Ger posting from the Hilton at Rome airport (FCO)
May 12th, 2005, 02:09 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,464
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ger posting from the Hilton at Rome airport (FCO)
Hello there!
I am posting from the Hilton at Rome airport. Sorry, I can’t find the original posting re the Hilton at Rome Airport, where I had promised Maitaitom to provide a review of the hotel.
It was long journey from Victoria and then a three-hour layover in London. I was upgraded to B/C and actually fell asleep over my dinner, after a glass of champagne and very thin Pinot Noir, while watching “The Aviator” on the personal video system (besides the wonderful performance of Cate Blanchette as Hepburn, I didn’t think much of the movie. Highlight of the movie for me was the re-enactment of the very brief flight of the “Spruce Goose”). I didn’t even make it to the cheese and dessert! I woke up as they were serving breakfast. So I am not feeling TOO weary. The Air Canada arrival lounge is a real bonus for these two-leg flights. I showered and changed before checking in with Alitalia in Terminal 2 (Normally, I try to use BA or BMI for flights to Italy, but the BA ticket to Rome would have been over twice the price). Terminal 2 is by far the worst of all the LHR terminals. I was starving and, before the flight to Rome, had lunch at the Cavier House bar. Excellent Gravadlax (Salmon) & salad and a glass of wine cost 17 GBP. Service on this flight was really good; the staff was pleasant and even helped me store my luggage in the over-head bin. The pleasant service may have been connected to the fact that the staff was handing out a customer satisfaction surveys. Call me cynical, but I have never been particulary impressed by AZ service! I was, as usual, relieved, surprised and delighted to be reunited with my luggage at FCO.
Finding the Hilton: When you exit the baggage hall, turn left and walk to the end of the terminal. You will see signs for the Hilton. Take the elevator up to the second floor and follow the signs through the above-ground “tubes”, past the car hire companies, until you reach another bank of elevators. Take the elevator down one floor and you find yourself outside the hotel. I was able to take the baggage trolley all the way up to my room, so it is very convenient, about a 10 minute walk from the terminal.
This is your bog-standard, business-traveller, airport Hilton. Global homogenization at its best or worse, depending on your requirements and perspective. With taxes and breakfast included, the rate was 180 Euros, which is quite reasonable for an airport hotel in a major city (I normally pay 100 GBP for similar around Heathrow, without breakfast). You could be in Beijing, Beirut or Boston; there are no surprises, no distinguishing features. I know I will wake up in a panic tomorrow morning wondering where the hell I am!
Check-in was incredibly efficient and pleasant, despite the fact there were crowds around the desk and the hotel is full (there is a convention happening tomorrow). Italians don’t understand the concept of the “queue” (line-up) in the same way that the English and Americans do! The hotel has a restaurant, a piano bar and Health Club.
My room is large, with two single beds, and is decorated in various shades of beige, with accents of Hunter Green. The bathroom is beige marble with a bath, shower, bidet and the required toiletries; it is SPOTLESSLY clean . Basically, the décor is beige boring with not an ounce of imagination. There is a mini-bar, with water, mixers, mini bottles of booze, beer, nuts. There are the standard four wooden hangers in the wardrobe (the Hilton chain must have conducted a study that indicated that the average business traveller only needs FOUR hangers; just as well I travel with my own!). There is a safe in the room, which I am always terrified of using in case I can’t get my passport back. There is no iron and ironing board, which annoys me (as I have lots of linen with me and would have like to freshen my clothes up before leaving tomorrow).
The TV has many English-language channels (in addition to Italian, French, German, Japanese, Arabic channels): BBC World Service, CNN, Eurosport, Barrons and others. There is a desk with a phone and phonemail, and also a phone beside the bed. Best of all, they have WIFI (I now try to check into hotels that have WIFI) and I can use my “roaming service” to access it. If you don’t have a roaming service, you can pay on-line via credit card for access.
I will let you know about the breakfast tomorrow.
Regards Ger
I am posting from the Hilton at Rome airport. Sorry, I can’t find the original posting re the Hilton at Rome Airport, where I had promised Maitaitom to provide a review of the hotel.
It was long journey from Victoria and then a three-hour layover in London. I was upgraded to B/C and actually fell asleep over my dinner, after a glass of champagne and very thin Pinot Noir, while watching “The Aviator” on the personal video system (besides the wonderful performance of Cate Blanchette as Hepburn, I didn’t think much of the movie. Highlight of the movie for me was the re-enactment of the very brief flight of the “Spruce Goose”). I didn’t even make it to the cheese and dessert! I woke up as they were serving breakfast. So I am not feeling TOO weary. The Air Canada arrival lounge is a real bonus for these two-leg flights. I showered and changed before checking in with Alitalia in Terminal 2 (Normally, I try to use BA or BMI for flights to Italy, but the BA ticket to Rome would have been over twice the price). Terminal 2 is by far the worst of all the LHR terminals. I was starving and, before the flight to Rome, had lunch at the Cavier House bar. Excellent Gravadlax (Salmon) & salad and a glass of wine cost 17 GBP. Service on this flight was really good; the staff was pleasant and even helped me store my luggage in the over-head bin. The pleasant service may have been connected to the fact that the staff was handing out a customer satisfaction surveys. Call me cynical, but I have never been particulary impressed by AZ service! I was, as usual, relieved, surprised and delighted to be reunited with my luggage at FCO.
Finding the Hilton: When you exit the baggage hall, turn left and walk to the end of the terminal. You will see signs for the Hilton. Take the elevator up to the second floor and follow the signs through the above-ground “tubes”, past the car hire companies, until you reach another bank of elevators. Take the elevator down one floor and you find yourself outside the hotel. I was able to take the baggage trolley all the way up to my room, so it is very convenient, about a 10 minute walk from the terminal.
This is your bog-standard, business-traveller, airport Hilton. Global homogenization at its best or worse, depending on your requirements and perspective. With taxes and breakfast included, the rate was 180 Euros, which is quite reasonable for an airport hotel in a major city (I normally pay 100 GBP for similar around Heathrow, without breakfast). You could be in Beijing, Beirut or Boston; there are no surprises, no distinguishing features. I know I will wake up in a panic tomorrow morning wondering where the hell I am!
Check-in was incredibly efficient and pleasant, despite the fact there were crowds around the desk and the hotel is full (there is a convention happening tomorrow). Italians don’t understand the concept of the “queue” (line-up) in the same way that the English and Americans do! The hotel has a restaurant, a piano bar and Health Club.
My room is large, with two single beds, and is decorated in various shades of beige, with accents of Hunter Green. The bathroom is beige marble with a bath, shower, bidet and the required toiletries; it is SPOTLESSLY clean . Basically, the décor is beige boring with not an ounce of imagination. There is a mini-bar, with water, mixers, mini bottles of booze, beer, nuts. There are the standard four wooden hangers in the wardrobe (the Hilton chain must have conducted a study that indicated that the average business traveller only needs FOUR hangers; just as well I travel with my own!). There is a safe in the room, which I am always terrified of using in case I can’t get my passport back. There is no iron and ironing board, which annoys me (as I have lots of linen with me and would have like to freshen my clothes up before leaving tomorrow).
The TV has many English-language channels (in addition to Italian, French, German, Japanese, Arabic channels): BBC World Service, CNN, Eurosport, Barrons and others. There is a desk with a phone and phonemail, and also a phone beside the bed. Best of all, they have WIFI (I now try to check into hotels that have WIFI) and I can use my “roaming service” to access it. If you don’t have a roaming service, you can pay on-line via credit card for access.
I will let you know about the breakfast tomorrow.
Regards Ger
May 12th, 2005, 02:30 PM
#2
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,134
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well, glad your trip is off to a good start! Keep us updated.
PS: look in the back of the closet by the room door, that is where I found the ironing board, etc. at that Hilton.
I hope you like their breakfast buffet, I think it is really good.
PS: look in the back of the closet by the room door, that is where I found the ironing board, etc. at that Hilton.
I hope you like their breakfast buffet, I think it is really good.
May 12th, 2005, 04:09 PM
#5
Ger, you are a great advance scout. What time did you arrive? I'll look forward to your reports, especially the drive to Spello. I hope you have a wonderful time. With all you're doing on the scouting front, I should send send a not-so-thin California Pinot Noir when you get home.
May 18th, 2005, 10:22 AM
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,464
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hello all:
Just to comment on the breakfast. It was the largest breakfast buffet I have ever seen! “American/English”: eggs, rashers, sausages, beans, pancakes, chips and on an on. Continental: large selection of cold meats and cheeses, yogurts, breads, cakes, cereals. Several different juices. You certainly won’t go hungry.
Seaurchin: No ironing board at all
Budman: The hairdryer was one of those silly wall mounted contraptions, so weak that its impossible to even dry my curly hair, never mind style it. This is why I decided some time ago to let my hair do its own thing when I travel. There are too many wonderful things to do besides spending two hours in the bathroom trying to tame my mad mop!
Mimi: I had a marvellous weekend. I am in love with Umbria. Visited Orveito, Perugia, Assissi, Speleto, Gubbio (on the day of their major festival; a very different experience!).
Maitaitom: The driving was easier than I had feared. however, the ring road around Rome has been comppletely ploughed up and is down to two lanes and twists and turns like a demented snake. It was impossible to drive over 50KM/hour and I almost missed my flight on the way back. Also, once you get into Umbria, the standard of the roads varied greatly; many were quite badly potholed.
I will start the trip report this weekend.
Regards Ger
Just to comment on the breakfast. It was the largest breakfast buffet I have ever seen! “American/English”: eggs, rashers, sausages, beans, pancakes, chips and on an on. Continental: large selection of cold meats and cheeses, yogurts, breads, cakes, cereals. Several different juices. You certainly won’t go hungry.
Seaurchin: No ironing board at all
Budman: The hairdryer was one of those silly wall mounted contraptions, so weak that its impossible to even dry my curly hair, never mind style it. This is why I decided some time ago to let my hair do its own thing when I travel. There are too many wonderful things to do besides spending two hours in the bathroom trying to tame my mad mop!
Mimi: I had a marvellous weekend. I am in love with Umbria. Visited Orveito, Perugia, Assissi, Speleto, Gubbio (on the day of their major festival; a very different experience!).
Maitaitom: The driving was easier than I had feared. however, the ring road around Rome has been comppletely ploughed up and is down to two lanes and twists and turns like a demented snake. It was impossible to drive over 50KM/hour and I almost missed my flight on the way back. Also, once you get into Umbria, the standard of the roads varied greatly; many were quite badly potholed.
I will start the trip report this weekend.
Regards Ger
