A Touch of Kitsch near to Termini Station (Hotel Centre 1, 2, 3 (Rome, Italy))

Member Name: Praskipark

Product:	Hotel Centre 1, 2, 3 (Rome, Italy)
Date:	22/04/09 (155 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A Clean and adequate hotel near to all the historical attractions and central station

Disadvantages: Breakfast is a bit ropey and the first floor rooms are very dark

The afternoon we arrived in Roma was a wet and dismal one and I couldn't wait to find our accomodation. The Hotel which is callled centre 1-2-3 because it is 3 hotels making the best use of a traditional Roman villa, was about 15 minutes walk from Termini Station (central station in Rome). It was a little precarious trapsing down the road with traffic hurtling at you at great speeds but we managed it in the end.

To reach the entrance you have to walk down a sloped path which has the odd stone urn filled with stone ornamental grapes overhanging and a couple of Roman sculptures. All very kitsch. To add to the kitschness the outside of the building is painted a sugar pink which reminded me of a box of dusted rose turkish delight I once bought in Nicosia.

Reception is on the very bottom floor of the building which I assume would have been the cellar in its original state. As you enter there is a desk to the left with lots of wooden pigeon holes for guests keys and mail. The desk is of a solid, dark mahogany nature which has been very well polished. To the left of the desk is a staircase and a little further down the corridor is a bar area and then further on another entrance to a second staircase.

On arrival there was a small queue of other people checking in so we stood back and took in the surroundings. Behind the desk was an elderly refined couple who looked a bit grumpy. My first impression of the hotel was one of cleanliness and although a bit outlandish in furnishings I thought it was pleasantly attractive. Nice to see lots of plants like ferns and rubber plants. I always think a plant adds a bit of extra colour to the environment.

When it came to our turn to check in we handed the elderly man our booking forms from the travel agent and he filled in a book and then gave us the keys to our room which was actually up the stairs on the right on the first floor. So that was all very easy and without any hitches.

Once we reached the first floor and entered our room for four nights, my husband had a funny look on his face. He didn't like the room because it was so dark. This floor of rooms was below ground level so there was no view and the window had bars on. I could see he was irritated but I thought it was okay. I never really get worked up about rooms when we are on a city vacation because it is somewhere just to rest your head. I said that it would be fine for a few nights and once he had had a shower he would feel better. I was right - he did feel better but he still didn't like the room but decided to put it to the back of his mind while we went off in search of sustenance.

After having a decent meal and a couple of drinks we came back to the room and were so tired from all the travelling that we just wanted to sleep. But could we sleep - no we could not. All we could hear was the night porter's radio blaring away. At first we ignored it but eventually my husband crawled out of bed and went down to tell him to turn it down which after looking at my husband in exasperation, he did turn it down.

The next morning the first thing we did was to go to reception and complain. We just said that we didn't like the room because of the darkness and we could hear the radio blaring. I think the gentleman on reception who for some reason I thought he acted like a hotel owner more than an employee, thought we were being a bit hysterical and couldn't really see what the problem was. He agreed to move us to another room but we would have to wait as the rooms were all being cleaned. He told us to go and eat breakfast and by the time we came down the new room would be free.

So before I describe the new room I will tell you about the Breakfast room. This is on the top floor of the building and the inside dining area reminds me a bit of a school canteen. It is self service although there is a lady serving coffee and tea. I would love to tell you that there was a vast array of breakfast goodies on offer but there wasn't. Rolls, rolls and more rolls. Brown and white, the odd biscuit, jam and honey. Basically that was it. Fruit juice was available but this tasted very synthetic to me and the coffee was chicory based so although I was desperate for a cup I only had one because I really don't like chicory. Once we had filled the tray up with our assortment of rolls we trundled off to sit on the outside terrace. It was at the end of September but the weather was still very warm. The terrace was very nice with potted geraniums and nice wooden tables and chairs but the best thing of all was the view of the skyline and the whole of Roma. It was stunning and made you forget about the ropey old coffee and rolls.

We took our time over beakfast because we wanted the room to be waiting for us and it was. Thankfully, this time it was much better and at last my husband had a smile on his face until the evening when he went down to the bar for a drink to find it closed. This was one of the reasons we chose this hotel because a bar was advertised. It looked like the bar had never been opened from the beginning of the season. This time he refrained from complaining.

The new bedroom was quite large with twin beds, fitted wardrobes and an en-suite bathroom. The main colour of the room was a honey coloured yellow. Walls were pale lemon and the long draped curtains were gold with tie-backs. The material of the bedspread matched the curtains. On the wall above the bed was a local painting of the Coliseum. Very basic but clean and comfortable.

The bathroom was a bit 'heavy handed'. By this I mean the tile work and floor was a heavy colour of brown making the room dark rather than light. I like bathrooms to be light and airy. Still, everything worked and there was plenty of hot water, clean towels, soap and other bits and bobs that were free.

So overall, what did I think to this hotel? I thought the hotel was adequate for a short stay. We paid 50 euros for a double room with breakfast in 2007 which I didn't think was a bad price. In fact, I was very surprised with prices of restaurants and entrance fees to most attractions in the city. For some reason I thought Rome woud be expensive but it wasn't.

I think the hotel is situated in a good position which is very near to the central bus and train station. It is located in the historic area and within walking distance of all the attractions such as Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps and the Coliseum. Within 10 minutes walk you will find yourself in an area filled with restaurants and bars. All offering a good and variable choice of food and drinks at very reasonable prices to say Roma is a capital city. The Fiumicino - Leonardo Divinci International Airport is about 15 minutes away. Internet wasn't available in the hotel but a five minute's walk in the direction of the railway station you will find a call centre and a couple of Internet cafes run by Egyptians who are extremely helpful and friendly.

All in all, the hotel may not be The Ritz but it is in a great location and I would use its services again the next time I am in Rome. Not sure if my husband would - so might have to go on my own!

Summary: An Adequate Hotel in Rome's Lower Quarters