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Post Info TOPIC: Rome?


Coach

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the boy and I are planning a trip there in late may/early june.  I was there for a week about 5 years ago.  We are looking for cool hotels and restaurants in a central location (and any recommendations for hotels with A/C would be particularly appreciated).


Thanks!  Gelato here I come!



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Coach

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bump?  Any ideas?

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Marc Jacobs

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I haven't been there in a few years and I'm really bad with restaurants so I don't really have any suggestions. The last time I was there I stayed at the Hotel Smeraldo which is usually considered a 'bargain' hotel but everything was nice and new and I'm pretty sure they have air conditioning. I really liked the location - pretty close to the Pantheon and right near the Piazza Argentina. There were a lot of little boutiques in the back streets between the hotel and the Campo de Fiori.

Most of the guidebooks list all the same places but Travel and Leisure's website has hotel listings and they seem to lean towards "cooler" options.

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Gucci

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When we've gone, we've stayed at the Hotel Navona, which is right next to the Pantheon, and that's the area I recommend (Near Piazza Navona, Pantheon).  Can't say that it's a cool hotel, though.  Just a basic hotel (absolutely no frills), but it has a/c.  It is run by an Austrian family. That is a very expensive area, and it was the cheapest of those around it.  It is a WONDERFUL location.  You can walk to all the major tourist points from there.  We took the train into Rome and took a cab to our hotel.  The only other times we needed a cab was going to Vatican City and back to the station.  We hoofed it for everything else (and I was 8 months pregnant at the time).   As far as restaurants go, I'm afraid I can't be of much help.  We had our 2 year old (at the time) with us, so we didn't eat at too many upscale restaurants.  We did find a fabulous Greek restaurant, and I know I wrote the name down somewhere.  We were living in Italy then, and were looking for food other than Italian, so we ate Chinese, Greek, and I hate to say it, but we ate at the Hard Rock Cafe and McDonalds a few times.  I missed big fat cheeseburgers with American cheese and iced tea!!!


Here's the link to the hotel we stayed at.  I just noticed they own another hotel nearby.  Looks nice...


http://www.hotelnavona.com/English/Navona.htm


 


HTH!



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Coach

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Thanks for the advice!  I picked up "Time Out Rome" and I'm in heavan researching everything to see and do.  I'll be sure to report back on good shopping and eating!

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BCBG

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When I was in Rome I stayed in a hostel, but I think near the Pantheon sounds like a great place to stay!  There's lots of great leather shopping around there, too .  There's a great gelato place just a five minute walk from the Pantheon itself that I can recommend.  Also, there's an amazing Pizza place in the Jewish "Ghetto" (nickname, not really a ghetto as we know it, haha) that's very authentic and trendy among the locals.  My bff and I were travelling together, and it was one of the highlights of our trip - everyone was very friendly to us, even though we didn't speak English, we got a great taste of local life, it was cheap (less than 10 euros each for dinner!), and it was the best pizza either of us had ever had!  I forget what it's called, but I will look it up and tell you what it's called and how to get there.  You seriously MUST go!



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Coach

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Ok, so we decided on the Raphael - which is between the Pantheon and Piazza Navona.  DH does not stay in unairconditioned hotels, and it seems like a good precaution since we'll be there for a week in late May/early June.  I will post a review as soon as we get back.


Do you have any restaurant recommendations?



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Kate Spade

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Oops, look like I got here too late.  I was just there in November and loved it!   I recommend Boscolo properties for accomodations.  We stayed at the Grand Hotel Palace on Via Veneto because the aleph was booked but they are all beautiful hotels.  The location was excellent.  The staff was very friendly and they have a spa.


I have some great recommendations for food.  One place was recommended by one of the girls at Gucci.  It is about two blocks up and to the right from the Gucci store.  They have a ton of amazing salads, which we were dying to have after a week of pizza and pasta.  As far as dinner, we found two amazing places.  Of course I don't remember the names but I know I have a card for one of them - family-owned but fabulous, truly authentic food.  One of the local guys that we met (established artist) has been going there for years.  Doesn't look like all that from the outside but the food was so divine my mouth is watering just thinking about it.  The other place was more trendy and packed.  The food was less traditional but so good too.  


Whatever you do stay away from the tourist traps.  There are way too many good restaurants out there!  Do try having a slice of pizza off those small cafes, it'll be a couple of bucks at most and so good for a quick lunch. 
Last but not leat, you must have Nutella gelato if you can find it.  It's amazing, much better than the regular hazelnut kind.  

Okay, I'll try to look these names up tonight - hopefully I wrote them all down somewhere.  I'll get back to you if I do.  Have fun!



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Coach

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Hi Vanessa, you aren't too late at all!  My trip isn't until the end of may.  I'd love to hear your comments!

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