We recently spent 10 nights in Italy while managing to only spend about $300 on hotels and transportation. Our first stop was Rome where we got to stay at the luxurious Waldorf Astoria Rome Cavalieri. This hotel is part of Hilton’s portfolio and we were able to book it using our 2 free night certificates from the now-defunct Citi Hilton Reserve credit card. For a $95 annual fee, we got our two free nights worth over $900. The card also gave us Hilton Gold status which came with a few extra perks like an upgrade to a park view room. Here’s my review of the Waldorf Astoria Rome Cavalieri.
First off, I want to note that the location is not ideal if you are expecting to walk out the door and be in the city center. The hotel is about a 15 to 20-minute drive from the major attractions though there is a free shuttle that runs every hour. We never had an issue with the shuttle being full but it does stop somewhat early in the evening so we had to rely on cabs to get back to the hotel after dinner. However, being outside of the city has its perks. If you’re visiting in the heat of the summer, you’ll be thankful there’s a pool!
The lobby of the hotel was quite grand. There’s a staircase in the middle that leads to the pool and spa as well as a bar with an outdoor terrace overlooking the pool area.
We booked a King Deluxe room with our free night certificates. The room was large with plenty of room for sitting and relaxing. The Rome Cavalieri pays great attention to details. This was my first time encountering a “pillow menu” at a hotel. You could call the desk and request any of the following to use during your stay.
While I didn’t end up ordering anything off the pillow menu, the “stock” pillows and the bed were comfortable.
As Hilton Gold members, we had the option to purchase breakfast at the restaurant at a special price of 20 euros per person. Instead, we opted to buy food for breakfast and eat in our sitting area. While I’ve never actually had the need for a desk in a hotel, it’s nice to have another place to sit and put things.
Our room was overlooking the pool. At night, we were able to enjoy the music from the pool area from the comfort of our balcony. We even saw a fireworks display (no clue what they were for…)
As you can see, the room was spacious, especially by European standards.
The bathroom was also very spacious. While bidets are standard in Europe, I’ve still yet to use one!
The shower was nice, but I’ll never understand why fancy hotels always fail to install doors that prevent water from soaking the floor. SMH…
In addition to the counter space by the sink, there was a separate mirror and vanity to the left. This was the best space for doing makeup that I’ve encountered in a hotel.
The mini bar was fully stocked, but as you can expect, was not worth spending money on.
Here’s the welcome letter for Hilton Gold members outlining the benefits for our stay.
My favorite part of the room was the soundproof door. It swings out from the wall and seals the room off from any hallway noise.
As a resort, the Rome Cavalieri certainly delivers on the amenities. Here’s a picture of the Roman baths which is part of the Grand Spa. While hotel guests have access to the outdoor pool, you have to pay 20 euros to use the spa facilities which includes the baths and indoor pool. Access is complimentary with Hilton Gold status.
It was too hot out to use the indoor pool, but it’s a very pretty space.
The outdoor pool was my favorite part of the hotel. The pool was really deep (minimum depth of about 6 feet) which was kind of weird, but it was so necessary after sweating my ass off at the Colosseum.
Final Thoughts
The Waldorf Astoria Rome Cavalieri is an excellent choice if you plan on staying more than a few days in Rome. Since it’s a resort, it is located somewhat far away from the city center which can be inconvenient and expensive. If you don’t mind spending money on cabs at least once a day, I would definitely recommend staying here. Aside from the location, the property was wonderful with large rooms, beautiful grounds, and notable attention to detail.
