Rome twice in next 10 months 2 different ways. What to do for each

I booked Albergo Del Senato near the Pantheon for July. Just adding to your mix of hotel suggestions. I love the views from the rooftop. But it is across the river from Trastevere.

https://www.albergodelsenato.it/

It does not appear that hotels available for the time. We are going to be there. Pretty far out for it to already be full though. Weird

I think for your first trip of a day (does that include an overnight?) keep it low key, especially if you are arriving from the US. I would just get out and walk the old center, sure, she will see Piazza Navona and Campo di Fiori, maybe Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon, but that will not detract from your future trip. You could even wander up by the Colosseum and look, saving standing in line and a tour for the next time. Show her the Trastevere, maybe a dinner at a restaurant you liked the first time, in the morning a cafe.

In the end, doing not really much of anything (meaning tours and big sites) but really getting a nice slice of Rome, sort of an appetizer, for the next trip. Edit: Maybe that should be "Antipasti"

Hey Vick,

Have you ever consider staying at Hotel Aberdeen in Rome ?

https://www.hotelaberdeen.it/en/

The Trevi fountain is a short 15 minutes walk walk from the Hotel Aberdeen and you can be at the Colosseum or Spanish steps in just 20. The airport is a 35 minutes train ride from the nearby termini train station. It's in the Quirinal area of Rome.

I think the first trip could just be a city overview - do the heart of Rome walk, see Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain, look at the Colosseum from the outside. Basically a low key day to get the feel of the city. Assuming you have booked your hotel, walk past it and get familiar with the neighborhood. This will make your arrival for your second trip feel much easier, and also not stress you out so much on the short visit.

As far as hotels - look at the Navona/Pantheon/Campo di Fiori area. A couple years ago I stayed at Piazza Farnese Luxury Suites. Small hotel, very nice, great location.

We had a great experience at Palazzo Navona Hotel, a newish design hotel hotel inside an old palazzo. Roof deck bar as well as another one on bround floor.

I agree with Suki, Palazzo Navona Hotel is an awesome hotel. Great rooftop views for meals and relaxing.

thank you for the recommendations.

We ended up deciding to stay here
https://abnb.me/8m0ocGYdSW

It was about half the price of the Palazzo Navona hotel but honestly price wasn't the biggest reason. This place just seemed like an awesome neighborhood with fantastic reviews.

We've had some real fun times in airbnb's over the years.
Again for the suggestions.

As far as what to do on our day trip on the cruise I kind of like the getting the feel for the city idea. we're actually staying five nights next March so we'll have plenty of time to do everything that we could ever want to do in Rome we just need to get it all planned out

For the one day stop had you considered Ostia Antica?

Blockquote For the one day stop had you considered Ostia Antica?

I have never even heard of this. Doing a little research looks like it might not be a bad thing to check out thanks for the suggestion.

Vick, I think I read the lead up to yr trip w mom/aunt, but had NOT read the report until tonight.....oh, thanks for the laughs!!

We just stayed at Albergo del Senado for one night. (It was recommended in response to my post on this website.... not sure if Ownedby3 recommended it to me or I mentioned it to Ownedby3. The hotel faces the Pantheon! We were "upgraded" to a quiet, but slightly depressing room in the back of the hotel (Room 101). The bedroom was up a flight of stairs, and the bathroom and a sitting area were located on the first floor.... I did not like having to go down the stairs to use the bathroom in the middle of the night. This morning, I asked to see another room (for future reference and also to share here), and I saw two tiny, but lovely rooms facing the Pantheon, both on the third floor, and one tiny room facing a courtyard, not quite as inviting. I wonder whether the Pantheon-facing rooms are noisy at night, but I would consider reserving one of them simply because of the magnificent view. That being said, we didn't spend a lot of time in the hotel room, so perhaps quiet is better (but still, I'd take the Pantheon-facing rooms even if they were a bit noisy). The thing is that you are in the heart of a touristy neighborhood, but for my taste, I justloved walking out the door and facing the Pantheon. (We didn't make it to the rooftop bar.) The lobby is small, but quietly elegant. The breakfast was simple, but adequate. And I don't believe the room cost a lot, though I cannot remember what I paid.