a great base to explore the Roman Forum, Pantheon, Trastevere. I've stayed at the Hotel Campo de'Fiori, Via del Biscione, 6, 00186 Roma. It's varied btwn 125-150 euros/night dependent on the season, it might be higher at Christmas. Good luck with your trip and have fun!

Having walked the streets around the Campo di Fiori a few days ago, I'd agree with Huitres, on the area. Having gone specifically to see the daily market there, the thought of an apartment nearby would be very attractive if any cooking might be contemplated (or even if it wasn't). I suspect an apartment might be had for less than a hotel.