Rome Hotels for Family - Santa Chiara, Hotel Mozart, Albergo Cesari? OTHERS?
 

I need help with Rome hotels! We are going to visit Rome/Florence/Venice in February. I have already decided on Hotel Pendini in Florence and Hotel Ala in Venice. In both I was able to get either 2 doubles or a family suite for about 220 euros per night. We are 2 adults and 2 teens. Now my issue is Rome! We will only be in Rome for a few days so I think that location is very important. Would you choose Albergo Santa Chiara (a quad), Hotel Mozart (a quad), Cesari (although I can't find a website for them, so I am not sure if the rates are are competitive)? Any other suggestions please! I think we would be most comfortable in a 3 star hotel. I would love comments on these hotels, suggestions for others, and general advice.

Susan, you have a good start. My son and his family enjoyed the Mozart in 2001. I would add the Residenza Farnese and the Due Torri to your list.<BR>Good luck--you are making progress.

http://www.venere.com/it/roma/cesari<BR><BR>They list a quad at 228 euro (lowest rate; not sure about season). Although I am a fan of this hotel (stayed there in 1999), I cannot comment on any quad room they would have to offer.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

Like Rex, I can comment on a hotel but not the Quad room. The Santa Chiara is an excellent hotel. Wonderful location, but rooms facing the front will probably hear noise from zooming Vespas. Outstanding breakfast buffet (included), everything from corn flakes to yogurt and fruit, to meats and cheeses, and excellent coffee. Yummy pastries too.<BR><BR>I agree that location is very important, but with a group so is space.<BR>After a hard day of sightseeing family members may be just a little cranky, even in the most loving of families, and after a whole day of togetherness you will want some space to spread out in.<BR><BR>You might want to compare room sizes, if that's possible, or consider the cost of 2 doubles vs one quad. If it is affordable, for the same price and location, I'd go with two doubles. <BR><BR>I have files on the cities you mention; if you'd like to see them, email me.

Rex,<BR>I tried the venere website for Cesari and came up with a higher rate and no availability! <BR>Elaine, <BR>I would love two doubles, but I don't want to spend more than 250 euros a night, total, for hotel. Any suggestions?

Susan, we (my husband and I and our 2 teenage sons) visited Rome in June and stayed in a quad room at the Hotel Isa, which is in a good location, though not right in the historic district. It was about 3 blocks to Piazza Navona and about 3 blocks to St. Peter's. Nice 3 star hotel, including buffet breakfast, only 200 euros a night for the 4 of us. Rooms were very large, 1 king bed and 2 singles, clean, modern, great marble bathroom. Have fun! Wish we were going back.

The quad we had in Santa CHiara was a decent size, 2 room suite. One room had a queen and the bathroom, the other room had 2 twin beds. The breakfast buffet is very nice there. The location is great. The common areas of the hotel are lovely, the room itself, was fairly generic, not particularly charming.

We have actually stayed at three of the hotels you mentioned: the Cesari, the Santa Chiara and the Pendini in Florence.<BR><BR>My first comment would be to find another hotel in Florence. We were in italy 3 weeks and without a doubt the Pendini was the least pleasant stay of the entire trip. The location is great but the hotel leaves much to be desired. The layout is very unusual with lots of ups and downs of stairs. When we opened the bathroom door, the other person in the room had to get on the bed. Just not very pleasant.<BR><BR>We liked rooms and location of both Rome hotels. Only a few blocks apart. You'll do fine with either one.

Sorry that Cesari was not a match for your needs. Maybe http://www.hotelsmeraldoroma.com - - with two doubles perhaps, since I don't think they have a quad. I have never stayed there nor even laid eyes on the place, but it has gotten recent favorable reports including the overview last month on nytimes.com<BR><BR>http://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/27/travel/WDROME.html?8td<BR><BR>and more info on this thread:<BR><BR>http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessages.jsp?fid=2&amp;tid=34376143<BR>

I've posted before about our apartment-type room at the Santa Chiara, so a quick search under Santa Chiara or my name should give you the essentials. What we liked about it was the location. Perfect.

I also advise against the Pendini. The rooms we got weren't small, or had an odd lay out, the problem we found there was a lot of dust, and dirty bathrooms. In fact, one of the bathrooms we got was quite small, but not the bedrooms.

I never expected to hear bad things about Hotel Pendini, a friend stayed there last year and loved it. However, this is making me uncomfortable - other recommendations for Florence?<BR>Also, &quot;Me&quot;, did you ask for a quad at Santa Chiara, or a suite? They quoted me 240 euros for a quad and 370 for a family suite? The suite at 370 euros is to high a price for me.

topping<BR>

ttt

Susan:<BR><BR>We stayed in the only Quad at the Hotel Mozart last May. It was spacious and very clean. It has a lovely little balcony with flowering verdena, overlooking a small cafe below and some residential apts. The room was to the back of the hotel so nice and quiet at night. Room 410 is the room number. I think we paid about 410 euros/night. the breakfast is included and a really nice, bright cheery breakfast room - quite civilized. The staff was very helpful too. We were charmed by our entire experience there. Hope that helps.

Susan,<BR><BR>I agree with some of the other posters about the Hotel Pendini. It's in a great location but the rooms were awful. The bed was terrible &amp; the door was not secure at all! The noise from the street kept us up all night. <BR><BR>We also stayed at Hotel Ala in Venice and LOVED it!<BR><BR>For Rome try the Hotel Des Artistes. We liked it a lot.<BR><BR>Christina