Good for:

The Hotel Quirinale is good for families, groups, couples, or solo travelers who need a reasonably-priced, comfortable hotel near public transportation.

 

How to get there:

The hotel is a very easy walk (500 m / 0.3 mi) from Roma Termini Station.  The Leonardo Express runs between Rome’s Fiumicino Airport (FCO) and Termini Station every half hour for €14 (about $15.50 as of July 2016).  The Repubblica – Teatro Opera Metro stop is one block away.

 

Best time to go:

Anytime!  Rome is more crowded with tourists and quite hot during the summer months (June-August), but that’s also when most tours and outdoor activities are available.  Spring and fall have ideal weather and thinner crowds.  Winters are mild (though you’ll still need a coat).  This hotel is a great option if you’re staying in Rome for a night or two before a cruise or before continuing on to other parts of Italy.

Hotel:

The hotel sits a block southwest from the fountains at the Piazza della Repubblica.  It faces a busy street, but once you’re through the revolving doors, the curtain-draped lobby is a respite from the chaos.  The staff at the reception desk is helpful, friendly, and speaks English.  The hotel does have a set of elevators/lifts, but be warned that there are a few stairs before you can get to them.  If you’re traveling light, take one of the staircases, which feature giant oil paintings in gilded frames and sculptures hiding in nooks.  The hallways and rooms feature colorful rugs and carved wood furniture, which air more on the side of antique than dated.  Though the hotel could probably use a refresh, it is fairly categorized as a 4-star property and is reasonably priced relative to other options in Rome (like the 5-star St. Regis that’s just a couple blocks away).  

 

Rooms:

The standard rooms (starting at €99 per night) are comfortably sized for two people, especially by European hotel standards.  The entryway of our standard room had hooks, drawers, and a shelf for suitcases.  The bathroom was fairly up to date with marble tiles and new fixtures, including a single sink, shower/tub combo, toilet and a bidet.  A full toiletry kit was available, as well as coffee and tea in the bedroom.  The bedroom featured a king-sized bed made up of two single mattress pushed together, which is unfortunately commonplace in European hotels.  Fortunately the beds had a pad over the conjoined mattresses, making the crack in between much less noticeable.  The room also had an armchair, a large armoire, a desk, a mini fridge, and a flat screen tv.  The heavily draped windows and shutters opened up to an unremarkable rooftop, but the option for fresh air was quite nice.  The drapes in the room blocked out the light so well that we thought we’d woken up before sunrise!  A sparkly chandelier hanging from the very tall ceilings added the perfect amount of charm.  The air conditioning didn’t have us running for extra blankets, but it kept us plenty cool for a good night’s sleep.  And for all of us who can’t stand to be disconnected, the wifi is free.

 

Restaurant:

The hotel has an Italian restaurant and bar, serving breakfast, lunch, happy hour, and dinner.  Room service is also available.
Breakfast for two is included in the room rates, and it is served by a lovely, interior courtyard.  The spread included pastries, fruit, hot items like eggs and sausage, charcuterie and cheese, as well as water, juices, tea, and coffee.  There is seating indoors in the restaurant and outdoors in the courtyard (during warmer months).

Activities:

The Hotel Quirinale provides a central location that’s great for exploring Rome, especially if you have limited time in the city.  The Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, and Villa Borghese are all within a mile’s walk from the hotel (the Pantheon barely misses the cut at 1.1 miles away).  The Opera is directly behind the hotel and is linked by an internal walkway.  Several centuries-old churches stand within a few blocks, and most of them are free to enter.  The hotel does have a “gym,” though it’s just a room near the lobby with three exercise machines.

 

Points + Credit Cards:

Hotel Quirinale is part of the World Hotels Peakpoints loyalty program, with which you can earn points to redeem at one of the hundreds of hotels in their worldwide portfolio–including 39 hotels in the US.  It’s worth signing up, even if you think you’ll never use the points (because you never know!).

 

Travel credit cards like the Bank of America Travel Rewards, Barclaycard Arrival Plus, and Capital One Venture Card allow you to redeem points for statement credits on travel and hotel purchases, effectively allowing you to wipe the hotel charge.  The other best option is to use a credit card with travel/hotel bonuses so you earn extra points on your purchase.  The Chase Sapphire Preferred gets 2x points on hotels, the Citi Premier and Citi Prestige both get 3x points on hotels, and Citi Prestige can also be used to get your fourth night free on stays of 4 nights or more.  At the very least, be sure to charge your hotel to a card with no foreign transaction fees!

 

Why I love it:

The convenience to Termini Station and the price were our main factors in choosing this hotel, and it delivered on both accounts.  Given that we only had 24 hours in Rome during our most recent trip, we were really able to maximize our time thanks to the central location.  Along with the reasonable price, free breakfast and wifi, it was just what we wanted for a quick stopover.

 

The hotel was both larger and more charming that I expected.  It was built in 1865, and the building definitely felt historic (in a good way); the carved moldings and paintings and antique details were a lovely surprise!  

 

We traveled as a couple in July 2016.

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