Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese

Rome 2009

Great hotel, great location. Would recomend.

Very Impressed

This was a fantastic hotel with a true "5 star feel". The staff was wonderful,the room we had was great-a small upgrade but super quiet and comfortable.I agree with the other reviewers on the buffet breakfast-way too expensive for me as I am not a big breakfast eater. I did find the room service coffee and small basket of bread to be more economical. The days that we did venture out for breakfast was CRAZY expensive,at even the "local" looking places. Coffee was anywhere from 4-6 euros! The Sofitel has a great cozy in house bar that we frequented nightly as a meeting place for our group of friends,all the staff spoke great english and the computer "free hour" in the office just just enough to stay in touch. Loved it would go back in a heartbeat!

The Hotel and all the service was the best would highly reccomend it!

Everything was perfect

Great Hotel

My husband and I spent 7 nights at Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese in October 2009. The hotel is located in an upscale neighborhood with bus stops, supermarket, restaurants, and a park nearby. It is a 10 minutes walking distance to the Spanish Steps. The room is small by American standard, but it is luxurious and conformable. We loved the bathroom. Hotel staff was extremely helpful and friendly.

There is a nearby under-ground supermarket. You can buy bottled water and snacks there.

Good place to stay

We enjoyed staying at this hotel. The hotel staff were friendly and helpful, the room was nice and clean, and it is located on a quiet street, which was nice. The only minor disappointments were that we had two single beds instead of a double bed, which was not our preference (and it was not clear to us that we had an option in this matter) and the shower was equipped with a glass door that covered only half of the length of the bath tub, meaning that water would usually splash all over while taking a shower.

Traveler's tip on dining

The hotel has a roof top terrace restaurant. A very nice setting indeed, with great views of Rome and a nice lounge atmosphere. Unfortunately, the chefs at that restaurant cannot cook to save their lives. Everything we tried - and I mean everything - from appetizers to deserts - varied from mediocre to downright terrible. We recommend avoiding it, unless you are stopping by for a quick drink.

Very impressed

The staff was extremely helpful and courteous. I would recommend this hotel. However, do not have breakfast at the hotel. It was 25 euros per person. Just down the block, I purchased coffee and a croissant for 2 euros! The view from the rooftop is a must see.

way too expensive...

Thought that for what they charge you would get a more comfortable room. its like a 4 star in the USA.,not a 5 star.

Traveler's tip on dining

do not eat at their restaurant,excellent cuisine but overpriced

A truly wonderful place to stay.

My wife and I went to Rome in June to celebrate my birthday. One of the many highlights of this trip was our stay here. It was so comfortable and the staff was extremely helpful and friendly. We had issues with our luggage being delayed. They front desk made all the appopriate calls and even told us where to shop for the neccesities. They recommend great hotels and made us feel so welcome. The rooms were extremely comfortable and our room overlooked a private garden. The rooftop terrace was to me the best part of the trip. I will always remember the view of Rome at night from this rooftop. Highly recommended.

Looking forward to returning

This hotel was so comfortable from the minute we stepped in and during our entire stay. The concierge, Agostino, desk personale, housekeeping, and resturant staff upstairs on the balcony were all exceptional. The view from there was memorable. It was a pleasure to have the outstanding service provided. We highly recomend it.

GREAT CHOICE! EXCELLENT SERVICE!

The hotel is absolutely elegant and outstanding. The rooms are a little small but have first class amenities. The lobby was elegant and fully appointed. The roof top lounge bar and restaurant overlooking St. Peter’s Dome was the best (stunning), especially at night. The service was excellent from the concierge, front desk, housekeeping to dining staff. Ezio gave us some great suggestions on where to go and how to get to different places of attractions. He was a joy to talk to. Everyone was friendly and helpful from day one. Going back to the Sofitel Hotel after a long day of exhausting sightseeing was a great way to relax and unwind. The beds and pillows are the best. It is near the Spanish Steps, close to Villa Borghese Gardens and shopping. It was worth what we paid for. We stayed for 8 days to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. It made our anniversary truly memorable. The excellent dinner and service at Roof Terrace Lounge and Bar La Bella Vista tops it all. We definitely enjoyed our stay at the hotel and will come back again.

Traveler's tip on getting the most out of your stay

Staying in an air conditioned hotel in Rome specially in the summer months is a must. The Sofitel hotel provided us comfort after a long day of walking and sightseeing.

Great Location....Wonderful Rooftop Bar/Restaurant

We had a family trip here and had 3 rooms. The standard rooms are very good size for a city. The rooms were clean and comfortable and bathrooms were luxurious. However,no body lotion was provided....just shampoo, conditioner, body wash. (all Hermes)

Great staff, great location

Very nice hotel, very comfortable bed. Minutes to Spanish steps. Friendly staff, safe part of town.

Excellent all around

I went to Rome in July 09 with my wife to celebrate my 40th birthday. I was worried about he Sofitel’s hotel AC and the water pressure in the shower as was reported by others. Gladly, this is not the case at all. In fact the shower pressure was excellent and the AC even in July was powerful. The room had a bose radio with the ipod adapter-too bad I did not bring mine. The toiletries are from Hermes-very nice touch. The food in the breakfast area in the basement was excellent-but a bit pricey. The hotel always smelled good either due to the frsh flowers or the candels. Do use the rooftop terrace as it is very charming with great views. Overall, the location and the experience were superb. I will definately stay there again even with my kids this time.

Wouldn’t hesitate to stay there again.

This hotel was an excellent place to stay while in Rome. The location above the "Spanish Steps" ws very convenient to the old city. The room was great, beds were comfortable and the staff was so nice and helpful. The rooftop lounge was a beautiful place to overlook the city especially in the evening. I would definately recommend this hotel to my friends and family.

My favorite Rome Hotel

As always, the Sofitel Roma was fabulois! The view from the rooftop bar is to die for. The rooms can vary in size, although not amenities. Be sure to check your room out before accepting it. The service is excellent.

Beautiful but pricey

We loved this hotel. Great rooftop bar with a fantastic view of Rome, a sunset drink is a must! Villa Borghese area is very quiet and scenic with lots of umbrella pine trees. The staff were very friendly and helpful, just like in the NYC Sofitel. The beds were so comfortable. Food and drinks were very expensive. Have breakfast outside the hotel (not worth the 25 euro)

Traveler's tip on local attractions

near the Spanish steps Have a drink at Hsrry’s Bar just around the corner subway is up the block Trevi fountain is nearby (watch your wallet) do a guided tour of the Colliseum (worth the 15 euro) Go see Church of St. Clemente (very cool!) Suggest a private tour of the Vatican

Nice hotel, a little out of the way

We flew in to Rome from NYC very early in the morning. I had called the hotel a week prior asking if we could have at least one room ready for our arrival. Both rooms were ready for us before 9 am. The hotel manager and the reception staff were friendly and helpful. The rooms are large by European standards, good bathrooms, good amenities, better than other Sofitels in which we had stayed. The roof bar is lovely and not too expensive. Our only issue was the hotel breakfast. There are no open cafes to eat in nearby if you want an 8 am breakfast. We payed 30 euros per person for a poor selection of danish, awful scrambled eggs, slow coffee service, and unfriendly staff. This lasted the whole week of our stay, even though I believe in tipping to try to improve service.

Traveler's tip on saving a few bucks

Rome is built on 7 hills, be prepared for a lot of uphill walking. The city also does not believe in traffic lights. You take your life in your hands every time you cross an intersection. Get a taxi at a taxi queue. If you have the hotel order you one, they arrive with 5 - 7 euros on the meter which they start immediately. Also, cab drivers try to scam tourists by not turning on the meter. Insist on it, or don’t tip.

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Great Hotel

We really enjoyed this hotel during our trip to Rome. The room’s were small but it didn’t seem to matter. The lack of size was compensated with luxury. A great staff and awesome location would definately be reason enough for us to come back again.

First Class Hotel

I enjoyed a week at this wonderful hotel. The property is well located, and really an attractive property. I thought the staff was very nice, and quite accomidating of my lack of Italian. The public areas were well maintained. The roof deck on the 7th floor offered views of most of Rome. My room itself was small, as expected, but well appointed, with a modern bathroom. I recommend strongly this hotel.

Our Favorite Destination

Beautiful hotel, great service, large rooms, very comfortable beds! We loved it.

Outstanding

This was a perfect hotel in a perfect location. The rooms were beautiful, the whole hotel charming and stylish, the staff helpful and caring. The restaurant in the basement was a culinary experience, better than any we found in town for the 3 days we stayed there. Cannot recommend it enough, real gourmet with good wines available.

Traveler's tip on dining

Do not miss the restaurant in the basement of the hotel.

NOT WORTH THE RATING

This hotel is rated a 5 star...and they definitely DID NOT live up to the rating. My bed was little better than the mattress I am currently sleeping on at a base in Iraq. The front desk always made it seem like we were bothering them when we were seeking advice on Restaurants and things. And they charged an ungodly amount for their breakfast every morning. Sofitel was the last of 4 hotels I stayed in while in Italy and by far the most expensive and I was least impressed with it of all the hotels! Do not stay here! I am sure there are plenty of hotels that are far less expensive with much better service and comfort level.

great location

walking distance to all the major historical sites...beautifully appointed/maintained room...room service had difficulty with the simplest of breakfast requests (2 o.j.’s/2 croissants/2 cafe americanos)...two out of our three requests were incorrect and we were charged more than quoted (with no remedy at checkout)...very pleasant staff...good restaurant suggestions from the desk..."alla rampa" and...well i’ll leave that for your discovering!

Good overall experience

We stayed at this hotel for our New Year’s holiday. The hotel is in good condition. The rooms are pretty small, but this is typical in Europe. The location is absolutely wonderful. Walking distance to Via Veneto, to the Villa Borghese Museum, and to the Barberini and Piazza Spagna Metro stations. The staff is very polite and they really make an effort to make you feel comfortable. We would definitely stay again at this place.

Traveler's tip on local attractions

Don’t miss the Church outside the Barberini Metro station, on Via Veneto. It’s run by the Capuchins Order and they have a very special surprise in their catacombs. Creepy, scary, something you will only see at this place...