I'm looking to book a hotel in Rome for September (yes time is running out). I want to keep the cost under $150 US. Priorities are central location, clean, safe, etc. Has anyone stayed at the following. I would love to hear your feedback. I've check Fodors and the other sites but value your feedback very much.

Hotel Golden
Hotel Smeraldo
Hotel Italia
Hotel Cesari is closed for renovation and I can't get into Daphne or Hotel Julia.

Thank you so much

The Smeraldo has a perfect location - right in the heart of the Centro Storico. The Golden and the Italia are not. The Smeraldo would be my first choice of the ones you have listed.

While the Centro Storico is slightly more expensive than the Spanish Steps or train station areas, there are a number of hotels in the Centro that are within your budget (in addition to the Smeraldo).

Look also at: www.solealbiscione.it
, www.hotelmimosa.net and www.hotelnavona.com

Hello Bardo1: Thank you for your great suggestions. I must say I'm beginning to panick. So far, all I've gotten is "no room at the inn". Anyone know anything about Murgutta, Marcus or San Carlo.

Just returned a week ago from 3 weeks in Europe. Spent the last 3 days in Rome and stayed at Hotel Smeraldo. It was in a wonderful location but best of all they had really good air conditioning. Rooms are small but very nice. 4 years ago stayed at Hotel Italia which is also very nice but not in as central location as the Smeraldo. Hotel Italia also had good air cond. and ceiling fans and was very comfortable. It is off a very busy street--Via Nazionale. I would choose the Smeraldo as it is very close to Campo di Fiori and Piazza Navonna. Also, it will be quite hot still in Sept.

Hi peanut

Are your referring to Hotel San Carlo at the Spanish Steps. We stayed int eh said hotel on 19 Jun06 to 23 Jun06. The hotel is very well runned. The rooms have just finished revonation and the air cond is new. The only setback if you are staying in the main hotel, there is no lift but it is just a small flight of stairs to you room. The room and bath are well cleaned everday.

It is very convenience with the metro station and shoppings nearby

The hotel also provides transport to the airport for a fee of Euro $45.

Hope that helps.

There are some bad reviews of the Hotel Marcus on tripadvisor.com. Several friends have stayed at the San Carlo and been happy. It (the San Carlo) is on my list of places to stay in Rome. Hope this helps.

We stayed at the Hotel San Carlo on July 7th. Our first choice was the Albergo Cesari, but they cancelled our reservation due to a complete hotel renovation. The San Carlo has an odd configuation to it: kind of like a maze.

The front desk staff was friendly and efficient. The breakfast room is oddly situated directly in back of the reception desk and it is tiny.

Back to the odd configuation: Our room was a double and the entrance to the room was a hallway with a bathroom (seriously in need of renovation) off of it, then a step up into the bedroom area. I felt discombobulated moving about the room. My son's room had one of those showers without a curtain or a stall and the entire bathroom floor got wet. The A/C worked well, and for that we were truly appreciative with daytime temperatures hitting 90 degrees.

If you want to stay in the Spanish Steps area, this is a decent choice. We paid 150 euro each for three double rooms, including continental breakfast. Personally, I would not choose this hotel again.

We are also going to Rome in September, and trying to keep costs down, so I am familiar with the challenge! I have had no luck finding avails with most of the hotels you list, and have also started enquiring at convent guest houses. There's a good list here: http://www.santasusanna.org/comingToRome/convents.html
Have you tried these? Does anyone else have other suggestions? Good luck to you!

We too are going the end of Sept./Oct. and about all we found was Hotel Pomezia (~140 euro) (near Campo Fiori) in fact probably right around the corner from Smeraldo (which was booked). Hotel Albergo della Lunetta had some availability (near the Pantheon) and the Relais ai Banchi Vecchi (apt.) had some availability. I can't remember if I found these through Romeby.com or ???.

Thank you everyone for your helpful advice and tips. Hotel Marcus is off the list. Unfortunately, I'm still stiking out with the other recommendations. I'm staring to lose track of hotels because I've sent requests to so many. I just heard back from Hotel Hotel Navona for 140E per night and Hotel Julia for 16E per night. A little more than I wanted to pay but I'm getting desperate. I've seen threads about Hotel Julia and Domus Julia. Any comments on Navona or Julia in terms of location, quality of hotel, etc. Thanks again!