Rome Hotel Alimandi or Smeraldo

Thank you so much! I always stay at te Alimandi Tunisi because I always go to St. Peters/Vatican........but this time we are spending 4 days at the end of the trip, and I thought it would be a nice change to try the neighborhood near Campo di Fiori. Unfortunately there was one bad review online re them and it scared me! Again, thank you wise RS traveller!

I've stayed in both and I liked each for different reasons. Alimandi is very close to the Vatican. We used the metro to reach the ancient Rome sites. Our room there was a good size and they had an American style breakfast buffet, which we were happy for at the end of our trip. Hotel staff was delightful and accommodating. They provided glasses and a corkscrew so my husband and I could enjoy our bottle of wine on the rooftop. It was a beautiful fall night and the ambience d an unforgettable memory. Smeraldo is in a prime location, close to the beautiful Piazza Novona and Campo de' Fiori square. There are wonderful restaurants and bars nearby, the open-air market, people watching. It's not far from the Pantheon, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain. Our room was very small but immaculate. Staff is more formal and stuffy, but helpful nonethelss. We left early and did not stay for breakfast so I cannot comment on the quality.

I attempted to stay at the Smeraldo once, but they wanted full up front nonrefundable payment for my reservation which was several months in the future. Do they still have that practice?

I booked through booking.com, so no, Hotel Smeraldo did NOT require payment up-front.

My Sister and her friends have stayed at the Smeraldo a few times and love it. They are booked again for this fall. I've been inside their rooms and they are nice. The hotel is in a great location, close to lots of sites and restaurants. Donna

I booked with them direct and all they wanted was my card number so that they could take the first night 4 days prior to arrival. I booked 2 months out.

The payment is not a problem for me, it's whether I want to STAY there. I am 60 yrs old, female, traveling with another 60 year old woman. This hotel is closer to sites. I just want to be sure the hotel is nice, and that we'll be comfortable there.