Hotel Quirinale

The hotel’s best feature is its location, with most attractions close enough to walk to. The building still looks pretty, though it feels very dated. Our small room was fine as a place to sleep, and it was generally clean, but the window and balcony looked onto what seemed to be a filthy alley, so we couldn’t get fresh air at night. The beds were extremely hard, and the walls seemed paper-thin. We heard the people next door talking and snoring, along with their very private moments. Noisy sounds, possibly staff moving or dragging furniture, woke me several times overnight. The air conditioning didn’t work, and the TV didn’t work properly. You can’t sign into streaming apps, which would have helped when I broke my ankle and spent two days in the room. The hand soap hadn’t been replenished when we arrived, though towels and toilet paper were replaced daily. Reception made a poor first impression. The staff seemed unwelcoming and abrupt. Breakfast was average, and we didn’t try the restaurant. Staff at the bar were unfriendly too. Given the service, noise, and rest of the experience, I wouldn’t return or recommend it.

I’d happily come back again and again. The hotel itself is historic and has plenty to see, and our beautiful room was clean and spacious. The bathroom products smelled so good that I wish I knew what they were. Breakfast had a huge spread, with lots of coffee and other drinks and several areas to sit and eat. The staff arranged an airport pickup and, at the last minute, a trip to Florence for the next day. Special thanks to Paolo. I’ll always remember your kindness.

We booked this hotel because I’d stayed here 12 years ago and remembered it fondly. The cleaning staff were especially friendly, and in general we had a good stay. It’s an authentic-looking place with some modern touches, and the staff were very friendly. The location is great, within walking distance of the main places and close to buses and the metro. Breakfast came with the stay, but wasn’t especially good. We had dinner at the hotel one night and liked the food, though the portions were tiny for a very high price, so I can’t recommend the restaurant. Extending our stay by one night went smoothly at first. The next day, though, they’d only booked one extra person and gave us the wrong price, which felt quite unprofessional. It was still a good experience overall, but I’m not sure we’d choose the hotel again. I’d give it four stars because the stay was generally good.

I’m writing this for future travelers, especially families and anyone who needs a good night’s sleep in Rome. If that matters to you, I’d strongly suggest staying somewhere else. This was the worst hotel experience of my trip to Italy, and the complete lack of care and accountability was unlike anything I’ve encountered in North America. My family and I had already visited Venice and Florence when we arrived in Rome. I booked a Family Suite for June 19-20 at about €500 a night, expecting somewhere comfortable. Instead, our room faced two bars on the corner outside the hotel. Every window, even the bathroom one, looked onto the street, and the sound insulation was shockingly poor. We could hear every song from inside the room. The music started in the evening and went well past midnight, leaving us awake after a long day of sightseeing. At about 12:30 AM, I went to the front desk. The staff member first seemed not to know where the noise came from and said, “It’s Friday night, the bars stay open late.” I showed her a video recorded in the room after midnight, which made the volume clear, and only then did she acknowledge the problem. The hotel had options to help but wouldn’t move us to a quieter room or make a meaningful effort to fix it. Instead, I was told, “You can call the police.” I was visiting from Canada and using an eSIM in Italy, so I didn’t have a local number. The front desk staff spent almost 20 minutes calling the police for me, but still wouldn’t offer another room. There wasn’t a sincere apology or any sign of empathy. Around 1:00 AM, another staff member brought three pairs of earplugs. That was the hotel’s solution. The next day, nobody contacted us or asked what had happened. No call, email, follow-up, or apology. I know one unhappy guest may not make a difference to a hotel this size, and I’m not writing because I expect them to change. I want other travelers to know what happened.