Baltic Hotel, Rome

...reader this image of the Baltic Hotel I would sadly be leading them astray as the hotel is nothing special and if anything is not a reflection of the stylish and cosmopolitan hotels that can be found around the lovely city of Rome.

Increasingly Rome has become the destination of choice for Europeans wanting to take a short break to experience the style, culture and shopping that is on offer, however I ventured to the city on business ...
...with the 2 star rated Baltic Hotel. As soon as I saw the 2 star rating I was hugely disappointed with the choice made on behalf but looking at the 50 Euro (approximately £35) a night for bed only costing could understand why I had been booked in here rather than one of the more elegant places closer to the Vatican.

Located at 89 Via Venti Settembre, the hotel is approximately 19 miles from Leonardo Da Vinci Airport and is within easy ... more

When deciding whether to write about my stay at this hotel the phrase ‘when in Rome, do as the Romans do’ immediately sprang to mind, but this simply conjured images of wild Roman orgies of food, wine and fine looking women. If I were to project onto the reader this image of the Baltic Hotel I would sadly be leading them astray as the hotel is nothing special and if anything is not a reflection of the stylish and cosmopolitan hotels that can be found around the lovely city of Rome.

Increasingly Rome has become the destination of choice for Europeans wanting to take a short break to experience the style, culture and shopping that is on offer, however I ventured to the city on business and as I had no control over the booking of the hotel I was lumbered with the 2 star rated Baltic Hotel. As soon as I saw the 2 star rating I was hugely disappointed with the choice made on behalf but looking at the 50 Euro (approximately £35) a night for bed only costing could understand why I had been booked in here rather than one of the more elegant places closer to the Vatican.

Located at 89 Via Venti Settembre, the hotel is approximately 19 miles from Leonardo Da Vinci Airport and is within easy walking distance (2.5 miles) of the Vatican, half a mile from the Trevi Fountain and 1 mile from the Coliseum. Directly opposite the hotel is the Porta Pia, a gate within the Aurelian Walls of Rome, a civic improvement ordered by Pope Pius IV and designed by Michelangelo. Upon request, and subject to availability, guests can request rooms that overlook the Porta Pia and I would recommend this as one of the highlights of any stay at the Baltic Hotel.

Although there is car parking available from personal experience I would not recommend driving to the hotel due to the congested streets of Rome. Not only is it dangerous to drivers unused to the conditions, it also takes hours to drive from the airport to the hotel. The integrated public transport system in Rome is fantastic and the nearest subway station is only 450 metres from the front doors of the hotel.

The Baltic Hotel has 23 guest rooms all of which have air conditioning, cable television, Internet access and mini-bars, set over 3 floors. The front of the building is rather bland yet modern. To say that it is not in keeping with the historical architecture that surrounds it is something of an understatement; however it does redeem itself slightly when entering the main doors into the lobby area. First impressions were of a modern, light and clean hotel, which didn’t seem to be overly busy with a few guests, sat in armchairs and no queue at the check-in desk. The entire check-in process took a matter of minutes as I confirmed my reservation, completed a registration card and took my electronic entry key card. At all times throughout the registration process the receptionist was cheerful, very chatty and happy to answer any questions about the area, the hotel and the best places to eat. There was no hesitation and after following her recommendations I am pleased to report that she knew exactly what she was talking about. My room was located on the third floor of the hotel and found my room easily after using one of the two small lifts that leads off from the main reception area.

After such a warm welcome to the hotel I opened the door to my room and was instantly deflated and under whelmed. There was a large double bed in the middle of the room, a desk opposite that had a computer and television on it and a mini-bar located underneath. Positioned in the corner stood a narrow wardrobe and 3 small draws along with the doorway to the en-suite bathroom. Apart from looking very basic, the room was clean and tidy and really for the price I shouldn’t really complain especially as the receptionist had given me a room overlooking the Portia Pia but the colour scheme was just awful. A cheap light wood effect with a pastel blue curtains and bed sheets. A total lack of style in my opinion.

The bathroom was acceptable, but I was disappointed not to see a bath. There was only a shower cubicle. It was obvious that it has just been cleaned as I could still smell the cleaning products and I was impressed by the size considering they had decided not to install a bath. Instead there was a bidet! With a tiled floor, a full-length mirror and a large hand basin sunk into a marble surface the bathroom oozed more class than the actual room. There were three large bath towels and one hand towel. The maids changed these towels on a daily basis and unlike some hotels I have stayed in over the past few years, none of the replacements left me feeling ill due to hard to remove stains on them.

During my stay I opted not to eat in the café located just off the main reception but did pop into the well stocked bar in the evenings for a quiet drink prior to retiring to my room for the night. If anything the bar was something of a tranquil haven within the hotel where guests came to sit and read whilst sipping one of the quality wines on offer. Despite the poor décor the bar area was nothing but welcoming.

Throughout my stay I had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with several of the staff on duty and at all times they could not do enough to make my stay more enjoyable. This is not a Hilton Hotel, but for a business traveller or someone looking to explore Rome on a budget this hotel is one I would strongly recommend. There is nothing overly offensive about the Baltic Hotel and indeed it is the finest 2 star hotel I have ever stayed in on my travels. In summary, it is cheap, the rooms are clean and the staff go that extra step to ensure your stay is memorable for all the right reasons. 

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