BEST WESTERN Hotel Astrid

We just returned from a week at the Astrid. While it is a little ways out from the main tourist areas, it is just fantastic. The staff all spoke perfect English and were extremely helpful. The rooms are very nice by European standards and the beds were comfortable. The free minibar was a nice touch and the free wi-fi made calling home really easy. A really nice traditional Roman breakfast was included on the 5th floor every morning with breads, cereal, meats, etc... About a block away is a feeder train to the Rome metro system that runs by every 5 minutes or so. Just a few stops and you are at Rome's North Gate, the Piazza del Popolo, which has fantastic shopping and places to eat. From there you can take the Flaminio Metro stop to anywhere you want to go in Rome. Very easy. While there are many hotels close to tourist areas, I appreciated the Astrid location because it is in a really nice area with lots of locals, which means good places to eat. Another bonus for Americans is the Astrid is owned by Best Western, which means you get the Best Western cancellation policy. All they need is 24 hours notice. Most European hotels charge an extra 10% or more for the option to cancel and get your money back if you have to. That does away with the cost of travel insurance coverage in the event of having to cancel. I would definitely stay at the Astrid again. Especially because: 1. Very friendly, helpful staff. 2. Clean room, standard European size. 3. Free wifi and free breakfast and minibar. 4. Location 5. Price.

The hotel staff was friendly right from the beginning. We enjoyed their service and hospitality. The amenities were amazing and we admired the staff for doing everything they can to help us. Although the noisy cars, trucks, mopeds, etc. didn't help much when sleeping at night, the view, balcony, and comfort of the room easily made up for it. While there isn't much to see around the hotel, just a few blocks and you are in the midst of Rome. Plus, this hotel gives you the added advantage of learning how their public transportation system operates. Overall, the hotel experience was amazing and I would highly recommend it to anyone.