I am going to rome next week and still agonising over the hotel (I want the best option possible)...
I can have the Raphael Hotel for 99EUR a night (no breakfast) - this is very cheap, and a great location and 4 stars I think...

Or I can have the infamous Albergo del Senato for 192EUR a night - quite a difference in price, but they have guaranteed a room on the top floor, facing the pantheon with a balcony..

Is it worth an extra 300EUR for 3 nights? Or is the Raphael just as good?

Thanks.... time is running out

A 4 star hotel for just 99Euros? Are you sure??????

The Raphael has recently received some pretty lukewarm reviews (translation: bad) for the small handful of its rooms that are much smaller and not up to the standards of the rest of the hotel. This might account for how/why you are being offered a room at that rate - - when other rooms in the hotel routinely go for 3-4 times that.

Question critically and carefully.

And make your decision on whether you are the type of traveler that wants the hotel to be able to stay in a room that you like - - or whether you are okay with staying in any room, to be able to stay in that hotel. After all, in most regards, the Raphael is rated a league "up" over the del Senato (which is one of my personal favorites).

Best wishes,

Rex

Fly cheap, Sleep cheap, Eat Well.

What a dilemma! The Del Senato is one of my favorite hotels in Rome. We had the senior suite on the top floor with the huge terrace and it was superb. We also had the very nice junior suite at the Raphael and enjoyed it very much. Of course we paid much more than 99 Euros. I guess it's going to come down to your budget. If 300 Euro will make a big difference in the quality of your vacation (the types of restaurants you can eat in, the amount you can spend on museum admissions, the kinds of souvenirs you can purchase) then stay at the Raphael but be prepared for probably not the best room in the place. Of course, you won't be spending that much time in the room and the location is wonderful. You can grab a good, inexpensive breakfast at a local bar near the hotel (but not in the Piazza Navona which would be a big waste of money unless you want to really sit back and savor your surroundings). The 192 Euro rate for the Del Senato is also pretty good; I think they are running a special through August. That room with the balcony on the sixth floor is very nice, but small. Of course, the view and location make up for it. If you're the type to spend time in the room enjoying the view, and 300 Euro won't make a big difference in your vacation, go for the Del Senato.