My wife and I are going to Italy for a week and will spend a few days in Rome. We don't mind spending money on hotels (e.g. we recently spent time in several Amans, the George V Paris, the Raffles) but only if it gives us something special. If not we'll gladly stay somewhere simple and spend our money on other things - we don't have unlimited funds.

Looking at Rome, Hotel de Russie seems to be the recommended hotel (although some prefer the St Regis or others). We can get a Virtuoso rate for just over 500 euros (3 night package). However, comments on various travel forums are mixed (e.g. Tripadvisor) with people compaining it is 'old in a mouldy sort of way'. Now, I don't mind old - being European I am quite happy not to have the highest water pressure or quaint room layouts for example, as long as that is compensated by a concomitant old world 'charm' or whatever label you want to apply. If it doesn't have that it's just old.

I guess this is a roundabout way of asking - for a young couple who do not have a huge amount of money, are we making our stay in Rome considerably more special by staying here or would we be better of saving our money and spend it on a hotel elsewhere where we would get better value?

Thanks for your advice

I have heard wonderful things about the hotel. Moreover, the location is great. Go for it!!^

Hotel de Russie and Hotel Eden seem to be the most popular on FT for more contemporary properties.

Then Hassler and St Regis for more traditional properties.

They're all Virtuoso, and the Starwoods are AMEX FHR. If you had SPG or IC status that might also be a deciding factor.

Always take TripAdvisor reviews with a grain of salt. Same with short FT trip reports.

Fliar, it is beautiful and wonderfully situated in Rome. I don't understand how it could necessarily be considered old as it exists in its present incarnation only since 2000. It very much is the place to play every negotiation card in your playbook. I would suggest opening with "Mrs Fliar seems to have her heart set on a room with a Roman bath, is there anything you can do". Might not hurt to go in a level above the least-expensive room if at all possible. The place is dead posh, but in a good way, and if you are going to spend three days there, drinking coffee in the morning and campari in the late afternoon in the courtyard is sublime. 2:1 odds Mrs Fliar will greatly approve. g'luck

Hotel de Russie is worth it. Stay there.

You might also consider one of the hotels represented by JDB... These are very nice four-to-five star hotels, perhaps not the opulence of some of the Virtuoso or FHR properties but you'll save significantly on the rate. They include Splendide Royal, Barocco, Mascagni, Stendhal, and D'Inghilterra. I recently booked clients at the Splendide Royal ... and I have heard good things about all of these hotels from other agents in my firm.

We stayed there last November and it was a disappointment. Our room (823?) had a very large terrace, but the room itself was small for a suite and the bathroom was very tiny, with no place to put our toiletries.

We had also booked a regular room (requested two twin beds) for my son and his coach. The room was made up as a king bed, and the hotel management essentially refused to move the beds apart and remake them. It took multiple telephone calls back to the US to our travel agent until they were willing to make the change. The general manager of the hotel finally came to personally apologize to us bearing gifts (a bottle of Proseco and fruit) but we were quite annoyed by that time.

For more than $1500 (I don't remember exactly how much each room was) per night, I was truly disappointed and won't stay there again. Although the lobby is very chic and is usually filled with "the beautiful people," you cannot compare it to the George V.

Luxury Link offers a 4-night "bid now" package (incl. breakfast, one dinner for 2, and spa access) for a deluxe room at this property for $1,775.

I spent 2 nights at the de Russie over Thanksgiving week and loved it. The hotel decor is great. Modern but somehow still has that old Roman feel. Everyone from the bell boys to front desk to concierge was fantastic. Very warm and friendly.

My room was on the smallish side but I had an enormous bathroom. It even had a small terrace that you could go out on overlooking the gardens.

The location is great. Close to everything.

I would highly recommend the hotel.

Generally speaking Fliar, the hotel's promotional rates are better than the Virtuoso / FHR contracted rates. A good Virtuoso agent will know the property well enough to still be able to offer the upgrade at time of check in.

I am now personally suggesting Portrait Suites for summer 07

Hotel de Russie was also an option for me when deciding where to book in Rome last October. I heard a few mixed reviews about de Russie so I decided to stay at Portrait Suites instead and am glad that I did.

The hotel opened in June or July and it's a terrific property for the Lungarno Hotels group. Location is fantastic...right by the Spanish Steps, at the corner of Via Bocca di Leone and Via Condotti...next to Salvatore Ferragamo Uomo and across from Hermes.

If you're looking for special, intimate luxury, then consider that Portrait Suites has only 14 suites. I felt like I was staying in a friend's Roman townhouse. Service is terrific and the staff are gracious, attentive, welcoming and make every effort to ensure your privacy.

12/19/06: Correction 14 not 19 suites.

Thanks so much for these tips - this is so helpful. Hotel Splendido looks nice but at 500 euros it's the same price for our dates (June). Will definitely look at Portrait Suites...

Thanks again!

We decided to stay at the Portrait Suites and are very grateful for this recommendation here on FT (I doubt we would have found it otherwise). This is a special place that makes you feel as if you actually live in Rome. The rooms, service and location are brilliant. The rooftop bar (now fully open) is a heavenly place, and extremely private (only 16 rooms in the 'hotel').

This was a different kind of experience, and one where we felt we got what we paid for. We did look in the Hassler and the St Regis, and although I am sure they are fine hotels, we are ever so grateful not to have stayed there - they were just nice hotels. Portrait Suites is something special.

It is not perfect mind you - the breakfast was small and not special, the concierge service was poor (but I have heard more positive comments from others) and charging for internet usage in such an expensive place always gets me riled up. On the whole, though, I don't think I would stay anywhere else in Rome.

Thanks again to those who responded to our OP!

Glad that you enjoyed Portrait Suites. After my stay in October, I too wouldn't stay anywhere else in Rome.

Sorry to hear that your experience with concierge service was poor; mine was fantastic.

The Resident Manager has done a great job. I wonder if Lungarno Hotels periodically shifts some staff to other Lungarno properties. Ironically, prior to my stay at Portrait Suites, I was at Gallery Hotel Art in Florence and the service there was mediocre.

I would not recommend staying at the Russie. My family had just arrived from the Splendido, and what a dissapointment this was in comparison. First, our rooms were not ready when we arrived, even though the hotel said they would be, and then they made us wait for 4 hours, without even offering us water. When we did get our rooms they were nothing special and were very loud (although I think the construction should be done by now). The front desk was rude and the concierge was worthless. The location is great though. I would stay at the Hassler instead.