Only 10 rooms in this conveniently located hotel: four each on the third and fourth floor and two on the fifth floor (Remember that in Europe the main floor is the Lobby, with the first floor one flight up.) Room 502 does offer a balcony.
Its main (and perhaps only) favorable attribute is its location on the very upscale shopping street of Via del Condotti, only a few blocks from the Spanish Stairs and the Rome Metro.
For internet fans, note that the real name of its self-proclaimed "data port" is "telephone jack." The only internet available is dialup, and of course, to use even that, you'd have to subscribe to a service like worldwidedialup.com. (The hotel itself uses high speed internet, but it has chosen to not make this available to its customers).
Don't expect to change large bills at the reception desk. This is not available. And do not expect help with manhandling your luggage into the tiny elevator, that too is not available.
Breakfast is available, however. It consists of a choice of three cereals, some rolls, yogurt (sometimes banana was the only flavor available), and two or three other items including canned pineapple slices. The breakfast is serviceable, if not particularly enticing. The breakfast area was small, and a television set was usually blaring in that area. Do not expect to use the rooftop terrace pictured on it's website, as it is inaccessible in October, at least.
Be forewarned. A new, upscale store is being constructed in the front part of the building, and the construction noise can begin at 7:00AM.
Normally, one would avoid such a place. But we are talking about overcrowded, overpriced Rome. It could well be that, given the City's lousy hotel options, this is a pretty good choice.
- La Lumiere Di Piazza Spagna
