I am planning a trip to Rome at the end of July and will be going with my 3 kids, ages 13, 10, and 8. Does anyone have suggestions for a hotel near the Spanish Steps where we could all stay in one room? I have been looking at the websites for the Hotel Lancelot and the Hotel San Marco, but can't really tell how nice they are. I can spend around 200-300 US $ a night and we will need a large breakfast to start the day. Are there any large hotels which would suit our needs or only smaller ones (my kids like big ones...). Thanks so much!

In Rome, especially in the more convenient locations, there are few, if any large hotesl (assuming you mean American style large). Believe me, your kids will loe room, without a large hotel. Most hotels do include breakfasts and many of the breakfasts are very extensive buffets. I don't know of the hotels you're looking at but I stayed at the Santa Chiara with my kids (family of 4) and loved the location and the breakfast was outstanding. It is a 3* hotel located behind the pantheon.

excuse my poor typing, thats "love Rome" not "loe room".

Perphas is better to rent an apt. or have 2 connecting rooms at a more economical hotel.. It is hard to find a room that can fit 5 people...
Good Luck,

We, a family of five with kids 19, 16, 12, are going to Rome the end of July and have booked the Diamonte Suite at the Pantheon Hotel. It sleeps five and has two bathrooms. You can reach them at [email protected].

Thanks for responding so quickly! Do you remember if the Santa Chiara is air conditioned and was the staff helpful? What is in walking distance from the hotel? What did your children enjoy the most? As to renting an apartment - it is a good idea, but we are only going to be there for 3 nights. I am going to look up the Pantheon Hotel right now - how did you choose it? Thanks again!

We're also going to the Pantheon Hotel,but I think it's going to be beyond your stated budget. I was quoted just over $500 for the Diamante Suite mid-July.
I know that the Santa Chiara which has received excellent reviews on this forum, has at least one apartment for families. It's probably booked for July, but you could try checking and see what they have available.

Good luck!

Santa Chiara is walking distance to almost everything (but we are a city family and do lots of walking normally). It's very near the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Campo Dei Fiori, a slighly longer walk to Il Vittoriano (wedding cake building), Trevi fountain, Spanish Steps, Colliseum and Forum. There is also a nearby tram to get to Trastevere. It did have a/c. We stayed in a quad, which was a 2 room suite with 1 bathroom. They may be able to but a rollaway in the room with the twin beds. They also have a couple of apartment type setups (with small kitchen and separate rooms). A family of 5 was staying in 1 down the hall from us. You can email them for specifics. http://www.albergosantachiara.com/

I just check the location of Hotel Lancelot, it is not near the spanish steps, it's behind the Colliseum, not really near much except the colliseum. I couldn't find info on the other hotel. The area near the spanish steps or Navona/Pantheon are better locations.

Thank you all for your advice, websites, etc.! The Santa Chiara sounds very nice. Do any of you know about the Hotel Mozart? I really appreciate your feedback.

We stayed at the Hotel Mozart two summers ago. We have two children, and were very comfortable there. The rooms were a pretty good size and had pleasing decor. We are staying at the Santa Chiara this summer just for a change.

Check out Hotel Domus Romana-spent 5 days there last June with 38 teenagers (my students)!Great location,substantial breakfast,and enormous quads.If interested, will send you pictures.

Thanks for the replies. Neige - where is your hotel located and how much does it cost?What did your students enjoy doing the most?

Hotel Domus Romano is located on Via Quattro Fontane (great cafe across the street). The small shop next door to the hotel is a convenient stop for post cards,t shirts etc-bargain,prices drop radically. The kids loved spending a few hours every evening in Piazza Navona-always something new to check out. Vatican Museum was a highlight of Rome visit (older than your children). You may consider visiting the catacombs-children of all ages seem to enjoy the experience. The gift shop there offers reasonably priced momentos-beautiful photos (cheap).It seems the kids were always eating-another highlight of the trip.Not sure about the price of hotel as I was offered the group rate for 3 hotels & never asked for the breakdown per hotel-wasn't about to question a great deal.

thanks for the info-I will check out the Domus Romano. What lucky students you have!

Another vote for the Santa Chiara. We stayed there with our two kids (12, 15) this February and loved it. We had a suite with one bathroom and a door between our room with a double bed and the kids area which had 2 twins. The hotel is wonderful and the location right by the Pantheon is the best!

The Hotel Trevi has two room suites in a sort of apartment building just around the corner from the eponymous fountain. Excellent value, and can't beat the location.

We stayed with our children in an apartment a block from Piazza Navona. Try searching Palazzo Olivia on line. Very comfortable with a small kitchen. The Palazzo has about four floors of apartments, with two apartments on each floor. The bigger apartments have two bedrooms and a sofa bed in the living room.

We are going to Rome and are staying in an apartment which we booked through www.sleepinitaly.com. I mention this because not only were they very helpful in answering all questions (promptly, too), but some of their rentals are available for as little as three nights. Some are air conditioned, too, and this is clearly stated. Their website is a pleasure to look at. You'll have more space in an apartment. The website www.slowtrav.com has reviews about Rome apartment rentals, but thus far sleepinitaly was the only one I could find offering less than a week's stay. Hope this is helpful.