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.

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.

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.

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.

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.