Th Roma - Carpegna Palace

The hotel was very clean, and the bed was really comfortable. My room was a little small, but had what I needed. There was plenty to choose from at the self-service breakfast. It’s outside the main center, though very close to Cornelia metro station. A taxi from the airport took about 25 minutes and cost €55, or you can take the airport bus.

The room upgrade at check-in was a thoughtful welcome, and the hotel itself is lovely, clean, and luxurious inside, with a real five-star feel. My only real annoyance was the hot water fluctuating while I was using it. Breakfast wasn’t great, but everything else was excellent. Cornelia metro station is very close, with a roughly 20-minute ride into the city center. The SIT bus stop for the airport is nearby too, and the ride takes around 30 minutes. It’s a great-value location if you’re fine staying a little outside the center. I’d say it suits travelers without young children or those at an older age.

I booked through an RCI timeshare exchange, and I’ll stick to what happened. After checking the room and facilities, I asked for four pillows and two duvets so we’d have some cushioning while sitting in the room in the evening. They refused and said I could have two pillows. It’s a 200-room hotel, so apparently they were short on pillows. The day before we left, we asked them to book a taxi for 8am. They knew a taxi strike was coming the next day because it was in the news, announced earlier in January and confirmed in reports on the 12th. We were told to come to reception ten minutes before leaving and they’d call one. They don’t offer a shuttle or chauffeur service, despite advertising an airport shuttle on their website. On departure morning, reception made a vague attempt to phone someone, then told us to take the train, even though the strike was known. We had enough time, but hauling suitcases around a station and up and down escalators wasn’t ideal, especially for me: I have peripheral neuropathy in my feet after chemotherapy. I asked about private taxis and was told they weren’t answering. As we started walking toward the Metro, I decided to call my own Uber. That worked fine. Maria picked me up within 15 minutes and got me to the airport without a problem. The reception staff were pretty unhelpful. They should be helping their guests, not backing a strike because Uber isn’t as regulated. How did that work out for you? Refusing two extra pillows was poor too.

The hotel feels like an archaeological site scattered with artifacts. Its eclectic art collection was my favorite part: lots of unexpected pieces and different styles, but somehow they all fit together. TH Roma has a great atmosphere, the sort of place where you come for the room and end up staying for the feel of it. Breakfast was perfect, and there’s proper coffee made by a barista who knows what they’re doing. There’s also a machine, but trust me, let the barista take care of your morning coffee. There’s plenty of room to park your spaceship. The Metro is a five-minute walk away, unless it’s a strike day, since Rome likes its surprises. You can also walk to the Vatican in a smart 30-40 minutes. The Pope, all of Vatican City, and a long line of pilgrims will be there. Good practice for the ultimate line, when Saint Peter decides if you’re going up or down.