NYCtraveler
Oct 21, 07, 4:02 am
Hello All:
Just spent 4 nights at the Westin Excelsior Roma and 6 nights at the Grand Hotel Florence. Details are below.
Rome, Westin Excelsior: GREAT LOCATION.....Arrived early around 10:AM as I had notified the hotel I would and unfortunately no rooms were ready. They did not recognize my platinum status and had nothing prepared in advance. Seemed like a lot of people standing around and nothing getting done. When I returned at 1:00PM they had assigned an "upgraded" room as no suites were available and the room was adequate though faced the construction on the corner of the via Veneto and the American Embassy and was an adjoiner to a suite on two sides! and yes you could hear between rooms. It was only two nights and we were tired so we let it go. Upon Check out they asked when we were returning and promised us a better room stay etc. They were very sorry for our inconvenience. Room rate 500 euro per night $750 per night on credit card.
Grand Hotel Florence: This hotel had inquired in advance when we would be arriving and was so on top of things I was amazed. They knew our names when the taxi pulled up and had already SPG Platinum upgraded one of our rooms to a suite overlooking the Arno with the other room right down the hall. They all introduced themselves by name and ANYTHING we needed was taken care of....restaurants, tickets etc. The hotel was in great shape....old Florence mansion and overall one of our favorite hotels in Italy. We had coffee every morning overlooking the Arno and it was spectacular. We were sad to leave and our time flew by. This hotel is in our top 5 in the world list...we liked it that much. Room rate about 450 euro per night $700 per night.
Westin Excelsior: Arrived at 1:00PM and the room was not ready. They had been informed of our arrival and once again didn't have a clue. No Platinum upgrades in sight though I was assured if it was available it would have been given. The room we were in was fine, but run down with black stains by the air conditioning vents and stains on the carpets etc. This hotel must be a cash cow for whomever owns it as it is the largest conference hotel in central Rome so you get large groups and tours etc. THEN regular single reservations are slotted in around those. Very little appears to be done in advance so it seems like a "crap shoot" when you show up what type of rooms you are given. We would not stay at this hotel again.
Thats all I've got. Enjoy Italy...it is fabulous. Ciao
Just spent 4 nights at the Westin Excelsior Roma and 6 nights at the Grand Hotel Florence. Details are below.
Rome, Westin Excelsior: GREAT LOCATION.....Arrived early around 10:AM as I had notified the hotel I would and unfortunately no rooms were ready. They did not recognize my platinum status and had nothing prepared in advance. Seemed like a lot of people standing around and nothing getting done. When I returned at 1:00PM they had assigned an "upgraded" room as no suites were available and the room was adequate though faced the construction on the corner of the via Veneto and the American Embassy and was an adjoiner to a suite on two sides! and yes you could hear between rooms. It was only two nights and we were tired so we let it go. Upon Check out they asked when we were returning and promised us a better room stay etc. They were very sorry for our inconvenience. Room rate 500 euro per night $750 per night on credit card.
Grand Hotel Florence: This hotel had inquired in advance when we would be arriving and was so on top of things I was amazed. They knew our names when the taxi pulled up and had already SPG Platinum upgraded one of our rooms to a suite overlooking the Arno with the other room right down the hall. They all introduced themselves by name and ANYTHING we needed was taken care of....restaurants, tickets etc. The hotel was in great shape....old Florence mansion and overall one of our favorite hotels in Italy. We had coffee every morning overlooking the Arno and it was spectacular. We were sad to leave and our time flew by. This hotel is in our top 5 in the world list...we liked it that much. Room rate about 450 euro per night $700 per night.
Westin Excelsior: Arrived at 1:00PM and the room was not ready. They had been informed of our arrival and once again didn't have a clue. No Platinum upgrades in sight though I was assured if it was available it would have been given. The room we were in was fine, but run down with black stains by the air conditioning vents and stains on the carpets etc. This hotel must be a cash cow for whomever owns it as it is the largest conference hotel in central Rome so you get large groups and tours etc. THEN regular single reservations are slotted in around those. Very little appears to be done in advance so it seems like a "crap shoot" when you show up what type of rooms you are given. We would not stay at this hotel again.
Thats all I've got. Enjoy Italy...it is fabulous. Ciao