AdrianVanzulli

Stay: May 3 - May 7, 2007

Room: Superior Room - Studio Room

Upgrades: Room (from a Superior Room), Welcome Gift, Late Checkout

Comments: By FAR the best hotel we stayed at on our trip. Also, by FAR the most expensive. So you get what you pay for here. If you have to drive to the hotel, just shoot yourself, it was madness. Luckily, once you find it (and yes, we used GPS thankfully), there is a parking garage directly across the street from it for about 18 Euros a day IIRC. Everybody at the desk was very courteous and immediately began to refer to my wife and I by last name, which pleasantly lasted throughout our way. We requested an upgrade before our stay and was told that they would do their best since the hotel was "sold out" (I used quotes intentionally). We were escorted to our room and given a very large Studio on the 4th floor. Our bags were brought up later. The elevators are a TIGHT squeeze, so I felt sorry for the poor soul who brought them all up in one fail swoop.

The room was very nice. Robe and slippers for each, LCD TV, separate desk and sitting area. Large armoire with a fridge and safe. The bathroom was as marbled as you could get, save it for the toilet bowl (thankfully). It was also at the end of the hall, so there were no other rooms around us and it was very peaceful and quiet. There was also a bottle of wine left for us, but again, we don't drink, so it was just a decoration. We used the concierge a few times and they were all very resourceful and always got back to us with whatever questions we had. The location is a little hidden and off the main street, but a very short walk to where the Westin is, for a point of reference. The location turned out to be prime, as we did not take our car or any other means of transportation during the entire stay, all walking. The food choices very nearby are what you'd expect to be by the Westin and the Hotel Eden, but there are plenty of choices around almost every corner, it only takes a little more walking. We found a GREAT Indian place by the Colliseum (thank you Fodor's!) and a store right by the hotel where we bought a SIM card. PLUS there is a big magazine stand right by the Westin, so I loved that. Definitely pricey, and probably compared to the rest of our stays a little overpriced, but when you want to be IN the city and a nice place, you really can't go wrong here. Except for room service, the oatmeal was like 24 Euros.

Cheers,

Adrian

CO FF

Mrs CO FF & I were at the Eden for 4 nights earlier this month. The prior poster has it right; I'll just add a few details.

We booked an upgraded room award. It was a "studio room" -- a very large room by European standards (almost 18' square, excluding entrance hall/bath), with a couch and armchair sitting area and a desk. Best closet/dresser space I've seen in a hotel in years.

The physical plant is in great shape. The staff was excellent - concierge was very helpful with museum tix, restaurant reservations (a dinner for 2, with wine, for well under 150 Euros at a nice restaurant near the hotel), etc.

The only negatives are, as mentioned, the extremely high tab for anything room service and the elevators -- each of the 2 elevators runs on an independent button (even though they're next to each other). From the hotel, we could walk almost anywhere in 30 minutes, and the subway wasn't that far either.

fly co to see the yanks

i've read this entire thread as well as the Westin Excelsior Rome Master thread (i.e., i did a full search ). both threads have pretty good things to say (as well as a few negatives). the locations are very similar. it seems as if food prices are negatives.

i noticed a few differentiators:

1) Westin has a pool (aside from the pool, does the westin have a better gym?)
2) Westin does a better job of upgrading Platinums; and the upgrades themselves are better (is this true?)
3) Eden has better views.

not sure if i've captured the differences adequately.

so, if the prices were equal, what would you choose? did i miss any differences?

thanks.

EnvoyBoy

I've stayed at both and would said your three points are accurate although surely not complete. Eden, fyi, has amazing views although from an expensive bar and restaurant. Westin does better by plat upgrades because it's a huge property and very "American-ized" as it's right by the embassy and overrun by Americans. The Eden is much smaller and European, and intimate. I found the Eden staff to be far superior to the Westin in hospitality and warmth.

fly co to see the yanks

great comments. way to get the ball rolling. thanks.

does the westin have Heavenly mattresses? can you compare the gyms? and, finally, the only way to take advantage of the great views at the Eden are from the restaurant? do any of the rooms have great views?

thanks.

EnvoyBoy

Don't recall if the Westin specifically had the Heavenly mattress but I remember sleeping quite well there with plenty of pillows, nice linens, etc.

Can't compare the gyms--prefer to go for a run in the city instead of be indoors.

I'd be surprised if the highest rooms had the view enjoyed by the restaurant/bar but, if they do, in May 2007 there was work being done on the wall which you would face for said views; friends found it very distruptive. I was happily in a courtyard facing room and heard nothing. Before shelling out for a view or a high floor, I'd inquire on the construction first (across the street and not hotel-related).

bustraveler

I stayed at the Westin in May of this year for 5 nights. GREAT experience. Here are my thoughts:

1. SPG must be really slow to update SPG accounts at certain locations. I had dropped to Gold several months before our trip. However, I was provided the Plt amenity and we were upgraded to a fabulous room.
2. We stayed on points (80,000 for 5 nights.....the 5th night was 'free') yet were upgraded to an amazing room with a balcony overlooking the main street (can't remember the name). The bathroom was great.....separate tub/shower, 2 sinks, all marble/granite.
3. Our room had great decor including silk walpaper.
4. Concierge was excellent. Sent us to several restaurants that I am sure he got a kick back from sending guests there. But both were GREAT......amazing food and ideal service. They knew we were from the Westin and really took care of us.
5. Pool and gym were awesome. I stayed at Le Palais in Prague last year, which has a great pool/spa/sauna/gym. The Westin was just as great.

We had friends staying at the St. Regis Rome at the same time and they did not share the same positive views of their property as we did. Location and neighborhood of the Westin was great. Highly recommend it to everyone.

sfozrhfco

I stayed at both the Eden and the Westin earlier in the year. I liked the Eden better. I got a nice corner suite and it was quiet and much more intimate than than the Westin. The staff was very friendly and even staying just a couple of nights, the staff would recognize me. The suite at the Westin was huge with very high ceilings but kind of impersonal. There was a balcony but you could not see much as the hotel is about the same height as the other buildings on Via Veneto so you can't see beyond them. I've been to Rome many times so I didn't need the concierge and did not eat at the restaurant. There are so many good and inexpensive places to eat in Rome, I can't imagine paying several hundred euros to eat at a hotel when you can eat a block away for 20 euros and have an excellent meal. It is pretty difficult finding an awful restaurant in Rome --especially if you go to a more residential area.

fly co to see the yanks

bump. any more updates. in particular, interested in thoughts comparing the westin to the le meridien. thx.

lalala

I am using cash and points for one night here in Jan 2008. It is not in an area that I frequent, but I'm hoping TH is up for a change of scenery.

With the falling dollar, 8000 points and 150 bush pesos isn't such a bad deal for such a swish hotel.

Breakfast should not be an issue, nor should food and beverages. I'm just looking for a decent place to lay my head for one night before my flight home.

Rome is way to nice and up way too late to stay at the airport before a flight.

lala

fly co to see the yanks

meaning you chose the Eden over the Westin? any particular reason?

abk

my guess is the cash and points is not available at the westin. i am going for 2 nights also in January and the eden was about 60 euro cheaper per night and also had cash and points as an option which the westin did not

lalala

Definitely a cash and points issue. I don't have hundreds and thousands of SPG points and just really needed a place to rest my head.

I have also had good experiences with Le Meridien properties, so I don't go running away when I see them.

lala

stevens397

We're staying at the Eden this coming summer and it too is a cash and points decision. That said, we chose the Prince de Galles in Paris over the Westin and do prefer the smaller boutique hotels.

The PdG also had very high food prices and breakfast was over the top! But it was Paris and we walked a block away each morning and had a lovely continental breakfast sitting outside at a cafe. I've read on this thread that there are plenty of restaurants in the area but I'm curious - any reasonable breakfast choices nearby?

Thanks.

fly co to see the yanks

yes, still trying to figure out eden versus excelsior here, too.

other comments appreciated from those that have experienced both.

thx.