mattrod

@PWMTrav & @Perche - Thanks so much! Really great info esp. about the touristy madness around the Inn at Forum. We'll take a final closer look at Hotel Raphael and Indigo, but it sounds like we can't go really wrong with either decision. Thanks again!

muji

Was considering this hotel - until I saw the overwhelming, and even creepy, artwork that is in the rooms, covering whole walls over beds and in bathrooms.

PWMTrav

They went a little nuts in some regards, definitely.

Perche

That's a great way of putting it. It's not so much the homogeneity of a chain, as it certainly won't look like the one in East Pittsburgh, but all of the members of the chain have that ultra sleek look to it. Instead of a sculpture, the one in Rome has half of a Fiat sticking out of the wall, and and pictures that are modernist interpretations of Roman art.

It's a great hotel, that "chain" like modernist theme may not make them homogeneous as staying at a Westin or a Hilton in Italy, but it's not a traditional hotel designed to give the feel of ancient Rome. OP would be happy there because of the quality. He can go to the Indigo on the lower east side Manhattan, or to the one in Brooklyn in NYC where he lives, or to the one on Long Island, and see if he likes that vibe, and if that's what he'd want someone to experience who was visiting NYC from Italy.

It's one of the better hotels, trendy, chic. It's the opposite from the Inn at the Forum, where ancient Roman crypts and ruins are physically part of the hotel. They are all good, I this hope this has given the OP a good sense of the pro's and con's of each. He certainly did his homework in finding three great places.

obscure2k

I just looked at the website. I think I would feel as if I were sleeping in a Hard Rock Cafe.

mattrod

We like the modern themed hotels so the Indigo sounds like it's the best fit. Before we make the final decision however, any additional insight into the Hotel Raphael? Raphael as @Perche mentioned is the best located. Beyond that is there anything else about the hotel specifically (whether it's good or bad) that would help us make the final decision?

We aren't opposed to quirky hotels, but definitely like the modern comforts. The Hotel Raphael was listed in Conde Nast's reader survey last year as the #8 hotel in Rome (for whatever that is worth), which is how it first appeared on our radar.

mmack

We've stayed at the Babuino 181 near the Piazza Popolo and loved it. Beautiful design, comfortable room and the location near the Borghese gardens is great.

In July 2015 we had the Patrisi Suite, which came with a HUGE rooftop terrace all our own, views over Rome and the Gardens! Check it out!!!

muji

Around $800/night. Out of my price range.

desi

Bit OT,

If one needs hotel very close to Termini for two back-to-back morning to evening day trips on train out of Rome termini, which 3* or 4*hotel is recommended? (criteria: bug free clean room with A/C and being able to walk safely to hotel around 10 pm)

There so many of them and reviews on TA dont make anyone stick out as obvious choice. Hence the request for suggestions here.

KLouis

Haven't stayed in a hotel in this area for many years, therefore I can't recommend any one specifically. But what I can do is tell you that the area is safe even after 10 pm. There may be some people loitering atht look dangerous, but a) the area is absolutely full with all kinds of Italian police forces, and b) you never read about muggings in the local news pages of the newspapers. Finally, 10 pm is still early

PS There may be an occasional pickpocket, see the dedicated thread!

JBD

Your question is completely OT!

What is your budget and when is your trip? (Prices will vary with the time of year, and of course they'll also vary depending on how much of the hotel is already sold for your stay).

And are you using the 3* and 4* designations in the Italian sense? Or perhaps do you mean them in a North American sense?

(This info will enable posters to make the most appropriate recommendations.)

desi

Thanks for responses. Apology for not being very specific.

Trip is in upcoming weeks.
Was using 3*/4* in American sense. A solo traveller just needing a place close to train (just one piece of luggage and small backpack) station. Just needing a place where room/shower is clean/bugfree and probability of theft from room is very low. Budget is whatever is resonable to pay to get that kind of room as close to train station as possible in mid April. (i am going through tripadvisor and cant seem to find an obvious choice)

Thanks for help.

JBD

While you wait for posters to chime in with their first hand suggestions, thought I should share some bookmarks. (I haven't stayed at the following places but had found them when doing travel planning research for friends). You've probably come across these first two:

UNA Hotel Roma
Official Site: http://www.unahotels.it/en/una_hotel...oma_hotels.htm
TripAdvisor: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re...ome_Lazio.html
Location on Google: https://goo.gl/maps/ZDAEQw36yCG2

iQ Hotel
Official Site: http://www.iqhotelroma.it/en/
TripAdvisor: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re...ome_Lazio.html
Location on Google: https://goo.gl/maps/2YtSizGqdkB2

This next choice actually doesn't meet your criteria of being really close to Termini. This place is actually really close to the Cavour Metro stop. Termini is not only the train station, but it also houses the two main subway lines, Line A and Line B. You could access Line B at Termini and go one stop to Cavour and be very close to this next place. (That way you won't have to worry about the immediate area outside of Termini, because you'll avoid it completely). And if by chance you'd enjoy being able to sample a little bit of Rome when you return from your days' outtings, this choice will have you in Monti. (This thread is a good primer on Monti: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/italy...one-monti.html)

Inn Urbe
Official site: http://www.innurbe.it/EN/index.asp
TripAdvisor: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re...ome_Lazio.html
Location on Google: https://goo.gl/maps/nTUoKC68NB22

And Inn Urbe is a B&B type place, so again, not what you were asking for! But when googling it I saw terrific reviews for it on a bunch of booking engines (Trivago, Booking.com, Kayak), and my friends like modern style places so I suggested it to them - and figured I should share it here too. (My friends haven't made any decisions yet, there trip isn't until next spring).

Good luck with your trip planning!

VivoPerLei

I used to stay at the UNA until they raised the rates well past my reimbursement limit. It's a very nice, modern hotel, close to the Termini. Last time I stayed at the Hotel Columbia. Maybe one step lower than the UNA, but more affordable and perfectly adequate for an overnight.

TravelingNomads

Family of 4 traveling in Nov. We are considering the Albergo Cesari or the Palace Navona di Charme. Both are @ $450 for 3 nights and include breakfast/minibar. The Palace is throwing in a massage for 2. The Albergo looks to have a nicer breakfast/view, at least from the pictures we've seen.

Which would you guys choose out of these two hotels or is there another in a similar price range that you would recommend? Thanks!