Hotel Centro

The door to the hallway was the main problem. It didn’t close snugly, so corridor light came in all night and I could hear neighbors’ conversations and footsteps when they got back late. My sleep suffered. The room also felt worn and dated, without the fresh, premium feel I expect from Mercure. On the plus side, staff were professional and helpful. The food and drink at breakfast, the restaurant, and the bar were very basic for Europe. Logistically, the hotel is hard to beat for Termini, especially if you have an early flight. It was a good 15-minute walk to the station for me. I was lucky to get a balcony, a great feature I’d recommend. I stayed as an Accor Diamond member. I’d ask for a renovated room and bring an eye mask.

The thermostat only let me choose between 20 and 21, and the shower had weak water pressure. The room was small, poorly lit, and came with just one soap for body and hair that wasn’t very good for either. The reception area looked improvised. As a Silver member, I didn’t feel I received anything special, just one can of mineral water a day, and I’m not even sure that wasn’t given to everyone. The place felt old, more like a budget two-star hotel than Mercure’s usual standard, despite the nice entrance. We later stayed at the Ruby across the street, which was cheaper and much, much nicer.

The staff really stood out. We were travelling with an infant and had a train at 11 pm, and they arranged late checkout so we could stay until 9 pm. I’m very grateful for that and was happy to stay at Mercure Roma Termini. The hotel is centrally placed, within walking distance of the Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Collosseum, and Roma Termini. Our room was very clean but small, and the balcony was nice. I thought breakfast could have been better.

The location makes up for a lot, and most of the staff were kind and helpful. Still, I wouldn’t call this four-star quality. There were several design annoyances in the room, including charger sockets behind the bed and a heater positioned against the toilet so it was hard to sit properly. The manager also didn’t return my greeting when I said hi.