too picky re: Rome neighborhood?

Almost forgot: Let me know if I'm delusional about the price. If I have to pay, so be it.

Do you have (or your boyfriend's mom) have any Marriott Points? That's where we used ours. While in Rome, we were extremely spoiled (stayed in zimmers in Austria). I'm sure my fellow travelers have some great hotel ideas. She'll love Rome--have fun!

The Spanish steps area is nice but as you say can be pricey. Have you tried trip advisor or venere? They may help you narrow things down and I always find the reviews helpful.

Don't loose hope! You're right to worry about culture shock and where to stay but you're sweet and brave to take this on. I recommend looking into hotels in central Rome around the Pantheon. The Spanish Steps have a nostalgic charm for lovers of Roman Holiday but we didn't really like them and definitely wouldn't want to stay nearby. In his Rome book, Rick says he generally stays on Via Firenze recommending Hotel Oceania, Hotel Aberdeen or Residenza Cellini. I've stayed in the neighboord twice and it is quiet, the staff at HO and HA are really helpful, there are a few good resturants nearby but it might be a little too empty & quiet for a timid first-timer.

Try to involve your BF's mom in the planning as much as you can handle and get her to read a guidebook or travel literature about Rome. If she feels that she's had a hand in planning activities, she'll have a stake in enjoying the trip and she'll know what to expect.

Buy Rick's Rome guide, it is worth the $17.95.

Good Luck!

Gretchen,

You can get some good ideas on Rome Hotels from Rick's Italy or Rome Guidebooks. The price ranges are clearly listed and there's good information on the facilities and the staff. To get the type of amenities you listed, you'll probably be looking for a $$$ listing.

As your boyfriend's Mom has led somewhat of a "sheltered life", she will need to prepare for some degree of culture shock. There are many differences, some subtle and some not (aside from the language). As she enjoys watching Rick's shows, she might like to read his travel philosophy (listed in all Guidebooks).

Rome can be quite an "intense" travel experience, so be sure to plan your touring to avoid wearing yourselves out. You also need to be aware of the petty crime (wear a Moneybelt!), how to use the Subways, etc.(they're building a third line now, so there might still be early closures on the existing lines).

I'd highly recommend reading Rick's Italy or Rome Guidebook, as well as ETBD!

Cheers!

Dear Gretchen,

Good luck on getting your pony! Thanks to the FMIL, your trip seems doomed. Do you HAVE to take her along? Her comfort zone of three miles makes it unlikely to succeed.

Go three blocks south of the SS and the prices start to into a lower rate.

"We're going the first two weeks of November so I'm not dead-set on air conditioning, but an English-speaking staff, very attractive rooms and common areas, plus an elevator are on my wish list." I HOPE these are on your list because of BF's mom, not you. Italy is not just like the US, except filled with people that happen to speak a musical language. For a price, a huge price, you can get those "very attractive rooms and common areas" and so on, but your dreams appear to be outstripping your pocketbook.

If you're really not going to be happy w/o these things then your choices are to change your expectations or to not go to Italy. Otherwise I see a train wreck coming, a miserable trip filled with foreigners who aren't acting the way you demand they act and rooms that aren't up to snuff. Rick's method of travel, and that followed by those who frequent this board, it to try to travel and experience Europe as a temporary local.

p.s. In Nov. your worry isn't A/C, it's rain. Nov. is the wettest month. See http://tinyurl.com/yr7rxo

AC is not likely to be provided anywhere btw. Most places, due to local laws in Italy, only have AC between 6/1 and 10/31 and heat between 11/1 and 5/31.

I think there are lots of places nicer then the Spanish Steps area. I wasn't impressed at all.

Gretchen,

The hotel is InterContinental DE LA VILLE ROMA

http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/ic/1/en/hotel/romha;jsessionid=0LAMHXWBWSN1ICTGWANCHPQKM0YBWIY4?_requestid=560445

I think it is quite pricey - but you might see if there are any deals.

Good Luck!!!

Sally D
Littleton, CO

katherine: EXCELLENT advice.

Gretchen-besides Tripadvisor, try Karen Brown (karenbrown.com). Look under Italy B&B's. There are at least 2 small hotels that might fit your needs including one near the Spanish steps. I like Karen Brown's recommendations as they are a little more upscale than some of Ricks. On the plus side, with a smaller hotel you might get some friendly personalized service. On the down side, depending on how your BF's mom's temperment - she might find the smaller B&B type hotels to be too far out of her comfort zone - i.e. not like La Quinta or an Embassy Suites which is my own mother's idea of a perfect hotel.

Good luck to you - just as if you were traveling with small children, you should be prepared for a "different" type of trip - something that won't be wholly the way you would do it but will be an experience just the same. You are very nice to put this together!

A precanned tour arranged by a good travel agency will help take the monkey off your back. Planning this yourself makes you the bad gal.

ya know, you got me to remember a very important part of my 2 week stay in italy...it is funny, but the most memories i have retained, and rememebr, were times where i did nothing..just sitting there, not "going" "seeing", etc.
so plan on that: just take it in, and take your time.
relax:it will be all good.

I think Jim is right - my most memorable travel moments have been sitting in cafes in Paris and just walking around and going to the theater in London. Nothing stressful, just living and experiencing living in a different environment. If you keep your goals for what you want to see and do modest and flexible, then you will all have a better time. Consider it a sampling and then go back for more in the future after you've decided what your tastes are. Enjoy!

Gretchen, Ken and Katherine have hit the nail on the head!

MAKE SURE that granny is part of the travel process........have her do the final room picks.

MAKE SURE that she reads Rick's books.........she needs to understand that Italy is NOT the US!

It makes no difference where you stay; just let her pick something SHE THINKS will be comfortable.

One thing thay you may want to consider is to rent an apt. You can get a two bedroom place that will have lots of room to lounge around in......a place that granny would feel comfortable in. Maybe she would want to stay there while you two go out. Instead of worry about going out for all your meals, a simple breakfast or meal of familiar food could lesten her anxiety. We rented a great apt in Rome from VRBO.com, and it felt like home after a few days.

Another thing that you did not mention is grannys age. Is she "primed" for the walking? Rome can be quite tiring, especially with the culture shock and being on your feet all day.

We have used Karen Brown's bed and breakfast and her hotel book on numerous trips in France, Ireland, England and Washington State. Have always had a good experience. You can also go onto her website to view hotels and bed and breakfast in diffenent regions.

Thanks to all for your wonderful tips and suggestions (and for mentioning the rain). I think the person who said it's probably going to be like traveling with kids put it best. And "Granny" is 65 -- but after a hellish bout with breast cancer and about every lingering side effect you can name, her body is much older. So, we want to give her a once-in-a-lifetime experience that we hope will whet her appetite for more so she's encouraged to make it nine-times-in-a-lifetime. I will definitely keep educating her on the challenges we're likely to face on the holiday, am planning in plenty of downtime and travel time (no tight connections!), and looking forward to a relaxed stroll into another world. (Will def. check out apts. as well!)

Gretchen - I've followed this thread and I appreciate the challenge you're facing. Who is making the "vehement" recommendation to stay by the Spanish Steps? Is it your boyfriend's mom herself or is it a friend of hers who just has to be the Rome expert?

It's a crowded, noisy neighborhood. If you do have a choice of places around there, stay up the hill and back a block or two.

I did not think the area of Spanish Steps was that mind blowing. For price range of 200 we stayed near Termini - word of caution - don't wander down the 'wrong' streets as we did or you M-I-L will surely get much more than a culture shock. I don't know if Sketchy is a real word but you know what I mean. Good for the budget in that area & ease to train but otherwise: YUCK

A local (NJ) friend of mine who is Italian and has stayed in Rome many times for business, pleasure and family (lol, not the same!) is the vehement recommender. But in light of the note about how hilly and tiring Rome can be to walk, I've started looking in the Parthenon nabe, thinking the convenience and ambiance of overlooking that historical spot in a fabu hotel might serve us better than the Spanish Steps environs. Thanks again to all who've offered suggestions. I've traveled all over Europe and am very excited to give a first-class introduction to such a VIP ... even if it's a bit stressful trying to plan that intro. But the best gifts are the ones you make yourself, right? ;-)

I hope you're looking in the Pantheon neighborhood. The Parthenon is in Athens and is a bit of a hike for older people...

Good luck, Gretchen! That sounds like a better choice. Once again, search on Tripadvisor and Venere

Why not rent an apartment instead of a hotel room? I did that with my son last year. We had a really cute little flat just off Campo dei Fiori and it was much less expensive than a hotel room. We loved it. I can't remember name of company, but just do a Web search for holiday apartments Rome. Here's an example: http://www.trav.com/Apartments/Italy/Rome

P.I. Campo Dei Fiori is noisy but lots of fun. You might also try Trastevere, quieter and less expensive than Spanish Steps but still convenient.

Hi Gretchen,
My wife and I just came back from spending time in Rome before and after a 20 day cruise on Holland America. We stayed at the Hotel Columbia 4 nights before the cruise and 4 more days after we returned Rome. The staff speaks English, hotel has an elevator and nice large rooms. We were extremely pleased and have several friends that have stayed there over the years. Their normal rate this time of year (July/August) is 170 Euro/night but if you tell them you found them in Frommers book on Rome theu will give you a discount. We payed 160 Euro/night which is about $220.00. Don't know what the rate will be during your stay. Their e-mail address is [email protected]. Their website is www.hotelcolumbia.com. You can see other peoples ratings of the Columbia and others at Tripasdvisor.com. Have a fun trip.