2025 is the Catholic Jubilee Year and the Vatican anticipates that as many as 32 million pilgrims may visit Rome during the year, so hotel accommodations are at a premium.

I've reserved rooms at the end of April and again in mid-May at a small boutique hotel, Hotel Villa Pinciana, for an average cost of just under $400 a night; that is more or less the going price for a four-star hotel in Rome that time of year. The Hotel Villa Pinciana is a refurbished palace located near Via Veneto and within walking distance of many of the tourist attractions. A big plus for us is that it is right around the corner from the Avis/Budget Rome city center location.

By comparison, rooms at the nearby Rome Marriott Grand Hotel, InterContinental Ambasciatori Palace and the Westin Excelsior start respectively at $760, $725 and $610 a night. I have no idea about points redemption.

As far as visiting the Vatican, as you mentioned elsewhere, you should book your tickets ASAP directly through the Basilica of Saint Peter Official site. The site is funky, to put it mildly, and it can take several tries for availability to display for your desired dates. Tickets for the Vatican Museum and Gardens should be booked through the Vatican Museums Online Ticket Office.