Last spring, Dan and I took a last minute trip to Ischia (Italy) and Rome due to changing jobs. We just happened to have two Hilton Free Night Certificates that we needed to use, and the Cavalieri, Rome’s rumored “best hotel” and, conveniently a Hilton-owned property, had available rooms. We booked immediately, despite my concerns that the Cavalieri was too far out of the heart of room. This post details our stay at the Cavalieri, and explains why I think the Cavalieri is totally overrated.
Sunset on our last night in Rome.
THE CAVALIERI HOTEL AND ITS LOCATION
The Rome Cavalieri is a Waldorf-Astoria property that is “set on Rome’s highest hilltop and boasting panoramic views of the Eternal City and St. Peter’s Dome.” In reality, the hotel sits on a hill about six kilometers outside the center of Rome, which equates to a 25 minute drive or a walk of over one hour to the heart of Rome. Notwithstanding the distance from Rome’s city center, the Cavalieri is very popular with celebrities visiting Rome, even Obama stayed here when he was President of the US.
View of the hotel from the pool. You can see what I mean.
The hotel itself is located in a brick building that looks like a conference center from the 1980s – this definitely needs a refresh. The interior of the hotel is decorated better, but it still seems stuck in the 1990s. Setting aside the decor, the Cavalieri is located on its own “campus,” with the hotel having everything that a tourist may need on site – restaurants, bars, shops, ATM, pool, spa, gym, etc. Indeed, one could spend a week here and not leave (except … you are in Rome!).