Rome-I'm at a stalemate choosing between three hotels
 

hi. My husbands and I will be in Rome next May after much research, I'm considering three hotels that look great for different reasons. All are budget with great location. Can you help me with any comments or suggestions? Thank you!
Hotel Modigliani- 3 star, lovely neighborhood and excellent service
Hotel Smeraldo- best location, more basic accommodations but a little more affordable with formal service
Realist Teatro Argentina- great central location, spacious traditional rooms but limited desk service.
Help!
Thanks!

I loved the Albergo Cesari. It was a perfect location and charming. I plan to return in March and the rate seems very low.

I second Albergo Cesari. Great staff - awesome rooftop lounge - great location near the Pantheon and reasonable rates. Check it out!

What exactly is your budget?

I haven't stayed in any of the three you mention, and I assume you meant Relais Teatro Argentina. Friends of ours have stayed at the Modigliani and the Smeraldo in the last 5 years, and we heard more positive comments about the Modigliani, esp. for its outdoor spaces.

If it matters to you, the breakfast at the Teatro Argentina is served in your room, and I would take that to mean it's pretty basic. I would miss a variety of food options and the interaction with other guests in a breakfast room. To each his/her own.

Indeed, to each his/her own. Breakfast in the room would be my preferred option (can't stand people trying to strike up a conversation with me at breakfast except my spouse), and I don't eat much breakfast anyway. Also would prefer the location of Teatro Argentina, but if you need the assistance of a desk to make restaurant reservations, etc. might not work for you. Pensione Barrett is in the same neighborhood with a full desk operation 24/7. Friends have been happy there. Gens Julia is also quite nearby, and has always looked great to me, but I've never stayed there and you'd need to track down reviews and what they offer in the way of desk services and breakfast.

modigliani is the best one! clean good service and best location
stefano

Of these three, I've only stayed at the Smeraldo, and while I loved the location and liked the hotel room, the service at the front desk was underwhelming. The simplest request was always met with a sigh and a half-hearted attempt, not always successful. But you can't beat the price, and it's otherwise a nice place to stay.

It look like you have taken your view of the hotel from the hotel's own web sites rather than from customer reviews. Is that the case? If so I would check them out on tripadvisor and a couple of other places to perhaps bet a more balanced view.

I also like the reviews at Booking.com. Reviewers have to have booked their reservation through the website, so you can be pretty assured that they have actually stayed at the hotel.

Am interested in the replies too for a trip next year.
Several of the hotels mentioned seem within my budget (apx 150 E per night for 2?), the Albergo Cesari at apx 250E per night definitely a bit high for my budget

I've also stayed at the Smeraldo, and it was fine, but it was a long time ago. It's very near Largo Argentina, so I would consider those equally well located. I don't know the other place at all.

Thank you for all the advice and comments! After giving it lots of thought I and doing more research, I've narrowed it down to two places. Albergo Cesari and the Relais Teatro Argentina.
The rooftop terrace looks lovely on the Albergo and it seems very popular with great reviews. I'm still drawn to the Relais due to the huge rooms with the traditional decor. I'll decide very soon- I think- lol.

I would definitely go with Mogdiliani. Posh neighbourhood and you can walk to Borghese Gardens, Palazzo Barbarini, Spanish Steps, Via Condotti.

Thin

Thanks Thin. Modigliani was originally my first choice but my impression from the comments is that it is not as well located as some of the others. It definitely looks like a lovely hotel but maybe too far from the city center?

Loved the Modigliani, and it's about a block to the top of the Spanish Steps (and the Hassler). In my view, it's centrally located and an easy walk to most of the tourist sites.

Well, if you stay at Modigliani you can take Metro Line A from Barberini to Cipro for Vatican and Vatican Museum or you can transfer to Blue Line B at Termini for Colosseo.

Another thing, if you want to find a taxi in Rome there is always a line of them in front of the Hassler.

Thin

I just stayed at the Modigliani and it was perfect for us. I've stayed in a number of hotels in Rome and this is a new favorite for me. There were three of us so we stayed in their apartment suite. Very quiet, safe street. I echo Thin's comments.

Please do not even consider the Torre Argentina Relais (I'm not sure by your spelling if that's what you're considering) but we were booked there for two nights at the end of our trip. I've never been so mislead by pictures and reviews in my life. It was so unbelievably awful that after checking in we took one look at the room and had to leave. Obviously should have done it the other way around. Horrible mold infestation and ugly disgusting room. I'm still in shock over the discrepancy.

Maybe LousiaH was right to decide to leave the Torre Relais Argentina, but recently a long-time Fodor's poster who had been to Rome three times previously stayed at that hotel and came back to post a highly positive review and recommendation. The screen name is Good_Will.

In addition, the overwhelming majority of reviewers on Booking.com give positive reviews to the hotel, including high marks for cleanliness -- and it would be odd if all these people were not being truthful. Just some perspective and context.

Here is what Good_Will wrote on Fodor's after staying at the Torre Relais Argentina:

The hotel is small and is currently expanding on the upper floors of a building facing the prominent and famous ruins in Torre Argentina.

Our room was very well equipped, well soundproofed from the busy street, with an excellent bed and a direct view of the Temple of Pompey where Brutus and his mates assassinated Julius Caesar.

Breakfast served in the room was different to the usual Roman experience, but proved to be excellent. Thank you Alessandra.

The staff are all very friendly, knowledgeable and most helpful. At 6pm each evening we dropped by Reception for cocktail hour and were offered complimentary wines, prosecco and savories. This allowed us to get to know our hosts Jessica, Elena and Fabrizio.

The location of this hotel is outstanding with buses directly out front. We were close to Trastevere, Campo d'Fiori and the spectacular night activities along the Tiber. There was also a Nespresso machine in the room for when we needed recharging.

There is no location we have previously visited as central as Torre Argentina proved to be. We wasted very little time and were always on the go. We recommend Torre Argentina Relais as a reasonably priced, very friendly and happy place.

sandralist, I read several wonderful comments like Good_Will's and that's why I'm totally perplexed. We got off to a bad start because cab driver couldn't find the hotel despite prominent location, something about "old style address", which Elena acknowledged.

It's virtually invisible from the street, tiny sign, and very unimpressive "entrance", really a very minuscule opening where you press a button for the elevator and still must carry luggage for a few flights, obviously often the case in many European hotels.

There is no lobby to speak of and the hotel only has eight rooms. The real problem that we could not deal with was mold infestation, which was acknowledged and attributed to being in a very old building. Trust me, the last thing we wanted to do after a long day of travel from our stay in Capri was to switch hotels, especially since we didn't have a backup plan, but we had no choice.