Hotel recommendations in Rome and Venice

We loved Hotel Smeraldo. Great breakfast, a stone’s throw from Campo de’ Fiori and many restaurants.

We loved our stay at hotel Damaso in Rome last year. Perfect location in Campo de Fiori. Clean, comfortable, completely updated interior. Great breakfast. And an elevator!

Venice- our favorite is Hotel Ai Mori D'Oriente. Yes to AC, elevator, and breakfast. It's on the quiet back canals in Cannaregio, where there are no crowds. The nearest vaporetto stop is a ten minute walk, and it's about a 15 min walk from the train station. Shops, grocery store, gelato, and restaurants are quite close. We will return!
Have a great trip!

I second the recommendation for Hotel Smeraldo in Rome. We loved it and found the staff to be friendly and very helpful, and the location is great.

Great suggestions, thank you all :)

I noticed many hotels are already booked!
Shama

How far out is your trip? Safe travels.

Shama, are you going to be on a Rick Steves tour? If so, shortly after being confirmed on the tour, you will receive an email with information about the first and last tour hotels. This is to help you make your own arrangements to stay at the tour hotel(s) before or after the tour. Staying at the same tour hotel will save time that may be wasted in changing hotels. If you decide to stay at the tour hotels, let them know that you will be with the RS tour and ask if you can stay in the same room.

Hi Mary, yes, I have rec'd the hotel's name and checked on their availability -booked.

Hi Pat - early July :) Thus far most 3-star hotels recommended and researched are booked, I found a couple 4- and 5-star hotels available, but they are over my budget. Still on the hunt.

Look at Hotel Portoghesi in Rome https://www.hotelportoghesiroma.it/

In Venice, check out Hotel Al Ponte Mocenigo https://alpontemocenigo.com/

You may also want to look at monastery stays https://www.monasterystays.com/

Mary - thank you SO MUCH for your specific recommendations, very kind and thoughtful of you!
Checked all, and they are booked, the search continues.
Shama

For Rome, anyone stayed at the hotels below? If so, thoughts? thanks!
-Albergo Santa Chiara
-Navona Rooms
-Citizen M Hotel
-Kolbe Hotel
-Argentina Style Hotel

In Venice Hotel San Marco--very nice, very Venetian, close to St. Mark's. Only downside is lots of stairs and no elevator.

In Rome, Relais Santa Maria Maggoria. Not far from where or RS Tour stayed, close to Termini, just around the corner from Santa Maria Maggoria church.

Would you mind sharing the specific dates and budget?

Hey Patty, sure.
I will be going a few days prior to the tour starting on July 6thand staying a few days after.
For Rome hotels - July 3rd to July 6th (checkout) 3 nights
For Venice hotels - July 14 to July 18th (checkout) 4 nights

Budget, $250 max per night, 3 star rated class hotel is fine, understanding it is high season - there is flexibility.
Location is my most important factor, walkability, and then the basic necessities - AC included. Elevator a plus!

In my prior post, I have listed hotels that I found with availability, mostly with good reviews but some awful ones...hence my ask if anyone has experienced a stay there. I do plan to finalize today/tomorrow since time is of the essence. Thanks in advance to you and the community for your help.
Thanks,
Shama

thank you, Ruth, for your suggestions, will look into these today. :)

Shama,

I have no experience with the hotels you listed. But I scanned through TripAdvisor and Booking.com reviews.

The location of Albergo Santa Chiara is great. However, when reading TripAdvisor reviews, one persons mentioned that the hotel does not have AC in all rooms as advertised. So I would suggest contacting the hotel to make sure you get a room with AC if possible. Otherwise, the first few pages of Booking.com reviews are great.

Navona Rooms has a good location. One Booking.com review said that "The air conditioning was the same throughout the hotel and could not be regulated for each room. The staff was very attentive and gave us alternatives to solve it.” If you are sensitive to heat and need your AC blasting at night, it may be a problem.

I would put Citizen M last in terms of being central and close to most of the attractions you would want to see/visit.

Good luck!

Thanks Mary, yes, several good reviews mixed with a few key ones.

hotels booked! thanks everyone :)

We stayed at Pensione Accademia in Venice and loved it! It's old world charm and beautiful gardens were a much needed rest after walking around Venice all day. The breakfast was plentiful and it's in a quiet area close to the Accademia Bridge and lots of places to eat and explore. It is in the Dorsoduro and easy to find from the vaporetto stop from the airport.