Rome: General Discussion Thread (Where should I stay? Which hotel is better? etc.)
May 31, 2006, 11:38 am
#121
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: BA, Delta, Starwood, Hilton, Hyatt,
Posts: 409
The Cavalieri is a wonderful hotel and since you're Diamond you will most likely enjoy a fabulous view of the city on the Club floor. That said, we enjoyed seeing the city of Rome so much more when we have stayed at the Intercontinental. Being within walking distance of so many marvelous things to see and do is a huge plus and really does change the experience of being in Rome.
P.S. I have not stayed at the Excelsior, but have had tea there on the way to somewhere else. Quite elegant and I think would be a lovely place to stay.
P.S. I have not stayed at the Excelsior, but have had tea there on the way to somewhere else. Quite elegant and I think would be a lovely place to stay.
Jun 2, 2006, 5:17 am
#122
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 286
Originally Posted by qeialto
Living in Rome I can tell you that the Westin is more popular and better located. But you have to go to the restaurant in the Hilton, called "La Pergola" that is one of the 3 best restaurant in Italy!!!!
Thank you for the advice. I have read great things about this restaurant. what kind of bill should we expect there? Is it possible to keep it under $300?
Jun 2, 2006, 6:31 am
#123
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Seattle, WA, USA
Programs: AS MVPG, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 983
Why not stay at both?
If you are willing to break up your stays and make the move you could stay at both and find out for yourself. In my opinion, the Cavalieri is beautiful with a great lounge with free food, rooms I would consider average at best even with a Diamond upgrade. Platinums at the Excelsior should get an upgrade to a room or suite overlooking via veneto. Two very different properties. If you want the quaintness and old school luxury in middle of Rome feel, go Excelsior. While the food and beverages at the Cavalieri are a nice touch, who goes to Rome to eat in the executive lounge? the food is nothing compared to what you can discover on your own. If it were my choice, I would spend 1 night at Cavalieri and 2 at Excelsior.
Jun 2, 2006, 8:38 am
#124
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Chapel Hill, NC - UA Nobody (sigh)/0.925MM, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 3,510
Originally Posted by NotSoFrequentTraveler
Thank you for the advice. I have read great things about this restaurant. what kind of bill should we expect there? Is it possible to keep it under $300?
The wine list in particular is outrageous. For example, a Muscadet Sevre et Maine that here would retail for maybe $13 was over $70.
And I didn't think the food was that exceptional. Perhaps YMMV.
Enjoy Rome!
Jun 2, 2006, 5:57 pm
#125
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SFO
Programs: SPG Gold
Posts: 32
Originally Posted by Chapel Hill Guy
I've posted before that I think La Pergola is overrated and overpriced. Just IMHO.
The wine list in particular is outrageous. For example, a Muscadet Sevre et Maine that here would retail for maybe $13 was over $70.
And I didn't think the food was that exceptional. Perhaps YMMV.
Enjoy Rome!
The wine list in particular is outrageous. For example, a Muscadet Sevre et Maine that here would retail for maybe $13 was over $70.
And I didn't think the food was that exceptional. Perhaps YMMV.
Enjoy Rome!
Jun 2, 2006, 10:06 pm
#126
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: bay area, ca
Programs: UA plat, , aa plat, marriott LT titanium
Posts: 4,833
Sorry I disagree, La Pergola IMHO ranks with the best in the world (Per Se, etc). But you really need to appreciate the quality of the food and the time/effort in the preparation 
There is a price fixed menu (or used to be) of 5 or 7 courses. You can also purchase a gift certificate for 2 for a 6 course with or without wine to match.
I am not an expert on wine (or prices) but I still dream about the food! The setting, service, and staff are exceptional. Of course the lousy value of the dollar doesn't help - but the prices include tax (VAT ?18%) and service which doesn't make it quite such an expense.
I had a great time with 2 meals at La Pergola and lots of other meal/snacks at much less expensive (but tasty) places.
There is a price fixed menu (or used to be) of 5 or 7 courses. You can also purchase a gift certificate for 2 for a 6 course with or without wine to match.I am not an expert on wine (or prices) but I still dream about the food! The setting, service, and staff are exceptional. Of course the lousy value of the dollar doesn't help - but the prices include tax (VAT ?18%) and service which doesn't make it quite such an expense.
I had a great time with 2 meals at La Pergola and lots of other meal/snacks at much less expensive (but tasty) places.
Jun 2, 2006, 10:30 pm
#127
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Abu Dhabi
Posts: 6,422
is it just me or...
have there been an awful lot of posts lately regarding Rome? No, this is not some lecture on how to use the search function, don't worry! Just wondering what's going on and when someone is going to invite me to come along!! 
never stayed at the hilton, have stayed at the westin though and love love loved it! ^ especially the sweet little old italian guy that I met on my last night who thought I was a movie star (if you were heinously near-sighted I might pass for Will's cousin, Ashley, on the Fresh Prince of Bel Air... but even that's a stretch). ^ ^
seriously, westin location was great, I thought. I walked around everywhere... especially in and out of the Fendi store near the Vatican! And Prada. And a few other places...
oh please please please invite me to your secret Rome DO!! I promise to be good and to buy the first cannoli!!
never stayed at the hilton, have stayed at the westin though and love love loved it! ^ especially the sweet little old italian guy that I met on my last night who thought I was a movie star (if you were heinously near-sighted I might pass for Will's cousin, Ashley, on the Fresh Prince of Bel Air... but even that's a stretch). ^ ^
seriously, westin location was great, I thought. I walked around everywhere... especially in and out of the Fendi store near the Vatican! And Prada. And a few other places...
oh please please please invite me to your secret Rome DO!! I promise to be good and to buy the first cannoli!!
Jun 4, 2006, 7:55 am
#128
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: New York, NY
Programs: UA 1K, DL Platinum, Lifetime Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Gold
Posts: 206
The Westin Excellsior is a great hotel with a great location.
Jun 5, 2006, 3:52 pm
#129
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 286
Originally Posted by estnet
Sorry I disagree, La Pergola IMHO ranks with the best in the world (Per Se, etc). But you really need to appreciate the quality of the food and the time/effort in the preparation There is a price fixed menu (or used to be) of 5 or 7 courses. You can also purchase a gift certificate for 2 for a 6 course with or without wine to match.
I am not an expert on wine (or prices) but I still dream about the food! The setting, service, and staff are exceptional. Of course the lousy value of the dollar doesn't help - but the prices include tax (VAT ?18%) and service which doesn't make it quite such an expense.
I had a great time with 2 meals at La Pergola and lots of other meal/snacks at much less expensive (but tasty) places.
There is a price fixed menu (or used to be) of 5 or 7 courses. You can also purchase a gift certificate for 2 for a 6 course with or without wine to match.I am not an expert on wine (or prices) but I still dream about the food! The setting, service, and staff are exceptional. Of course the lousy value of the dollar doesn't help - but the prices include tax (VAT ?18%) and service which doesn't make it quite such an expense.
I had a great time with 2 meals at La Pergola and lots of other meal/snacks at much less expensive (but tasty) places.
Where do you purchase the gift certificates for 2 for a 6 course with or without wine to match? Can you do that in advance before you get to Rome? Do you know how much they cost?
Jun 5, 2006, 8:12 pm
#130
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Tampa, Florida, U.S.A.
Posts: 7,664
Originally Posted by estnet
Sorry I disagree, La Pergola IMHO ranks with the best in the world (Per Se, etc). But you really need to appreciate the quality of the food and the time/effort in the preparation There is a price fixed menu (or used to be) of 5 or 7 courses. You can also purchase a gift certificate for 2 for a 6 course with or without wine to match.
I am not an expert on wine (or prices) but I still dream about the food! The setting, service, and staff are exceptional. Of course the lousy value of the dollar doesn't help - but the prices include tax (VAT ?18%) and service which doesn't make it quite such an expense.
I had a great time with 2 meals at La Pergola and lots of other meal/snacks at much less expensive (but tasty) places.
There is a price fixed menu (or used to be) of 5 or 7 courses. You can also purchase a gift certificate for 2 for a 6 course with or without wine to match.I am not an expert on wine (or prices) but I still dream about the food! The setting, service, and staff are exceptional. Of course the lousy value of the dollar doesn't help - but the prices include tax (VAT ?18%) and service which doesn't make it quite such an expense.
I had a great time with 2 meals at La Pergola and lots of other meal/snacks at much less expensive (but tasty) places.
I totally agree, we had dinner there last in March 2005 and it was certainly one of the best meals I had ever had.
Yet it price range was no different for four or so other meals we had on that particular visit to Italy.
You get what you pay for.
Why do you experts think the place has been continually rated as one of the best restaurants in Rome, in a country obsessed with eating?
Sure can eat cheaper and perhaps even better but is that all to fine dining?
Why stay at the Cavalieiri then? The bed at the 4 points might be just as good and you will save a lot of bucks to stay in many 4 points with money left over.
mike
Jun 6, 2006, 1:43 am
#131
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: bay area, ca
Programs: UA plat, , aa plat, marriott LT titanium
Posts: 4,833
There is a website for the Calvieri separate from the Hilton one - sorry I don't have the url but originally got it as a result of a post on FT. The price is listed there - and yes you can buy it in advance. Also you could email them and ask if you can't find the url (which I did later by googling)
If you want to eat there you MUST make reservations in advance as they have only one sitting (no rushing) and limited seating. You may be able to arrange for the same fee (as gift cert) on the night of dining (thereby giving you more options than the 5 or 7 course they offer) = they really understand customer service
If you want to eat there you MUST make reservations in advance as they have only one sitting (no rushing) and limited seating. You may be able to arrange for the same fee (as gift cert) on the night of dining (thereby giving you more options than the 5 or 7 course they offer) = they really understand customer service
Jun 6, 2006, 9:24 am
#132
Join Date: Apr 2006
Programs: SPG Platinum, FB Platinum, MM Frequent Traveller, Hilton Silver, BA Silver
Posts: 12
It's me again.
I'll put it on a different way. If you look at the Michelin Guide for Italy, La Pergola is one of the only 3 restaurants in Italy with the maximum score. But the 3 starts in Michelin guide means that the overall experience is outstanding. You can find outstanding food in Rome for a much much cheaper price (La Pergola is more expensive than 300$ for 2 people).
I'll put it on a different way. If you look at the Michelin Guide for Italy, La Pergola is one of the only 3 restaurants in Italy with the maximum score. But the 3 starts in Michelin guide means that the overall experience is outstanding. You can find outstanding food in Rome for a much much cheaper price (La Pergola is more expensive than 300$ for 2 people).
Jun 7, 2006, 5:07 pm
#133
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Seattle
Programs: Alaska MVP, Starwood Plt, Marriott Silver, Others
Posts: 181
I just returned from a 3 night stay at the Westin Excelsior and as a Platinum was upgraded to a very very nice suite. In addition to my platinum welcome gift, they also brought up a cart of waters, fresh fruits and champagne that was complimentary. The hotel was great, the pool and stream room was wonderful, and the location is perfect.
You could say that I have nothing but positive things to say from this stay there!
You could say that I have nothing but positive things to say from this stay there!
Jun 7, 2006, 8:40 pm
#134
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Leesburg, VA AA EXP, 2MM lifetime
Programs: SPG PLT, Hyatt Diamond, 10% progress towards lifetime Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 2,330
I was not overwhelmed by either property, but the Westin has a much better location. I would probably give a slight nod to the Westin on quality and helpfulness of the staff, with the Hilton getting the nod for foodservice.
Jun 8, 2006, 6:21 am
#135
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 286
Do Starwood platinums get complimentary breakfast at the Westin Excelsior?