I've got it narrowed to two Rome hotels for November, just trying to decide between them.

I've been offered a single for 139E a night at the Albergo Santa Chiara. The reviews (here and TripAdvisor) are really good on it, except for maybe some service problems a year or two ago. What holds me back is the "closet sized room" in the Frommers description and the service comments.

For the same price, I've been offered an upgrade to "superior" room at the Albergo Cesari. Again, good reviews, but I am concerned here about the ongoing renovations. Anyone been there _recently_ to give an update? I note that most reviews were from 2006 and not many at all from 2007.

Location-wise, I think it's a draw. I just can't pull the trigger on either of these. Does that mean I should keep looking or am I just spoiled for choice?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts!!

We have stayed twice at Albergo Cesari, the last time was last June - right before they started renovations - they literally closed the next day. We really like it there, the staff is great, the rooms are a nice size, good breakfast - and I know one of the renovations they did was to build a new breakfast room on the roof, which is a good idea, as the old breakfast room was very small.

I think one of the reasons there aren't very many recent reviews is because they were closed from July 2006 - Nov. 2006. It is my understanding that all the inside renovations are done, but they are renovating the exterior, although I thought those were supposed to be done sometime this summer.

Thank you! I am guessing the breakfast room is still not done as the only review I found from this year was from May 07 and it complained about the smallness of it.

Anyone else?

I would make some inquiries about the size of the single. We stayed at the Santa Chiara, a wonderful hotel that I would recommend to anyone, and our double room had a king bed and was wonderfully spacious by European room standards. Our son was traveling w/us--having just graduated college--and I took a misplaced toothbrush over to his room. I could not believe how tiny it was!! Barely larger than a walk-in closet. It was OK for him, as he was just out of kid-dom, but an adult would have felt that they had been put in solitary confinement!!

Thanks all. I actually got spontaneous and booked into Hotel Parlamento which our very own Flygirl (and many others) recommends highly. Saved me money and there are no lingering questions in my mind.

More money for gelato!

>>More money for gelato!<<

You said it, sister!