Choice Privileges - ROME: Bolivar OR Nova Domus?

Hi, Any advice on deciding between the Comfort Inn Bolivar or the Quality Inn Nova Domus would be much appreciated.

our criteia are:

1- Cleanliness
2- Location
3- Rooms that are routinely provided for reward redemptions.

Thanks to all for their time and comments.

Have you checked reviews on www.tripadvisor.com? Generally I find lots of information about Choice properties I'm considering that way. If you're not familiar with "how to read" TripAdvisor reviews, the general consensus is to throw out the best review in case it's by the hotel itself and throw out the worst review in case it's by their competition acorss the street, and then look at what's left over, possbly biasing more toward recent rieviews over ones several years old (if there's enough reviews for that).

Obviously, what you get on a reward stay is better answered here, but can only be answered if you find someone who's done an award stay at that specific hotel.

But the rooms that are provided for reward redemptions ahead of time, that you can figure out for yourself, by just trying a booking (which you don't need to complete) at the Choice website (assuming you have enough points for at least one night already). In general, at most hotels, they tend to be "standars" rooms; only occasionally do "fancy" rooms "leak" into the mix.

And, in general, upgrades for elites are far and few between, so by default I wouldn't count on any room better than what you can book online as a reward.

Thanks for your reply.

I AM an avid reader of Trip Advisor , but was hoping for FT'ers who had reedeemed in Rome to augment my research.

Couldn't comment on Comfort Inn Bolivar as I've never stayed there. I spent 3 nights at Quality Inn Nova Domus in late January and I was happty with it.

My room, the lobby and the restaurants were all clean, presentable, didn't see any nasties.

Location is ok - it's good if you are gonna spend much time visiting the Vatican Musems as the hotel is about 15-minute walk from St Peter's Square.
It's between 2 Metro stations. There're shops and restaurants nearby, and there's a Carrefour Express near the Vatican/hotel where you can get groceries.

Dunno about reward redemptions as I booked my rooms via Expedia. The reception is aware of the Choice program though.

Internet is NOT free - costs 2.5-3 euros per hour. You buy 1/2/5 hour blocks.
Breakfast is good - buffet style with lots of pastries. There're cold cuts, hot sausages and eggs.

A good thing about being close to the Vatican is that the kiosk inside the Vatican Post Office/Tourist Info exchanges foreign cash (USD, GBP, JPY, etc) to Euro and vice versa, COMMISSION FREE. It's the ONLY legal place in Italy I know of that doesn't charge the standard minimum of 6 euros transaction fee. You can also ask for Vatican Euro coins - but they are REALLY stingy - it's harder to get Vatican Euro coins than seeing the Pope (whom I did see at a weekly general audience).

Personally I would stay around the Termini as it's close to most things and easier for travellers with much luggage. There's a Best Western right by the Termini, seemed to be recently refurbshed.




Hi, Any advice on deciding between the Comfort Inn Bolivar or the Quality Inn Nova Domus would be much appreciated.

our criteia are:

1- Cleanliness
2- Location
3- Rooms that are routinely provided for reward redemptions.

Thanks to all for their time and comments.

Hi, Any advice on deciding between the Comfort Inn Bolivar or the Quality Inn Nova Domus would be much appreciated.

our criteia are:

1- Cleanliness
2- Location
3- Rooms that are routinely provided for reward redemptions.

Thanks to all for their time and comments.

I just stayed at the Bolivar last week for 4 nights, first of all its hard to find, its off the mains street, but also good, for being across the street from the forums and being quiet. The hotel is nice, not 4 star, a 3 star, all the employees are all nice. Small lobby and elevator, the room was on the small side, like most European rooms I have stayed in. The rooms are clean, but our shower did not have a shower curtain in the tub, but made due.
The breakfast is nice, its on the garden room on the rooftop, buffet style with bacon and scrabble eggs and all the traditional pastries and coffee.
And I was able to redeem for 8,000 choice pts, so heck of a deal.
10 min walk to Forums and Colosseum
10 min walk to Trevi fountains
20 min walk to Vatican city
I say you can get a better location for being right in the heart of Rome.

And I was able to redeem for 8,000 choice pts, so heck of a deal.Wow!

What happened here? The last time I checked, I think all the Rome hotels were in the 25,000 - 40,000 points/night range. Both the Nova Domus and the Bolivar are now 8000 points/night, and the Rouge et Noir is only 6000 points/night.

Makes Rome look more attractive. :)

Wow!

What happened here? The last time I checked, I think all the Rome hotels were in the 25,000 - 40,000 points/night range. Both the Nova Domus and the Bolivar are now 8000 points/night, and the Rouge et Noir is only 6000 points/night.

Makes Rome look more attractive. :)

Shhhhh, lets keep it quiet until Wednesday!

Wow!

What happened here? The last time I checked, I think all the Rome hotels were in the 25,000 - 40,000 points/night range. Both the Nova Domus and the Bolivar are now 8000 points/night, and the Rouge et Noir is only 6000 points/night.

Makes Rome look more attractive. :)

I stayed at the Bolivar a couple of years ago with my family for 25,000 miles and I thought it was a good deal (a well-located 3-star in an expensive city). At 8,000 points it's a CRAZY good deal and YOU would be crazy to pay significantly more to stay anywhere else! They even feed you breakfast for that price.

I don't know about the Nova Domus but, for the average visitor, wouldn't the location be significantly less convenient?

Europe is a very much a crapshoot for Choice. I recently scored a similarly amazing deal in Stockholm (10,000 points for the Sign, a great 4-star hotel including buffet breakfast), and a good deal in Paris (the Andre Latin, a well located 3-star, but not as good as the Bolivar). But I'm next headed to the south of France and the Choice selections are, um, terrible.

Thanks we'll be there in a few weeks. A little nervous about the Bolivar.
I'll report back.

I'm wondering if the Inter Continental is a better choice at $240 All in.
240 dollars, not euros.

Thanks we'll be there in a few weeks. A little nervous about the Bolivar.
I'll report back.

I'm wondering if the Inter Continental is a better choice at $240 All in.
240 dollars, not euros.

I just cancelled the Intercontinental at 40,000 points for an 8,000 point per night stay at the Bolivar. Just looking at the thumbs up icon on tripadvisor, the Bolivar has a slight edge over the Intercontinental and with the Free Breakfast, it makes it a no brainer IMO.

I stayed at Nova Domus about 5-6 years ago on Priceline NYOP reservation. It was very basic in most every way and the location was anything but great -- not only because it involved us walking several minutes to a subway (not sure if that was the closest subway or not) in order to get around to see things but there wasn't much in the way of choices for good restaurants around there in so little as I looked). The staff were neither good nor bad, just sort of there; but they handled all our requests professionally and adequately.

It was sufficient enough and the neighborhood ok enough that I would probably consider it again for 8k points per night (as I'd get my breakfast's worth out of it), but it really did have me feeling like this is how I might have stayed if doing a post-high school European trip with buddies on a rather limited budget but not needing to "hostel it".

The hotel did get some organized tour buses that do come around just outside to pick up guests who want a couple of those Cityrama-type tours, so it isn't entirely off the tourist track.

Thanks we'll be there in a few weeks. A little nervous about the Bolivar.
I'll report back.

I'm wondering if the Inter Continental is a better choice at $240 All in.
240 dollars, not euros.

What exactly are you "nervous" about?

As I mentioned earlier, I've stayed at this property for a few nights on my last trip to Rome. I consider myself somewhat of a "hotel guru," as I've stayed in several hundred hotels over the years all around the world, from 1 star to 5 star.

Based on this experience, I can assure you that there is nothing to be nervous about -- unless you never stay at properties below 4 star and this lack of "luxury" would be a problem for you. If you NEED a 4-star hotel, you should not stay at the Bolivar. It just isn't that. It provides "Comfort Inn level" comfort, albeit in a small mid-priced European-hotel way (even though the regular rates there aren't mid-priced!). And it has great location.

The reason to stay is that, at 8000 points, you're paying about $35/night (including breakfast!) to stay in a well located decent hotel in Rome (assuming you bought points from DailyGetaways). It's a bargain of epic proportions. I don't think it will be as comfortable as the Intercontinental. But you ain't paying $240 either. :)

Did I miss something about Italy Choice Hotels having this mega deal on points stays?:confused: I mean, dang, I was just going to Rome a few days early before boarding a ship and now I'm thinking, what the hell, do Venice at 8000 points, and maybe Naples and Ischia.:cool:

Did I miss something about Italy Choice Hotels having this mega deal on points stays?:confused: I mean, dang, I was just going to Rome a few days early before boarding a ship and now I'm thinking, what the hell, do Venice at 8000 points, and maybe Naples and Ischia.:cool:
Each hotel is priced independent of others.

Nobody here said that every hotel in Italy is 8000 points. This "mega deal" mentionied in this thread is comparing a specific hotel's cost on money versus the cost on points if the points were purchased during the recent DiscoverAmerica point purchase promotion.

Also, at Choice, hotels change point amounts every couple months. So just because a hotel is 8000 points now or in the near future doesn't mean it'll necessarily be at the same level year-round.

Each hotel is priced independent of others.

Nobody here said that every hotel in Italy is 8000 points. This "mega deal" mentionied in this thread is comparing a specific hotel's cost on money versus the cost on points if the points were purchased during the recent DiscoverAmerica point purchase promotion.

Also, at Choice, hotels change point amounts every couple months. So just because a hotel is 8000 points now or in the near future doesn't mean it'll necessarily be at the same level year-round.

Well, before I wrote the post, I checked almost every hotel in Italy and they were all 8000 points including the one in Venice, which is an absolute steal. Some were 6000 points. BTW, I never implied that the deal was good year round, but it sure is in late June when I will be there. I just rechecked on the Choice web site and every single hotel they have in Italy is 8000 points or less. I bought the max amount of points on the Discover America deal and am in the process of cancelling Priority Club and SPG points stays to take advantage of this deal. :)

I bought the max amount of points on the Discover America deal and am in the process of cancelling Priority Club and SPG points stays to take advantage of this deal. :)

Yeah, you've hit the Jackpot. I'm jealous. :)

If you have the points, you really HAVE to stay in these properties right now. Heck, if transatlantic airfares weren't so high for summer -- and Italy so hot -- I'd book a trip just to take advantage of these deals.

Yeah, you've hit the Jackpot. I'm jealous. :)

If you have the points, you really HAVE to stay in these properties right now. Heck, if transatlantic airfares weren't so high for summer -- and Italy so hot -- I'd book a trip just to take advantage of these deals.

Thanks for the encouragement. The thing is, I am taking my girlfriend on a Greek cruise out of Rome. She has lifetime free pass status on Delta and I am added for the other pass. She gets it for 2 people. Right now, the best seat availability in Business class from Atl is into Milan. So the plan is to go about a week early, stay in Milan at the Choice hotel there for one day, then take the train to Venice for 2 or 3 days, then onto Rome for 2 or 3 days. All cities have Choice available for 8000 points. We may add some days on the back end as well, if these point rates hold. At these rates with breakfast, and as high as the Euro is, it is an amazing opportunity.

Thanks for the encouragement. The thing is, I am taking my girlfriend on a Greek cruise out of Rome. She has lifetime free pass status on Delta and I am added for the other pass. She gets it for 2 people. Right now, the best seat availability in Business class from Atl is into Milan. So the plan is to go about a week early, stay in Milan at the Choice hotel there for one day, then take the train to Venice for 2 or 3 days, then onto Rome for 2 or 3 days. All cities have Choice available for 8000 points. We may add some days on the back end as well, if these point rates hold. At these rates with breakfast, and as high as the Euro is, it is an amazing opportunity.

Yeah, I know the feeling. Choice saved me a ton of money on a similar Stockholm deal (if you think the Euro is pricey, try buying stuff in Krona!).

I didn't realize that they had a decent Venice property (near St. Marks, 4-star tripadvisor reviews). It's a crazy-good opportunity!

Yeah, I know the feeling. Choice saved me a ton of money on a similar Stockholm deal (if you think the Euro is pricey, try buying stuff in Krona!).

I didn't realize that they had a decent Venice property (near St. Marks, 4-star tripadvisor reviews). It's a crazy-good opportunity!

Actually, I did stay once at the Choice Clarion Drott Hotel in Karlstad, Sweden, and still have some Krona's left over. That hotel is also showing 8000:cool: points which is equally amazing.

Actually, I did stay once at the Choice Clarion Drott Hotel in Karlstad, Sweden, and still have some Krona's left over. That hotel is also showing 8000:cool: points which is equally amazing.

Some of the Clarion hotels in the region include not only a free breakfast but also a free dinner buffet (although some may charge even for non-alcoholic drinks in the evening unless your drink of choice is coffee/tea/hot water).

With the SEK being nearly 10% stronger now than it was at the start of the year against the USD, those meals are becoming more valuable than before, along with the points.

Some of the Clarion hotels in the region include not only a free breakfast but also a free dinner buffet (although some may charge even for non-alcoholic drinks in the evening unless your drink of choice is coffee/tea/hot water).

With the SEK being nearly 10% stronger now than it was at the start of the year against the USD, those meals are becoming more valuable than before, along with the points.

Dang, I forgot that the Clarion Drott also had the dinner buffet. I remember that they also let their employees eat off the buffet, which I thought was really nice perk. I put my Choice Visa in the drawer a year ago, but after seeing these deals, it's back in my wallet.

Dang, I forgot that the Clarion Drott also had the dinner buffet. I remember that they also let their employees eat off the buffet, which I thought was really nice perk. I put my Choice Visa in the drawer a year ago, but after seeing these deals, it's back in my wallet.

Wow -- dinner, too, for 8000 Choice points?

That would be incredibly useful, because eating dinner out in Sweeden is mind-numbingly expensive.

Wow -- dinner, too, for 8000 Choice points?

That would be incredibly useful, because eating dinner out in Sweeden is mind-numbingly expensive.

Yep, Just checked Drotts own web site, www.drotthotel.se and they are still offering the FREE dinner buffet^ (click on english, then click "stay at Drott" for info) as well as free breakfast. It had been 7 years since I stayed there and wanted to make sure I wasn't saying something that was not true anymore. After paying $11 for beers in Norway, I think it is on par with Sweden for needing big bucks to live there.

Yep, Just checked Drotts own web site, www.drotthotel.se and they are still offering the FREE dinner buffet^ (click on english, then click "stay at Drott" for info) as well as free breakfast. It had been 7 years since I stayed there and wanted to make sure I wasn't saying something that was not true anymore. After paying $11 for beers in Norway, I think it is on par with Sweden for needing big bucks to live there.

Norway is more expensive than Sweden. It's why those resident in Norway come over here (in Sweden today) to party, shop and who knows what else. I blame Sweden's surrender of Norway (and the source of petrodollars) on this situation. :D

Norway is more expensive than Sweden. It's why those resident in Norway come over here (in Sweden today) to party, shop and who knows what else. I blame Sweden's surrender of Norway (and the source of petrodollars) on this situation. :D

Yes, on my recent visit to Sweden, several locals told me the Norway was significantly more expensive (usually in the context of "You're from America? I'm sorry my country is so expensive for you -- but it could be worse, you could be in Norway!").

Of course, thanks to these crazy loyalty travel deals that are much more prevalent in the USA, savvy American travellers can still visit these countries for less than the folks with the strong currencies can visit the USA.

But they probably feel better about their "wealth" during their visits. :)

Hey , how did "my" ;) thread get high jacked?:confused:

I wanted to know about Bolivar OR Nova Domus?

Meanwhile Nova Domus is out.
No longer a choice property.

I had booked both and had to talk to customer care -- not regular service center to cancel my reservation!--

Meanwhile Nova Domus is out.
No longer a choice property.Where did you hear this?

It's still listed on their website, and I've seen no indication that it's going away.

I would be careful about currently staying at the Bolivar. My wife and I had an award stay for earlier this week and when we arrived they said some of the rooms were having problems with the a/c and electrical. I was a bit skeptical, they might have been overbooked. We were moved to another hotel less than a mile away.

This bait and switch trick has been posted on trip adviser by more than one poster.

We stayed three nights in perhaps the best room available --- I slipped $20 Euros to front desk clerk ---and the Bolivar is not that nice. The first room offered was a renovated room and it still was horrible.

Having the top room made the stay tenable (barely)

If we had gotten one of the first two floors ( i.e.un renovated rooms, we would have left).

You are crazy to pay 25,000 points for this property.
Even more crazy is that they actually get some Europeans to pay $240 Euros for this hovel!!!

We heard this more than once at check out. People actually pay this!

The website is not an accurate representation of the hotel.

It is an old tired two star if you have a nice room.

We only paid 8,000 points for the room at the Bolivar. The hotel which they moved us to appeared to be much better, the room was very nice, although they were in the process of renovating other parts of the hotel.

I contacted Choice upon our return and the refunded the 8,000 points to our account, so it turned out to be a free stay.

This bait and switch trick has been posted on trip adviser by more than one poster.

We stayed three nights in perhaps the best room available --- I slipped $20 Euros to front desk clerk ---and the Bolivar is not that nice. The first room offered was a renovated room and it still was horrible.

Having the top room made the stay tenable (barely)

If we had gotten one of the first two floors ( i.e.un renovated rooms, we would have left).

You are crazy to pay 25,000 points for this property.
Even more crazy is that they actually get some Europeans to pay $240 Euros for this hovel!!!

We heard this more than once at check out. People actually pay this!

The website is not an accurate representation of the hotel.

It is an old tired two star if you have a nice room.

You sound melodramatic. A hovel? Really?

It's a mediocre 3 star hotel with a good location. Paying 240 euros would, indeed, be nuts. But paying 25,000 miles (accumulated, say, at Discover America prices, is entirely reasonable. I did it. Where else are you going to stay at that price in Rome (the equivalent of less than $100)?

My "hovel" comment referred to the price point of 240 Euros.

At 8000 points , it was thirty bucks with breakfast!
But forget what you pay, we did not like the hotel
I would not pay 25,000 points.
Look at what you did in Scandinavia at 10,000 points!

I would actually pay for those hotels!
They are lovely.

At 25,000 points, I would try for a Preferred hotel property for more points.


BTW-- The hotel was horrible staff. They acted like it was an imposition when we asked a question. And they were unacknowledgable too boot.

(The preferred properties in Florence and Milan both had a great , helpful staff.)

We were always dissuaded from taking the Metro.

We saw very little access to the train.
THe location is CENTRAL, yes -- but not really WALKABLE.

We took a lot of short, inexpensive cab rides.

Fortunately Rome was reasonable for cabs compared to Florence and Milan which were really expensive.

Rome cabs were about the price of New york, even with the poor euro to dollar rate.

If you don't mind paying for reasonably priced cabs the location is very good. ten minute scenic ride to most places. If you walk to walk, it is long walks considering you will walk for a few hours upon getting to your destination

BTW- the immediate neighborhood had all the charm of a strip shopping mall.
Forget cute cafes and charm. or authentic restaurants.

We did see a Burger King franchise within a mere 5 minute walk if you miss the familiarity and comfort of home.

I just returned from a 8000 per night point stay at the Bolivar. I think it is an excellent location as it is a 10 minute walk to Trevi Fountains. It is quiet as it is not on a street. They serve free breakfast on the top floor with German made China. The rooms are different and as expected, we were given a non renovated room. But, as luck would have it, the air conditioning did not work on the 2nd day of our stay, so we were moved to a beautiful room. The staff were all friendly, but could be a little more service oriented. There is an excellent restaurant right across from the front door of the hotel. Like others have stated, it is not really a 4 star property, 3 stars at best, but I found it charming and would stay here again in a heart beat for that point deal.

It's interesting how different people can have different impressions of the same hotel.

I do think folks more inclined to walk 15 to 20 minutes to various sights will like this hotel more than folks who think that's too far to walk. As noted, the hotel is central, but you're not going to get "anywhere" in 10 minutes. No viable Metro access, and it's hard for foreigners to get comfortable with taking buses. Personally, I thought Rome cab prices were high -- we took one from the train station to the hotel, and then concluded we were better off walking!

At 8000 points, this is essentially a "free" room in central Rome and unless you're really not inclined to "slum it" at a 3-star hotel (that gives you free breakfast), it represents an extraordinary deal.

I do think folks more inclined to walk 15 to 20 minutes to various sights will like this hotel more than folks who think that's too far to walk. As noted, the hotel is central, but you're not going to get "anywhere" in 10 minutes. No viable Metro access, and it's hard for foreigners to get comfortable with taking buses.
Well, not all the sights have viable Metro access either! Anyone who thinks they can see all the sights in Rome by just constantly hopping onto Metro will be unpleasantly surpirsed. Anyone who just decides to walk all day will be very pleasantly surprised.

There are some cities in Europe where most of the sights are near Metro stations, but that's not in cities where the moment they try digging they have to stop because they unearth yet another valuable 2000 year old site that was buried. Preserving the history is more important to Rome than digging underground tunnels in every direction.

The metro can be useful if you want to, say, go out to see the aqueducts on the outskirts of town, but guess what, the metro only takes you to the general area of the aqueducts, you have to get out and walk quite a bit then too to actually see the aqueducts well.

It's interesting how different people can have different impressions of the same hotel.

I do think folks more inclined to walk 15 to 20 minutes to various sights will like this hotel more than folks who think that's too far to walk. As noted, the hotel is central, but you're not going to get "anywhere" in 10 minutes. No viable Metro access, and it's hard for foreigners to get comfortable with taking buses. Personally, I thought Rome cab prices were high -- we took one from the train station to the hotel, and then concluded we were better off walking!

At 8000 points, this is essentially a "free" room in central Rome and unless you're really not inclined to "slum it" at a 3-star hotel (that gives you free breakfast), it represents an extraordinary deal.

I totally agree with your assessment except for "not going to get anywhere in 10 minutes". I timed my walk from the hotel to Trevi Fountains. It took exactly 10 minutes by walking out the front door of the hotel and going down the steps towards the back of the hotel, taking a right on the first street and then a 2nd right which is a nice restaurant lined almost traffic free street with about 5 bridges above the street used only as pedestrian for apartments. I love to walk which is why I guess I liked this hotel more than some other posters.

I have a question about the Hotel Bolivar and I figured I would ask it on this thread instead of starting a new one.

Does anyone know how suitable this hotel would be for an elderly person with mobility issues. My father is thinking about going on a cruise with us and wants to spend a few days in Rome. Since this hotel is currently offered on the cheap I thought I might pick up his hotel for him on points. He can walk short distances, but for longer distances uses a a mobility chair, which is a wheelchair with small wheels on the back (these fold easily and are easy to carry around).

Anyway, you get my drift. Does Rome have curb cuts? Does this hotel have a proper elevator or lots of stairs? Or should we look for a more centrally located hotel, although it seems to me that no hotel is going to be central to everything.

Does this hotel have a proper elevator or lots of stairs?

It has an elevator, and the only possible issue would be getting to the breakfast room on the top floor. There might be a step or two up. I really can't remember because we always took the stairs.

I have a question about the Hotel Bolivar and I figured I would ask it on this thread instead of starting a new one.

Does anyone know how suitable this hotel would be for an elderly person with mobility issues. My father is thinking about going on a cruise with us and wants to spend a few days in Rome. Since this hotel is currently offered on the cheap I thought I might pick up his hotel for him on points. He can walk short distances, but for longer distances uses a a mobility chair, which is a wheelchair with small wheels on the back (these fold easily and are easy to carry around).

Anyway, you get my drift. Does Rome have curb cuts? Does this hotel have a proper elevator or lots of stairs? Or should we look for a more centrally located hotel, although it seems to me that no hotel is going to be central to everything.

The hotel has a very small elevator, not unusual for European cities. I think the elevator might hold two people but not all of their luggage if they pack heavily. I remember the hallways as somewhat wider than I have found in other European hotels, so more accessible in a mobility chair, but I wouldn't focus just on the ability to transit between floors. Getting through the hotel might be a bit of a challenge although I'm not sure this is any different than it would be in many European hotels.

Getting around Rome may be a different story. I don't remember curb cuts on the Via Nazionale, which is the main thoroughfare closest to the Bolivar, but I wasn't looking for them either so they may be there. I think European cities are attuned to the issues for those facing accessibility problems, but the cities were laid out before these became a more pressing concern.

When you consider Rome as the original "City on Seven Hills," you may get a better appreciation for the problem presented. Think of San Francisco, a city highly attuned to these issues: you can make buildings accessible, but it's hard to make a city full of steep hills equally accessible. A mobility chair may help but can't easily overcome topography.

I am not very familiar with all of the hotel options in Rome, but from my casual walking around the city over the course of two days, I got the impression that there are probably no hotels that would make accessibility a snap. I think Rome is one of those places that you face the challenges because of the spectacular surroundings.

Anyway, you get my drift. Does Rome have curb cuts?

In my Rome as a tourist experience, no. And the curbs are quite high compared to US cities. The street is an option, but the streets are paved with large square cut stones that are pretty jarring.

On the other hand, we went all around central Rome on foot/wheel, and people were happy to help pop my chair up and down the curbs.

Thanks for your help! Sound like no problem with the hotel, but we may need to look at a full wheelchair to get up and down curbs and so forth. Dad can navigate with a cane or even without a cane, but he's just unsure on his feet and can't handle distances. He's 88, soon to be 89. I'm sure many of you have been there.

Thanks for your help! Sound like no problem with the hotel, but we may need to look at a full wheelchair to get up and down curbs and so forth. Dad can navigate with a cane or even without a cane, but he's just unsure on his feet and can't handle distances. He's 88, soon to be 89. I'm sure many of you have been there.

Someone will be with your dad to help him get around, right? Rome is definitely not a great city for the disabled (or even for folks pushing baby strollers). Doable, but not great. I don't think there are any particular disability issues at this hotel, though. It's more like the issue would be "the whole city."

Someone will be with your dad to help him get around, right? Rome is definitely not a great city for the disabled (or even for folks pushing baby strollers). Doable, but not great. I don't think there are any particular disability issues at this hotel, though. It's more like the issue would be "the whole city."
Oh yes, one or two grown sons, perhaps teen-aged or grown grandchildren.

Oh yes, one or two grown sons, perhaps teen-aged or grown grandchildren.

Then it should work fine. Just see how it goes, and adjust your days accordingly. You obviously might want to take more taxis for your dad.

If he can navigate with a cane, has he tried a walker? That might be easier to navigate than a chair. There are plenty of places to sit and take a breather

Update on my stay at the Bolivar last month. The hotel is old, 2.5*. I woke up in the morning to find a few small bugs coming out of cracks next to the bath. Breakfast includes some scrambled eggs, cold cuts, and pastries. The place is worth the points, but don't expect anything special.

There was an old guy (Marco?) at the front desk who spoke especially poor English. I asked him for restaurant recc and he pulled out a restaurant business card and wrote his name on them. I asked him for some other reccs, to places he would go himself. Lo and behold, he pulls out more restaurant biz cards and patiently writes his name on each one. Don't listen to him! I thought this was funny and amateurish--I've never seen anything like this at better hotels. Whoever stays here next time should explore the full extent of Marco's pimping services.

If you do find yourself with an early morning flight, stay at the Choice hotel FCO airport. The place is brand new and kind of like a Hyatt Place.

Update on my stay at the Bolivar last month. The hotel is old, 2.5*. I woke up in the morning to find a few small bugs coming out of cracks next to the bath. Breakfast includes some scrambled eggs, cold cuts, and pastries. The place is worth the points, but don't expect anything special.


Totally agree but no found no bugs, for the points and location well worth 8,000