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Rome's New Courtyard by Marriott Has Nice Views, OK Prices, And a So-So Location

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: Via Giuseppe Moscati 7, Rome, Italy, 00168
December 11, 2009 at 11:32 AM | by | Comments (0)

The camera never lies, and that looks pretty far off to us

It’s probably our favourite city in the world, but we always find Rome particularly tricky when it comes to accommodation. In fact, were we not so fond of it, we might be a little put off.

Most of the cheap hotels are clustered round Termini station and the area is, not to put too fine a point on it, scuzztown. If you want somewhere more salubrious, you have to pay through the nose.

The latest addition to the Rome hotel scene is the 162-roomed Courtyard by Marriott west of the Vatican, which used to be the Hotel Central Park. Will it shake the hotel scene up? Sadly, we reckon probably not. Rates are OK for Rome – about €100, and they have a three nights for the price of two offer running until April next year – and there are some smashing views of St Peter’s, as you can see from this pic.

But we have a big issue with the location, over on the western side of the Monte Mario (AKA the highest of Rome’s seven hills).

The hotel bills itself as being "near the Vatican", but they seem to be confusing “near” with “on the same side of the river as”, because geographically-speaking, you’re actually closer to the Vatican if you stay east of the Tiber, near the Piazza del Popolo or Campo Marzio. Ditto for the Stadio Olimpico, the huge stadium built by Mussolini - it’s on the same side of the river but they’re 5km apart. (And anyway, unless you have a thing for fascist architecture, the stadium’s probably a fourth visit kind of sight.)

There is a shuttle service provided to the city centre, but we always find shuttles pretty depressing, and not very late-running, so you’d probably end up shelling out on a few taxis.

In short, it’s OK, but it won’t be setting the Tiber on fire any time soon. Our quest for the perfect Roman holiday continues.

[Photo: Travelnauta]

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