Originally Posted by
doc04
My wife and I (mid-late 30s) are planning a trip to Rome in late June. We will almost certainly be using Amex FHR properties. I have narrowed it down to JK Place and Portrait Roma. Both look like great properties. Any thoughts?
Stayed in October one week with wife and father-in-law.
(You have to check if Amex FHR helps you with these properties)
Rome Cavalieri - 4 nights
Imperial room/floor/club. Best club lounge I ever experienced, 4-5 waitresses always reading every wish from your lips, continuous snacks, fine cakes and sparkling wines. Fantastic Rome view. Great resort with mediterranean gardens and some pools, tennis, biggest spa in Rome. Shuttle service 20 mins to Piazza Barberini (stops also at Harrys Bar Via Veneto). Grand Hotel with impressive art collection, visited by many high class locals and good business people from Rome, American beauties, 3* Michelin restaurant. Excellent "American style" (= international level) service.
Boscolo Exedra - 1 night
Italian style luxury hotel with life - the new Dolce Vita place! In-crowd frequented. Interesting people, seen and be seen, rich and beautiful Italians who are high class or believing to be high class sitting in the lobby and outside on the terrace. Always life! Super breakfast. Piazza Republicca, some steps to Via Veneto. Had Panoramic room (front view). Great bathroom. Service "Roman" style, but excellent. Our hotel!
Hotel Indigo - 2 nights
Boutique style hotel. New. Small rooms. Near Piazza Navona and Vatican. Location ok and if you are member of IHG rewards club (benefits, point rates). I would not stay here again but the location was perfect for our purposes to visit Vatican and Piazza Navone/Panteon area.
St. Regis
- no stay
Some steps from Exedra. Ugly entrance direct at the main street. We entered the hotel (after check-in to Exedra) as we planned afternoon tea and were disappointed. Boring and unexciting lobby, no life. This should be a St. Regis? Then I don´t need to stay at a St. Regis. We went to Westin Excelsior 5 mins away to have Champagne and cakes. But do not stay there, it is dated and its best times are gone as all what is at Via Veneto.
I am a nonconformist. Luxury for me is how I feel - today a Hilton, tomorrow the Adlon, no contradiction.
If you want a more conventional luxury hotel in Rome (in the sense of the very sophisticated "luxury standards" in this Luxury Hotel forum):
Hotel de Russie would be my wife´s recommendation as the probably best luxury hotel
Hotel Hassler would be my recommendation
both excellent and central location (Piazza del Popolo and Spanish Steps).