Just talked to H and he wants to make sure his vacation time is approved so I think I will be buying my tickets on Monday or Tuesday.
That gives me time to rethink booking the package or separately. The price I am getting from Expedia, is very good. But having to pay upfront is an consideration.
May I ask what hotel is included in the package? Have you read their recent tripadvisor reviews? I sometimes like to go the the month that I am planning to go from previous years to see if there were any issues with AC working well. The only caution I would have with package deals is that they sometimes use the least desirable rooms at the hotel.
I use Expedia to shop price around, no trip insurance ever because if I book directly with the hotel I can cancel it.
There’s no fixed advice re: Expedia. You do what makes sense for you. I saved $2200 per ticket on a trip by using them. Direct through the airlines was no help at all. Difference between $3500 RT and $1300. Granted, to a third world city, two flight changes and one longish layover. (But, working directly with the US hotel chain was less than booking through E would have been.) So it takes some work.
Last weekend’s visiting friend had to change to return home sooner (wife and D would continue on.) He had booked the 3 of them through Expedia, including hotels (not a package.) Yes, E was his travel agent to revise some of his wife’s and kid’s plans. But he was able to cxl/rebook directly with American.
I’ve also had very good luck working with a good travel agent, to various destinations. It all just depends.
The hotel is the Albergo del Senato. It was recommended by more than one person on this thread. (FYI if it’s spelled wrong sorry I’m on my phone at the moment)
Colorado _mom gave me a suggestion about another place but it was the same price. (I hope that ok to disclose, she said she was going to send me a link).
Question. If I were to rent an apartment through vrbo, how reliable is that? And I am going to go midweek to midweek in November for 7 nights. Would it be a problem to rent like that? My sil has a cottage and she only rents from sat to sat but this would be off season.
I really kinda had my heart set on the Albergo but maybe an apartment we would like better.
FYI, Albergo is the Italian word for hotel, so it would be more correct to say that you have your heart set on the Senato. 
We’ve never stayed in an apartment in Rome, only in hotels, but we have stayed in apartments in other places in Europe. I’m not sure that one is better than the other - it’s just different. I really don’t think you can go wrong either way.
BTW, another vote for booking direct when possible.
I don’t think you’ll have a problem with midweek to midweek on VRBO, as long as you are renting at least the minimum amount of days. Every owner has their own policy. VRBO is only an advertising site, it is not involved in the management of the listings. We rented the Spanish Steps Apartment through VRBO and had a great experience.
The hotel Albergo del Senato is right next to the Pantheon, my favorite building in Rome. Great location in the heart of the Centro Storico, within walking distance to nearly everything. We liked having an apartment for our third visit, but you may enjoy the ease and service that a hotel provides for your first trip. I’m so excited for you!
Lol skieurope! I wondered about that but on my phone and in a hurry…
Glad to know.
We’ve also done apts and I could possibly get you the name of one a friend loved, in the Campo de Fiori area. BUT for your first trip, why not use the hotel, let them take care of you, be there to give directions, help with a reservation, whatever. And yes, the Pantheon is spectacular, and on a nice piazza, around the corner from that gelateria. Used to be a nifty little store on the square, selling Florentine stationary. Nice location. And some sweet restaurants with outdoor seating. I’ll remember the Senato for our next trip.
I think you have a really good point lookingforward. For a first timer, have the hotel to help you. And we are first timers. I’ve never been to Europe and the last time H went, it was before he met me.
I just looked at a few of the Tripadvisor reviews and they’re enthusiastic. TA also has some newish booking service and says it saves a good %.
Man that ge;atoria near the Pantheon has been in business forever! I went there in 1980!
I wonder how much that hotel costs per night.
Uh oh. Their own web site only picks up at June 27 and there aren’t multiple nights available. ^%#!
@deb922
CAVEAT regarding the Senato: hotel is nice, location is awesome, breakfast is nice, but rooms are really, really small (not uncommon in rome). Just don’t expect an American-sized room.
There’s a small supermarket nearby. As u walk out of the Pantheon, walk past the obelisk to the opposite end of the piazza, then turn left. There’s a supermarket a few steps away, on the right. Convenient place to pick up snacks and cheap edible gifts.
There are 3 gelaterias pretty much next to each other at that piazza. Venchi is the best.
Deb - when looking at the hotel websites online and, make sure it is actually THEIR website. I have run into this situation more than once (slow to the gate!). The 3rd party link might be a .org vs .IT or with a dash in the name or hotell with 2 l’s.
You will still get a room for the rate you were promised, but it may not be the room you wanted and while on vacation I don’t like complications. Usually I make a quick call to the hotel and ask for their website address.
Thanks for all the advice, it is so appreciated. Especially the gelato recommendation ;). Kajon, thanks for the FYI on websites, I did not think about that.
One more question. Does anyone have any knowledge about the Hotel Nazionale? It got good reviews from Trip Advisor and Rick Steves. It’s coming in quite a bit cheaper than the Senato and is in the same general area.
I can’t tell you about the Nazionale, but I looked online at the Senato, and that is an expensive hotel. Especially if you’re going to be there for awhile. We always enjoy staying at fancy, four star hotels, but we want to pay two star prices. I don’t think it’s worth it to spend a large amount of money on a hotel, when the last thing you’re going to want to do is spend time there, especially if you can stay at a nice hotel in the same general area. You are going to be so busy, you won’t want to spend your money on a place you’ll rarely be at. My opinion, is if a hotel got good reviews from both Trip Advisor and Rick Steves, it’s got to be good!
Have to say, we’re generally not demanding travelers, as long as a place is clean and organized. It’s location that matters to us. That just means near enough to something interesting and then either a reasonable walk or public transportation to the major sites. And we won’t plan a major trip w/o checking Tripadvisor about the hotels.