klfhngr

Baja Brewery is pretty good . Tacos Paisas, Tacos Gordo Lele's and one more that I can't recall. Did them all. I'll post the other one, they're well known for shrimp tacos!

Walk it or have a bike taxi take you. Honestly, Cabo Wabo is a tourist trap. Just went there in Oct., bought some drumsticks and souvenirs then went and hung out somewhere else. We wanted to have some drinks there, they told us no, you have to buy food! We bailed!

On 2/29/2020 at 3:16 PM, True Romance said:

Thanks klfhngr, we are excited to check out Stone Island for the first time in April.  Do you suggest we bring a bunch of smaller US bills or should we get Pesos to pay for the activities on Stone Island?

Awesome! You should be good with small bills, that's all you really need. Also, you might want to find another spot besides Letys. We had sorta bad experience in Oct., then another person here on CC said that it was bad also. There are a few other spots that I heard are good. But I'd still go to Stone Island!

Same here! 

On 2/6/2022 at 4:10 PM, 2wheelin said:

Just went to Letys last week on a recommendation for coconut shrimp. Shrimp was good but otherwise not impressed. Margarita was weak and blah. Asked to have chairs outside and they ignored us so we stayed at table inside. Bill came to 485 pesos (technical conversion= $23.50) so allowing for increase in conversion laid out $25. Waiter kept saying “No. Times 2 !!”.  My husband questioned that and another waiter came over. I saw this from on the beach and came in to see what was the matter. Waiter said “Times 2”. I objected saying 500 pesos is only $25 so he took us back to the manager. He was also rude but we finally figured out he wanted plus 2 and not times 2. Gave him the money and as we walked away he made rude comment about Americans.

Never going back.

Wow! Yea, we're done with Letty's, time for a new hangout! Wish it was better for you, that's why I kinda warned everyone, lol!

48 minutes ago, -Lew- said:

 

FCO to Albergo del Senato: 30.5km

 

Cruise Port to FCO:  67.6km

 

Click here for highly rated RomeCabs transfer pricing.

All booked, thank you! 60 US Bucks for 4!!! Thanks again!

Cruisemom/others, do you know how far the airport is to Albergo de Senato? Also, an idea on price for 4 to get there? No train. Also, how far is the ship to the airport (post cruise)?

Call early in the AM, that's what my TA suggested and it worked. But it did take over an hour! Another thing I noticed, if you get hung up on, call back right away a few times, you might be put in the queue. That happened to me too!

Was hoping for price drop, but our Europe cruise for May has gone up over 1k!

14 minutes ago, klfhngr said:

Awesome, glad it helped!! Yes, when you take the boat back to the 'mainland' and walk out, there are taxis at the dock or on the main street. You do have plenty of time. We left Stone at about 2, we had time to cruise around, shop and have a drink at a bar! This was in Oct. 

Heads up: I have larger reviews/posts under Mexico Ports.

13 hours ago, bmar808 said:

Thanks for your great review. I am researching like crazy for our April cruise and yours is the perfect amount of energy and info!! Love it.

 

When you left Stone Island, were there taxis or pulmonias at the ferry dock? We wanted to go to Stone Island and then grab a quick tour of Carpa Olivera and Malecon before returning to the ship? Do you think that would be doable? There are 6 of us altogether but I figure we could take 2 pulmonias if they are easily available?

 

Awesome, glad it helped!! Yes, when you take the boat back to the 'mainland' and walk out, there are taxis at the dock or on the main street. You do have plenty of time. We left Stone at about 2, we had time to cruise around, shop and have a drink at a bar! This was in Oct. 

On 1/12/2022 at 11:33 AM, elcuchio24 said:

 

We found the easiest thing to do is just throw a cheap bottle of liquor you dont mind losing, if they find it, in your checked bag. One in each bag. We're 4 for 4 success rate doing that thus far. 

For our Oct cruise, I got 2 large RR onboard. My friend got there's on and the fake shampoo bottles also. 

22 hours ago, Scottee25 said:

 

We booked the Albergo del Senato due to the advice in this post. We'll be staying there in May (same time you'll be there) for 8 nights (6 nights in a Penthouse Suite). It definitely is pricey but we decided to splurge due to the location and the view! 🙂 I found that most hotels I looked at in Rome were pricey though so if you gotta spend that money, might as well go with what the wife wants!

Nice, we'll be looking for you!

I decided based on comments from cruisemom and others. Well, wife and mom decided, lol. I left it up to them, I'm easy!

Hope you enjoy your stay!

I'll keep it simple: Too far to walk!

We've done this quite a few times the past few years, the last time was this Oct. Went to Lety's. Not sure we'll go to Lety's again. Our fave was Victors, but he's closed down. 

We had fun though at Lety's, but if you read my review, you'll see what we went thru. But, it is an easy walk, DON'T PAY FOR A STONE ISLAND EXCURSION!!!!

2 minutes ago, PORT ROYAL said:

Consider:

 

 

Albergo Santa Chiara

Or

Hotel Navona

Either will give a good stay at a lower price point.

 

Thank you!

Well, it's the Albergo del Senato! My wife and mom want to stay there, they're fine with the price, being that we'll be right in the center of everything! Thanks all and special thanks to cruisemom!!!

If you guys ever need help with Mexico or the Carribean or what it's like missing the ship, hit me up!!!! 😉 I have experience with those, lol!

Ugh, back to the drawing board! Wife wants to stay somewhere nice(r)! Albergo del Senato is a little to pricey, so looking for something a little below that. For 2 nights, it's $773 (May 11-13).

On 1/8/2022 at 7:20 AM, cruisemom42 said:

 

I do not know the UNAWAY Hotel Empire Roma, but the location is just north of Termini, at the beginning of what was once the oh-so-chic Via Veneto area. The location is not so great in my opinion although some like the via Veneto area for its faded glamour.  You are much better off looking for hotels in the area roughly bounded by the Trevi Fountain to the east and Piazza Navona/Campo dei Fiori to the west.  Piazza del Popolo to the north, and the Colosseum/Forum area to the south. This is the prime tourist area.

 

Hotel Barrett -- I had not heard of this one. The location is excellent. Sounds like it's not really a full-service hotel. The breakfast seems to be made from food stocked in your room and there is no elevator. Sounds rather unique; it might be interesting but could also be a bit of a gamble. Largo Argentina is a bus hub, which is nice, and it is central to many of the neighborhoods with good restaurant options (including the Jewish ghetto for the traditional artichokes).  One other observation is that there does seem to be a gathering point for a certain number of homeless persons nearby.  That has been true the last two times I visited but due to COVID I have not been there since early 2020.

 

Albergo delle Regioni -- this definitely sounds like the kind of place I'd try. It's got a nice location and as long as you keep expectations modest re: room size, it seems to have good reviews for the type of hotel it is (e.g., three stars).  If you end up not booking Hotel Smeraldo, this is the one on your list that I'd vote for.  

Thank you so much, you don't know how much I appreciate this! It's either Smeraldo or Albergo! I'm driving myself nuts looking and not knowing the areas!!! Ugh, lol!

Going over these:

Hotel Smeraldo

UNAWAY Hotel Empire Roma

Hotel Barrett

Albergo delle Regioni

I cancelled my mom's Jan. 20 cruise. Easy as 1,2,3!

SORRY! I just came across this one: UNAWAY Hotel Empire Roma

Is that good spot and hotel? Sorry!!!!

I think that the Smeraldo fits our needs, you're the best Cruisemom42!

1 hour ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

Hopefully you'll find a match in the ones above. Do keep in mind it's a heavy tourist destination so hotel prices are no bargain and rooms will be on the smaller side. The ones I've liked best are those that are more personable with good service (sometimes family owned) and have good locations. Like you I don't tend to spend a lot of time in my room. There is a certain plus in being in a central hotel in case you need to take a quick mid-day rest, change shoes, drop off a bag, etc.

 

Good luck!

Thanks again!

14 minutes ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

Some places to consider:

 

If you are willing to go slightly higher in price, Hotel Artemide is very good & well located; they sometimes have good deals for booking well in advance (or last minute).

 

Hotel Smeraldo (already mentioned) should be in the same range as UNA. Sometimes they get booked up and then prices get crazy. I wouldn't pay substantially more.

 

Hotel Ponte Sisto is one I haven't stayed in but have considered -- it looks nice and is a good location near Campo dei Fiori.

 

If you're sightseeing will include time seeing the ancient Roman sites (Colosseum, Forum, Palatine Hill, etc.) look at Boutique Hotel Nerva -- nice family hotel and they keep upgrading the property.

 

Hotel Damaso is also on my radar --it's owned by the same group that owns Albergo del Senato but (at least for now) is less pricey.

 

If you cannot find anything in this group that suits you, then maybe you can provide more specific details regarding what you're looking for in a hotel.

 

Cruisemom, thank you so much! I will look at those.

Not looking for anything fancy, but no dump either. We enjoy being out of our rooms, so basically it'll be a place to store luggage, sleep and shower, lol! Wanted to see some of the ruins, not interested in Vatican. We don't mind doing SOME walking (I've had 4 knee surgeries but still manage). Local nearby food would be great.