Lodging Review: Hotel Fori Imperiali Cavalieri
Not to be confused with the Rome Cavalieri, part of Hilton's Waldorf-Astoria Collection, I found this hotel on Orbitz, which was offering a stay 4 nights get 1 night free deal. The hotel had the same deal on their own website, but for some reason booking it on Orbitz was cheaper. It worked out to be less than $80/day including all taxes, and I bought internet access for €15 for all four days of my stay. I liked that system - just pay once for your whole stay, and only log on once. Plus, €15 is not bad - at most western chains, you'd spend at least that amount just for one day!
The Hotel Fori Imperiali Cavalieri has a GREAT location. It's just down the street from the Colosseo subway station, and across the street from the Forum. But it's down a cobbled side-street, so there is no road noise at all. Very nice!
I also liked how they offer true "single" rooms. It makes me feel better that I'm not paying for a room meant for two people.
It is quite small, as you can see. But it offers the main features I look for: air conditioning, and a big safe where you enter your own code. Plus it had a full length mirror, and mini-fridge (and NOT one of those that charge you automatically if you touch it!). Internet is with a supplied LAN cable or wifi, which is a great and rare choice to have. The one downside is that the air conditioning basically had only two settings: frigid, or off. I ended up turning it off before going to sleep.
The bathroom was tiny, and looked mildewy in the corners but there was no mildew smell. I wish they could have done without the bidet, which basically stretched the width of the bathroom!
A buffet breakfast is included, and is served in a dining room on the ground floor.
I read that Italians just eat maybe a croissant and some coffee for breakfast, so I thought it was nice that they also included a variety of fresh whole fruit, hard boiled eggs, and breakfast cold cuts. My favorite part was that the guy who replenishes the food, and cleans up the tables, also makes your coffee fresh for you. I had a cappucino (or two) every morning, and by the fourth day he knew what I wanted before I said it.
The last feature is one that I rarely use at hotels that offer it: a rooftop terrace. I had some work on my computer to do, and it was nice to be able to do it with open and fresh air on all sides. You have peek view of the Colosseum and Forum ruins, as well as a window onto the daily lives of the Romans. I could see people sunning on their terraces, doing laundry,... With the colors of the setting sun, the terrace brought me relaxation.
If I could get the same rate again, I would not think twice about staying here again! I think the best part is strolling home after a nice dinner, and passing the monuments along the way. Or just rolling out of bed in the morning and getting to the Colosseum just a few minutes later.
