Rome Hotels
 

Ok, I feeling completely overwhelmed here and need some solid advice. I've been searching thru previous posts, looking at guidebooks, searching on various websites like venere.com and have a huge lists of hotels that may fit our needs and budget. I've read the reviews, looked at websites, blah, blah, blah. I posted this message to try to narrow my search into one post I can check back on.

Here's the deal... we're looking for a centrally located place in Rome, preferably in Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, Spanish Steps areas. Our budget is E100-150 per night. We're traveling at the end of April/beginning of May. We'd like a nice, safe place. Doesn't need to be a hotel, can be B&B. We would like a place that offers breakfast and private bath is a must. It'll be just dh and I so even a romantic place isn't out of the question. Dh has nixed the convent idea. We don't think the curfews will work for our needs. If anyone has recommendations of places they have stayed I would greatly appreciate it. This is my last place to reserve and I'm just feeling so overwhelmed by choices. Ugh!

TIA,
Allison

The Santa Chiara (app 230E) and del Senato (app 200E) get a lot of good press on this board.

We stayed at the Santa Chiara in May 2002 and would definitely stay there again.

very nice hotel. Breakfast.

Both are across from each other and directly behind the Pantheon. Cannot beat the location.

Hi Allison -

I feel your pain.

However, you may get better replies if you coach with a little more detail. Read back through your list(s) and try to priortize by area. In which area would you most like to be? Then, check back with venere.com (or where-ever) for availability. Then ask for recent experiences for specific properties.

NOTE: I purposely didn't say "do a search here" because when I tried searching here for the hotel name where we stayed last May, my own trip report didn't even come up. FYI, it is Duca D'Alba (near Via Cavour at Cavour Metro stop, E165/night) - not in your desired areas, and a just a few Euros above your stated budget, but not far off, so may be worth a glance.

Good luck.

Before I get blasted about the search problem --- I see why my search didn't work. In a word "WORD".

I prepared my trip report in WORD, then cut and pasted, and the punctuation does not come through properly when done this way. Apostrophes, dashes, etc. all post as question marks. Frustrating.

Rookie

There is a pretty good sized list on www.eurocheapo.com for Rome, and most of them will meet your targeted rate.

Best wishes,

Rex

Thanks Rex. I've tried eurocheapo and it directs you right to venere.com when searching for Rome hotels. Been there.

Rookie, thanks as well. I've navigated thru venere.com to the neighborhoods I desire but still get numerous choices to pick from. Not ever been there and just judging from pictures and reviews is a lot. While I trust the user reviews there's just so many that get good reviews it's hard to narrow all that down to a decent size list, ya know? Just looking for some other options from the many experienced folks here at Fodors. I'll check out the Duca (think I may have already) but I prefer not to stay near the Termini. I'll go Vatican as a second choice but would rather be in the central areas since we'll be walking most everywhere and I'll be pregnant with limited energy for long jaunts. Speaking of long, this post was longer than intended...sorry, thanks for sticking thru it this long if you did.
~Allison

Check out Hotel Smeraldo. It's near the Campo di Fiori which is a great area! I'd definately stay there as opposed to near St. Peter's or the train station. I don't remember it serving breakfast but there's a number of bakeries, espresso bars, etc very close by. It has great reviews on Trip Advisor and we had a good experience there. Not luxurious but nice at a great price.

Google for Pensione Panda. I've stayed there three times. +/- 100E and two blocks from Piazza Spagna. Small but clean rooms.

The Hotel San Carlo, which has its own web site, so you can check it out.

Tell Alberto that Kathy Kelly sent you.

BC

Thanks Parker. Hotel Semraldo is on my top 10 list at the moment E120 w/o breakfast seems like a good deal for the location.

DRJ and Kathy - thanks for the suggestions, I'll look into them today!

Hi Allison,

What are the other 9 on your Top 10 list? Maybe sharing that list will get other helpful responses.

Again, Good Luck.

My notes are bad so I don't remember if all of these hotels are in the location I'd prefer. Still trying to get my S together... :)

1. Hotel Smeraldo
2. Hotel Erdarelli
3. Albergo del Sole
4. Hotel Navona
5. Hotel Julia
6. Lugano
7. Hotel Trinita dei Monti
8. Hotel Forte
9. Hotel Santa Maria (too expensive but hoping to convince dh)
10. Quality Hotel Nova Domus (too expensive if I don't get an employee rate)

So that's my short list so far. I've got a bunch that I haven't looked at, that I've been writing the names down as I read thru posts. I've also got many books that recommend places that I haven't added to my list and removed others. Haven't found the time to get to that yet. I've got to go back thru this list and make sure they are all still possibilites and add and replace with other good ones. Can you see my feelings of overwhelmness? (I'm even making up my own words now)

~Allison

Hi
We stayed at the Santa Chiara about 2 weeks ago. because of the season we paid 180 eur. per night. It included a very good breakfast buffet. Its location was excellent by the Pantheon and we were able to walk to other sites including the Vatican, Spanish Steps, Ghetto etc. The room was on the smallish side even for Europe but it held 2 twins and a shower which is what we asked for. They have a web site with the rates listed. [email protected]. We did our booking over the internet and even had the hotel arrange our pickup at the airport. We would stay there again.
alan

I work with a woman who highly recommended the Internationale by the Spanish Steps. She said the value and the accommodations were excellent. It is a few doors away from much more expensive hotels. I booked it through a travel agent who is from Italy and he also highly recommended it. I am staying there in April, 2004. Good luck with your hunt.

Myer - Checked out Santa chara and it's over my budget. Thanks though.

Kathy - can't find San Carlo's site. My googling isn't working. Did get a rate for E190 per night from venere.com and that too is over my budget. :(

Sorrento - could not find anything on Internationale. Again my googling produced nothing.

Thanks for all of your suggesstions, I really appreciate it. After posting yesterday I felt inspired to get it together to help myself out. I made a beautiful spreadsheet with all 30 hotels. Now, just need to weed that down. That's my task for the day. Need more coffee!

~Allison

We are going to Rome at the end of March and back in November I tried to book a room at the hotel Smeraldo and they were booked up. We are staying at the Hotel Giardino (www.hotel-giardino-roma.com) recommended in Rick Steves "Rome". Got it for 120 Euros. Don't know much about it but it is in a great location. Hope this helps.

Have you looked into the Relais Banchi Vecchi? It is in the Piazza Navona area.

http://www.banchivecchi115.com/

I will be staying there in May for 130 Euro a night for what looks to be like a wonderful double. That is a lot cheaper than what I could find in the same area.

It is a bed and breakfast and there is only staff at the hotel in the mornings from what I have read, but that is not a problem for us! You get a key to the building and can come and go as you please.