A evaluation of Rome Cavalieri, a Waldorf Astoria Resort: Resort dwelling within the Everlasting Metropolis

Throughout a latest return to Rome, certainly one of my favourite cities, I used to be decided to not pay by way of the tooth for a number of nights in luxurious. The Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Resort had been on my Roman bucket checklist for a while, and through my summer season keep, I used to be capable of get a fairly nice deal through the use of factors and award certificates regardless of actually excessive money costs.

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Whereas the service was a bit spotty, a big room and unimaginable facilities greater than made up for a number of service hiccups (and a disappointing view). It is a really perfect lodge if you’re touring with household or desire a resort-style escape that also will get you entry to a serious European capital metropolis.

Here is what to anticipate on the Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Resort.

What’s Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Resort?

The Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Resort is a 370-room city resort on a hill excessive above the town. In 1963, Conrad Hilton himself opened the lodge in a modular architectural fashion, which has been preserved in its exteriors. The lodge has seen some fairly high-profile visitors through the years, together with Fred Astaire, George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio and Michelle Obama.

Rome Cavalieri is extra of a resort than a traditional metropolis lodge. It has 4 swimming swimming pools, an unimaginable spa that includes a Turkish bathtub and the one three-Michelin-starred restaurant in Rome. It sits on 15 well-manicured acres with strolling paths weaving among the many swimming pools and loads of inexperienced areas.

Other than the A-list clientele, the lodge is maybe finest identified for its world-class artwork assortment, which incorporates works by Pietro Liberi, Giovanni Giambattista Tiepelo and Antonio Tantardini, amongst many others.

Learn how to e book Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Resort

As you’d anticipate, this Waldorf is not low cost. Nonetheless, it may be an important deal in the event you e book utilizing Hilton Honors factors. For the week I stayed in July, my massive room with a balcony was going for round $625 or 83,000 Hilton Honors factors an evening.

Whereas room charges not often dip beneath $600, I discovered award availability pretty widespread for subsequent yr, even within the peak summer season season. Room charges for a deluxe king room like I had begin round $673 or 80,000 Hilton Honors factors per evening.

I ended up utilizing a free evening certificates from certainly one of my Hilton cobranded playing cards for one evening, spending 80,000 Hilton Honors factors for a second evening, and paying $637 money for a 3rd evening.

Regardless of holding top-tier Diamond standing with Hilton, I didn’t get upgraded at check-in. Whereas comprehensible, contemplating the lodge was bought out throughout my keep, it could have been good to a minimum of have gotten a room with a pleasant view of Rome.

I additionally used two Hilton playing cards to maximise lodge credit.

I used my Hilton Honors American Categorical Surpass® Card for someday’s further costs of $100. This card earns 12 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases made straight with accommodations and resorts inside the Hilton portfolio, so I earned 1,200 Hilton Honors factors. Nonetheless, I additionally obtained a $50 assertion credit score, as you get $50 every quarter for purchases made straight with a property within the Hilton portfolio, as much as $200 a yr, if you use the Surpass card.

I additionally used my Hilton Honors American Categorical Aspire Card for costs for the opposite two days. I earned a complete of 4,886 Hilton Honors factors on just below $350 in further spending. I additionally was ready to make use of my $200 assertion credit score for holding the Aspire card. You get a $200 credit score twice a yr when staying at choose Hilton resorts. The Aspire card additionally comes with an annual free evening award that I used to be ready to make use of on this keep. That is a fairly worthwhile perk for holding the cardboard.

When reserving the Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, you may need to use one of many bank cards that earn probably the most factors for Hilton stays, or probably one that gives automated Hilton Honors elite standing for value-added advantages. These embrace those I discussed above:

• Hilton Honors American Categorical Surpass Card: Earn 12 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at Hilton accommodations, automated Gold elite standing and the power to improve to Diamond standing by spending $40,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar yr.
• Hilton Honors American Categorical Enterprise Card: Earn 12 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at Hilton accommodations, automated Gold elite standing and the power to improve to Diamond standing by way of the top of the subsequent calendar yr by spending $40,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar yr.
• Hilton Honors American Categorical Card: Earn 7 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at Hilton accommodations and automated Hilton Honors Silver standing (with an improve to Gold if you spend $20,000 in a calendar yr).
• Hilton Honors American Categorical Aspire Card: Earn 14 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at Hilton accommodations and automated Diamond elite standing.

The knowledge for the Hilton Aspire Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.

All in all, I earned a complete of 24,461 Hilton Honors factors for the money bookings and the fees I made to the room throughout my keep — value $146.77, in accordance with TPG’s September 2024 valuations. That is a fairly first rate return on spending since I solely paid money for one evening of my three-night keep.

As soon as you have booked, hold a watch out for improve affords from Hilton.

I did not discover any of the affords compelling, however if in case you have your coronary heart set on a view of Rome out of your room, you may need to lock in an improve forward of time. I did not get the sensation the lodge prioritized Diamond Hilton Honors members for upgrades, so take that beneath advisement. I would not rely on a free improve. For what it is value, I additionally wasn’t supplied entry to the lodge’s govt lounge, which is one other perk that’s presupposed to be automated with Diamond standing.

Rome Cavalieri is in a superb space however not central to the very best Roman websites

The Rome Cavalieri sits on high of the best hill in Rome, Monte Mario, in an in any other case city residential space. It affords sweeping views of the town’s iconic websites, together with the close by Vatican. The lodge is much sufficient away from high-traffic vacationer areas to really feel quiet, but not too removed from the points of interest of Rome just like the Trevi Fountain, Castel Sant’Angelo and the Colosseum — a minimum of by way of automotive.

The lodge affords a shuttle that runs to central Rome hourly from 8:30 a.m. to eight:30 p.m., however be aware that it solely runs April by way of October, does not run on Sundays or holidays, and takes a three-hour break throughout its operating instances. In different phrases, it isn’t probably the most handy technique to get into city.

I did stroll a number of instances from the lodge to the Vatican Metropolis space and again. If you’re into lengthy hikes, it is about an hour every method. Simply make certain it isn’t over 100 levels prefer it was throughout my keep.

Basically, in the event you’re searching for a lodge the place you may stroll out the door and be in Rome’s historic heart, you may think about staying elsewhere.

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The lodge is a few 30-minute taxi journey from the primary airport, Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport (FCO), and taxi charges begin round $65.

Rooms are nicely appointed however a bit fusty

As I discussed, I wasn’t upgraded at check-in regardless of my top-tier Hilton Honors Diamond standing, however my deluxe king room was massive and nicely appointed.

The room got here in at greater than 500 sq. ft with a balcony and a dwelling space.

The terrace had two chairs, and views of the residential space throughout the highway in addition to a big telecommunications tower. Beneath, you would see an expansive garden with among the lodge’s sculptures.

The royal blue carpeting was damaged up with gold-trimmed patterns that evoked extra of a Las Vegas on line casino really feel than Roman class, however I might see what they had been going for. Mild wooden furnishings and room dividers had been well-cared for and lightened the vibe of the in any other case heavy designs.

There was a king-size mattress with luxurious white linens, together with loads of different dwelling and dealing area. There was even a “pillow menu” to order numerous varieties of pillow filling, similar to a buckwheat husk pillow, a down bolster and extra.

I snapped a number of pictures of the room throughout the corridor whereas the housekeepers had been cleansing, and you may see the distinction the view makes within the gallery beneath.

The room was stuffed with Roman art work and different heavy and dated design touches.

I used to be greeted with a field of candies together with three bottles of glowing and nonetheless water. Additionally they had Champagne ready for me, however I requested them to alternate it for Coke Zero on ice, which they fortunately did. Housekeeping usually saved bottles of Bolle mineral water stocked within the room.

The room additionally had a Nespresso espresso machine, a tea kettle, Villeroy & Boch dishware, and continually replenished espresso pods and creamers.

A minifridge beneath held miniature liquors plus beer, Acqua Panna Italian glowing water, Purple Bull, Coke merchandise and some small bottles of wine.

There was loads of storage with a number of cupboards and a considerably massive closet. Inside, there have been picket hangers, a protected and a few further bedding.

The elegant cherry wooden desk had loads of area to work throughout my keep. Wi-Fi was quick sufficient to stream Netflix.

There have been retailers above the desk framed in gold. Certainly, there have been plentiful retailers all through the room. A number of the plugs work with American prongs, however you might have to ask the entrance desk for adapters in the event you neglect to deliver some common adapters of your personal.

A pleasant-size lavatory contained a single sink, a bathe and bathtub combo, a bidet, and a bit seating space. It was all comprised of Roman travertine marble. The inlaid flooring design was a pleasant contact.

The facilities by Acqua di Parma had been good, although they had been closely scented with a citrusy, floral perfume that bought a bit drained by the point I left. There have been additionally further dental kits, mouthwash, lotion and cotton swabs within the lavatory.

I am not an enormous fan of the shower-tub combo in lodge rooms. The half-glass-walled bathe additionally made for a messy lavatory flooring throughout showers, however the water stress was wonderful.

The plush Pedersoli Milano’s LaSpugna bathrobes had been a pleasant contact.

The room was massive, particularly by European requirements. I feel my room — among the many smallest within the lodge — can be massive sufficient for a pair or small household to be completely snug for an prolonged keep.

Eating places at Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Resort

There are many eating choices on-site, together with poolside eating at Uliveto and La Pergola, Rome’s solely three-Michelin-starred restaurant.

Uliveto

Uliveto is the lodge’s principal restaurant subsequent door to the pool with indoor and outside seating. It options Mediterranean and worldwide delicacies with regional Italian dishes, and is open for each breakfast and dinner. I cherished the alfresco eating expertise; the hosts and waiters had been pleasant, and repair was immediate and environment friendly.

The breakfast buffet got here free as among the best advantages of top-tier Hilton Honors Diamond standing, saving me $52 per day. There was a powerful unfold, together with a juice station, a big collection of fruit, and all kinds of breads and pastries in a single room.

The room subsequent door was stuffed with a number of tables filled with meals, together with fried eggs, omelets, hard-boiled eggs and numerous meats.

You can too have eggs made to order and different objects from a small a la carte menu, in addition to vegan and gluten-free choices.

Uliveto is open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. on daily basis, and I additionally bought to strive dinner there. It was distinctive, if a bit expensive.

I began with broccoli ripassati as an appetizer for $13 and paired it with a scrumptious pasta referred to as pici all’arrabbiata for $25. Each dishes had been among the many finest I loved throughout my keep in Italy.

Be aware there’s a cowl cost of $5.50 per individual for dinner, which appears foolish to me.

La Pergola

Talking of foolish, Rome Cavalieri’s fancy rooftop restaurant is La Pergola, the place I used to be handled fairly shabbily. It was partially my fault as a result of I did not make reservations previous to my go to, however the host was downright impolite once I confirmed as much as ask about being added to the waitlist. Regardless of the very fact the restaurant wasn’t even open for the night but, she insisted I placed on a blazer earlier than I might even have a look contained in the empty restaurant.

I used to be joyful to decorate up, however once I returned I used to be instructed I would not be allowed to {photograph} even the primary restaurant seating space. She additionally famous that whereas I used to be on the waitlist for dinner, they had been absolutely booked. I used to be capable of take some pictures of the spectacular views from the terrace and the bar space of the restaurant earlier than she shooed me away. It left a fairly dangerous style in my mouth.

That mentioned, if you’ll be able to get reservations, the restaurant will get good suggestions for the meals. The water checklist alone has 45 choices, and there are some 70,000 bottles of wine to select from. The chef right here is Heinz Beck and the restaurant lately bought a serious renovation and overhaul. La Pergola is open for dinner solely Tuesdays by way of Saturdays. Reservations open 4 months prematurely. To provide you an thought of costs, a seven-course meal is $325, and an a la carte three-course meal will value you $253.

Tiepelo Lounge & Terrace

On the opposite aspect of the decadent foyer, you may discover Tiepelo Lounge & Terrace, which is open all day and into the evening and named for the artist Giovanni Battista Tiepolo. Three of his rococo-style work adorn the lodge’s partitions.

The bar options reside jazz or piano music within the evenings. The menu is filled with consolation meals, and I had a scrumptious pizza one night. The bar serves all the pieces from morning espresso to night nightcaps with immediate and pleasant service.

The Pool Bar

Adjoining to the pool is The Pool Bar, providing a coated space to sit down and dine. Additionally they ship drinks and light-weight bites to individuals having fun with time within the solar by the pool. Service was wonderful, although costs are excessive. I paid $31 for a tasty Caesar salad with grilled rooster and a whopping $11 for a smooth drink.

Room service can also be accessible with choices mirroring Uliveto precisely. One night, I ordered a small pizza and rooster breast with french fries, which totaled out to $84.

Facilities are the place the Rome Cavalieri actually shines

Once I consider the Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, what I actually keep in mind is the facilities. Not solely does it have Roman baths, clay tennis courts, strolling paths and several other massive terraces, however the resort additionally has no fewer than 4 swimming swimming pools, together with an indoor pool.

That inside pool is the proper spot to hang around within the winter when the remainder of the swimming swimming pools are closed for the season.

There was by no means a scarcity of pool chairs or locations to sit down or lie down, even throughout peak sunbathing hours.

The swimming pool was probably the most common spots within the lodge, stuffed with visitors from throughout. I cherished the pool as a result of, in contrast to many trendy swimming pools, it had a deep finish; it was good to dive down within the completely cooled water.

The lodge has two small swimming pools ultimate for kids, plus a children membership in the summertime with actions like pizza making.

Pets are additionally welcome, and I noticed a number of lovable canine, together with a bit dachshund who gave the impression to be a little bit of a mascot, making a stir wherever he went.

The spa at Rome Cavalieri channels Roman baths

You possibly can hit up the Cavalieri Grand Spa Membership for a therapeutic massage, facial, hair remedy or different service. I loved an exquisite therapeutic massage on the spa on my first day on the lodge; that $200 resort credit score from my Hilton card got here in helpful right here. I paid $149 for a 50-minute remedy they name the Diamond Nicely-Residing Expertise therapeutic massage.

There are separate males’s and girls’s locker rooms (and saunas), and the pleasant spa employees offers you a locker, a gown and slippers if you’re having fun with a remedy.

I spent a minimum of an hour a day throughout my go to utilizing the spa amenities. There’s a big co-ed scorching tub and a steam room, a rest room, and separate sauna and locker rooms divided by gender.

There’s additionally a separate seating space with a Nespresso machine, ice water and some snacks accessible for spa visitors.

Because of my Hilton Honors standing, I did not pay to make use of the amenities, however visitors who do not e book remedies and with out standing should pay $42 a day to make use of the spa.

Health fanatics will love the big, well-appointed gymnasium

The Rome Cavalieri has a large and lately up to date gymnasium. It affords an enormous collection of cardio gear like treadmills, stationary bikes and elliptical machines, and dozens of machines and free weights of all types. Even when the gymnasium was crowded, it by no means felt full, and there have been machines accessible.

Causes Rome Cavalieri will not be for you

The Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Resort has many pluses, nevertheless it additionally has some drawbacks.

• As beforehand talked about, service was spotty, and so they did not do an important job of rewarding this Hilton Honors Diamond member.
• The situation just isn’t ultimate for seeing the foremost sights of Rome.
• Rooms are additionally a bit old style, and the Sixties-era design of the resort can really feel dated.
• Rooms with out the sweeping views of Rome are a little bit of a letdown because you overlook a residential neighborhood.
• The shuttles to take guests to the primary areas of the Roman capital do not run often sufficient to be as helpful as they might be.
• You will have to make reservations at La Pergola nicely prematurely. Do not anticipate to get assist scoring a reservation from the concierge on the lodge.

Accessibility at Rome Cavalieri

The Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Resort is absolutely wheelchair accessible. It has accessible rooms, broad doorways and hallways, accessible elevators, and a complete checklist of different facilities. I discovered area to be among the best components of the lodge, and plenty of massive areas felt particularly accommodating. Buttons are lowered within the wider-than-average elevators and there are seize bars as nicely.

As all the time, TPG recommends calling the lodge to verify any accessible room sorts previous to reserving to ensure particular wants might be accommodated.

Trying out

The Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Resort has so much going for it. It is a fabulous choice for these with Hilton free evening certificates or Hilton Honors factors burning a gap of their pocket, assuming you may e book for 100,000 factors an evening or much less. I cherished with the ability to use the swimming swimming pools, the unimaginable spa and baths, and the varied lounging areas. The meals was scrumptious, and the rooms, although dated, are nonetheless luxurious.

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Nonetheless, there are a number of issues to concentrate on if you’re staying right here. Do not anticipate to get a ton of Hilton Honors perks, even with top-tier standing, and the service did not fairly reside as much as a real luxurious lodge expertise. If you would like reservations on the famed three-Michelin-star restaurant, reserve far prematurely and do not rely on any magic from the concierge.

Additionally bear in mind the placement is outdoors of Rome’s historic heart.

Regardless of all of that, the Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Resort is a vibrant spot within the very costly Roman lodge panorama. I’d return if the value had been proper, particularly if I had extra free evening certificates to make use of.

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