FH55 Grand Hotel Palatino

The hotel is comfortable, lovely, and in a great location, so I'd recommend it as a base. The refurbished room we had was great, and the staff were terrific. My only room complaint is that the bed was too big and took up too much floor space. A smaller one could have left room for two small chairs instead of the single chair. Checkout left a bad taste, though. We knew about the €7.50 per person per night tourist tax, but the bill had an extra €102 listed as a 'tip' for hotel services, on top of the expected €75 tax. I declined. We'd already tipped €5 for being shown to our room and having our bags delivered, and tipped the maid and bar staff daily. The hotel had also had a boiler failure for a couple of hours one evening, which was inconvenient. Check your bill before putting your card in the machine.

We had a lovely stay in the heart of Monti. The location is excellent for seeing Rome's historic center, with the Colosseum about an 8-minute walk away and the Trevi Fountain around 12 minutes away. Rooms come in older and renovated versions. The older ones are comfortable, while the updated rooms are especially modern and beautiful. The staff were welcoming, very friendly, and helpful throughout, with special thanks to Pamela for being so kind and professional. My only small suggestion is to offer more breakfast variety. We'd happily stay again.

Breakfast was included and had plenty to choose from: bread, cakes, fruit, cooked vegetables, eggs, cold cuts, and yogurt. The handmade cappuccinos, fresh coffee, and pancakes were highlights. We also had dinner at Le Spighe, and recommend it, though I'll write a separate review. The hotel bar was a nice place to wait for a room, and the staff never rushed us. A shakerato at 8 euro felt pricey, but lattes and snacks were reasonably priced for a hotel. The staff were all lovely, from reception, especially Izabella, to the entrance security, bar, buffet and restaurant servers, and housekeeping. The hotel also replied promptly to a couple of emails before we arrived. The cleaning lady who worked on the 3rd floor around May 11th, looking after rooms in the 320s, deserves a shoutout. She worked hard and was pleasant. Our room and the shared and dining areas were all very clean. We stayed three nights in mid-May and were extremely satisfied. The lobby is large, with lots of room to sit while waiting for your room to be ready. The hotel feels modern and bright, and I liked the tan and brown tones throughout. It's central, about a 15-minute walk from the Colosseum, with cafes, gelaterias, and restaurants nearby. Some routes mean stairs or hills. A small supermarket is up the street, and there's a pickup and drop-off spot right outside for taxis or Uber. We booked a recently renovated Classic Executive room. The soundproofing was decent, though we sometimes heard neighbors slamming doors or handling luggage at night. Temperature control worked once we learned to adjust the fan strength as well as the setting. It was cool during the day and cozy at night. Staff can lend a space heater if you find it too cold. There was a kettle, espresso machine, and stocked minibar, though there was no room to store our own drinks in it. Free bottled water was provided on arrival day. The adjustable lighting was the brightest we've had, including the bathroom lights in the mirrors. There was lots of storage and a giant TV. We were happy with the cleanliness, with no dust or dirt, and no carpet. The bathroom had double sinks and a separate holder for toothbrushes and toothpaste, which not many hotels provide. There were plenty of towels, including face towels. The shower was excellent, with non-slip tiles, good smelling shampoo and shower gel, strong water pressure, and steady temperature. Its door swung both ways, so water didn't drip onto the bathmat. WiFi was fast and easy to connect to at check-in. The entrance has stairs and no railing, which could be a small challenge for anyone with limited mobility. I think there was a movable platform for wheelchair access. Security staff helped people up and down and carried luggage. Thanks for everything!

The breakfast was terrific, with a well-stocked spread, and it was nice that it ran late enough for a lie-in. We enjoyed filling up before heading out to explore. The sights of Rome are all close by, and the location is great for seeing them. Staff were terrific, from reception and housekeeping to the breakfast team. They cleaned and turned down our room every day. We hadn't told them it was a birthday trip, but someone noticed on the paperwork and made the day feel special. Very well done. We spent four nights here and saw mixed reviews. I think the hotel has both fully updated rooms and older, run-down ones. We got one of the tired rooms on the second floor. Street noise was very low, which was lovely, but sound came through the connecting door easily. Even when our neighbor was quiet, we could hear every cough and sneeze. The bathroom had one of those swinging European shower doors that lets water onto the floor. The air conditioner was weak and sometimes squealed at night, though it settled down by our last night. I'd stick to the renovated rooms.