Does anybody know is this a booking web site - or is it hosting the home web sites for various hotels? I've looked at several Rome hotels that I can't find a web page for, but it goes to this web site often. What's the scoop? Am I emailing the hotel directly through romeby.com? Thanks!

It is a booking site that "hosts" for the hotels, and takes a commission from the hotels' earnings. I haven't used them but it appears they will contact the hotel, then email you back with information/confirmation. I used another booking site (www.bookings.nl) that worked the same way.

The parent company is Worldby.com
"Profile
WorldBy.Com S.p.A. is an authorised Tour Operator according to Italian and European law and deals with online reservations of selected properties in Europe."

Read the fine print of any of these "CityBy.com" websites - - I don't know if it is still true or not, but there was a time when they had "booking" fees that were non-refundable if you tried to cancel a reservation.

Best wishes,

Rex

I have used the [cityname]By.com websites for many bookings in Italy the last few years: Florence, Positano, Stigliano, and Venice. I have also had to cancel reserations during that period of time. I was never charged a cancellation fee, but I always made sure I approved of the cancellation fee prior to making my original reservation.

Sorry...I meant that I made sure I approved of the cancellation *policy* before making my reservation.

Fingers work faster than my brain...