I'm a new LCTer and my husband and I have a cruise coming up Oct. 21 Rome to Nice. We would like to get hotel suggestions for Rome and Nice, we will have a one night stay in each city. What about transfers to and from the ship, will the hotels provide them or is it best to hire a driver?

Hi Karen and welcome to LCT!

My husband and I stayed at InterContinental de la Ville Roma in Rome. Lovely property. Ideally located by the Spanish Steps.

InterContinental de la Ville Roma

We will be visiting Nice next year and I just booked accommodations at the charming Hotel Le Grimaldi. Several LCTers have stayed there and had very good experiences

Hotel Le Grimaldi

Wishing you a great time on your cruise!

Two other hotel choices not as expensive as the Grimaldi are: Radisson (near airport)and Hotel West End (on the Promenade).

Hi Karen,

In Rome I can recommend Hotel Dei Mellini. I stayed there a couple of years ago and really liked it.

Hotel Dei Mellini

This summer we are staying at a different one ( Dei Mellini rates were too high!). Hotel Ponte Sisto, near Campo de Fiori:

Hotel Ponte Sisto

Have a great time!

It's @ 35-45 minutes from the airport to the center of the city in Rome and 1 1/2 hours from Rome to Cevitavecchia(the port for Rome). Don't know of any hotels that provide transport. The fares for private transport are quite high - like $250 to the port. That's why we use RSSC air. They provide the transfers. I wouldn't bother even doing 1 night in Rome. We did the RSSC 3 night package at the De La Ville Intercontinental and it gave us a full three days, as well as a guided limo tour of Rome. If you're only coming in a day early you might want to try for a hotel near the port and forget Rome, or just stay at the Hilton at the airport and work Rome from there. If you want to do Rome I'd plan on at least 2 days. Don't even think about using public transportation with luggage. In Rome the Intercontinental, Excelsior, Hasler, Bernini and Eden are centrally located, so that you can walk almost anywhere. We did all the sights in Rome, including the Vatican, walking from the Intercontinental at the top of the Spanish Steps. I was 70 at the time. Keep in mind that Rome is a very expensive city.

We stayed at the de Russie in Rome last year and are booked there again in August. It is located at the piazza de popolo and just 5 minutes walk from the Spanish Steps. You can walk all around the city from there with no problem. Rome is my favorite city in Europe so please don't pass up the chance to spend just one night there. You can certainly see an overview of this beautiful city in one full day. I hope you fall in love with Rome the way I did 44 years ago and keep coming back as we do.

Hi Karen,

I just want to strongly agree with Doris. Rome is also my favorite city in Europe. One night is better than no nights! And if your flight from the US gets in early you have a whole day to explore.

Enjoy the Eternal city!

Karen, (assuming you haven't had a chance to visit Rome very extensively) is there any way you can spend at least 2 nights in Rome? Considering the long flight etc. this would be so much better for you than just one night. There's so much to see.

We used www.romashuttle.com (as many LCTers have). They were the least expensive but we had punctual pick-up in an air conditioned Mercedes with a very interesting English speaking driver. I think the cost was about 100 Euros.

We love Rome!!!! Friends think it is too NYC - probably why we love it!!! We loved Le Grimaldi (Nice) - Karen, Marcie or Olivia can chime in with name of our Rome hotel? (2nd visit) - I keep poor notes - First time toured all day with driver leaving from ship - could spend a month there and never be bored - Joanna

Possibly look at a stay in ROME at the Sheraton. They will pick you up at the airport and then they have a regular shuttle to the Spanish Steps. The price was reasonable and it's close to the airport. We stayed there going in a day early for our Tauck Tour. Heavenly Beds for the travel weary.

We stayed at Le Grimaldi back in June for one night. It is a small hotel, in a pleasant location, with plenty of charm, and we really enjoyed it. We paid 185 euros for a superior double, but got upgraded to a junior suite. I looked at the Radisson SAS, but it's quite far out, and you need to take a taxi or bus to get into the old part of Nice. Our hotel was about a 15 minute walk to the old quarter, and a 5 minute walk to a large shopping and dining district.

Hi, I just did a quick check on tripadvisor, and found the rates for Le Grimaldi to be considerably lower than the Radisson SAS. Be aware, there are other hotels with "Grimaldi" in their name. This one is "Le Grimaldi", at 15 Rue Grimaldi.

Thank you for the responces. I will be busy doing research now. We do get in early A.M. to Rome and hope to do some sightseeing that day. One day in Rome will not be long enough I am sure, guess we will just have to go back. Thanks again, and have a great 4th.

Of course for Nice there is the wonderful hotel
La Perouse.

Our Delta flight arrived Rome @ 0830 and we got to the hotel @ 1030. After checkin and getting settled we walked fron the top of the Spanish Steps up Via Sistina to Via Del Quirinale, then right down to the palace, then to Trevi Fountain, then back to Piazza De Spagna(Spanish Steps) and Babington's Tea Room for high tea. Then back to the Intercontinental where Lynn crashed. I talked with the hotel concierge and made restaurant reservations for our entire stay and then went walking again and took some pictures. So, you can see a lot on your arrival day, but you really need 2-3 days minimum in Rome. There is so much to see and do. Great reataurants are L'Altro Mastai for dinner, Piperno for lunch, as well as Les Etoiles on the rooftop of the Atlante Star Hotel(overlooks the Vatican and St.Peters Square); Passeto at the north end of Piazza Navona for dinner, and La Pergola on the rooftop of the Marriott( Very expensive and hard to get reservations). You must see the Pantheon as they light it up at night and then drift over to Piazza Navona for a gellato at Di Rienza. These are just examples.

Also, you asked if hotels send drivers..some do some don't..those that do charge for them. For Rome from hotel to ship ( if ship is docked in Civitivecchia<sp?>)or vise versa is about an hour plus ( travel time)..cost can be about 170EU and up.
here are a few companies for transfers ( and tours if you want)
http://www.airportconnection.it/standby.htm
http://www.limoinrome.com/home.htm
http://www.driverinrome.com/centro.htm

The Sheraton Roma did not charge for their shuttles - either airport or city center

Dougburns, I am taking the restaurant suggestion with me. We will need a good meal the evening we get in. We are using Delta also but using FF miles.
Thanks for driver post, may need to use one of them. This planning part is always fun.

Karen,
This was posted on a previous thread but another great restaurant if you're near the Spanish Steps.
*****************************************
We ate at an excellent restaurant during the week we spent in Rome before 007 cruise. In fact it was so good we went back a 2nd time with the LCTers we cruised with on 007 (Karen, Joanna, Todd, etc.) The prices were very reasonable (downright cheap by Rome standards) and the food was outstanding and great house wine. They have both indoor and outdoor dining (weather permitting).

"Otello alla Concordia"
address: Via della Croce #81 (near the Spanish Steps).
This is their website: http://www.otelloallaconcordia.com/

I agree with Marcie, that restaurant was wonderful. I think it was my favorite spot that we dined at while in Rome!

We also would love some new restaurants in Rome, as so many of our favorites will be closed wile we are there in August. Everyone please keep your suggestions comming.

As everyone has said, not enough time in one day...we did it in 2 then did the private transfer from airport and to ship...limoservices.rome.com (were reliable and not overly expensive)
Wonderful little hotel right at the Pantheon....albergo del senato...wonderful staff and great breakfast. We walked everywhere from there. Right down the alley was a great restaurant La Fortunato???...
Enjoy!
Carol

Kitzy; Get a copy of the latest Frommer's Rome. Make sure it's recent; 2006 if you can find it. Their restaurant recommendations are good and pretty accurate. As was inferred, many of the good restaurants close, or go on shorter hours, in the summer. Many of the natives get out of the city in the summer. At other times of the year you must have reservations, or you won't get in the better places. We tried three days ahead for a La Pergola dinner reservation in late Oct and couldn't get in. L'Altro Mastai would be a great pick if you can get in. Passeto is very good food and a lot of fun.

I just checked and L'Altro Mastai and Passeto are open in August, Piperno is closed all month. Otello alla Concordia is also open. Thanks again for the suggestions

If you have stome Starwood points to burn I would recomend the Westin Excelsior on Via Veneto, we stayed there last October for 007 for one night, and will be returning there in October for our cruise for Two nights, excellent service and in the middle of everything.

FV

Maria, Thanks so much for the list of Roman Restaurants. There are some new ones for us which we will certainly try. Enjoy your trip...

I want to say thanks again for the additional restaurants. It is a very good list.