I just figured out that we can stay at the Cavalleri Hilton for free for 2 nights using rewards points. Is it as nice as it sounds? Is it too inconvenient or would it be worth it since it's free? Thanks.

Our family stayed there for 6 nights a few years ago. These are the pros and cons:

Pros: Tranquil and pretty setting, excellent Concierge service (as well as all others), beautiful rooms with large bathrooms, balcony overlooking Rome, beautiful indoor pool, fitness center and bath area, nice little neighborhood up the street to explore, it's FREE. There is also a La Pergola, a 3 Michelin star (Expensive) restaurant (Heinz Beck, chef) my husband and I enjoyed.

Cons: 15 minute taxi into the center, free shuttle drops you off in an inconvient location, EVERYTHING is expensive at the hotel. I paid something like 24 Euro (maybe more) for four cans, yes cans, of ice tea near the pool. I'm not kidding. The use of the indoor pool /gym/baths adds about 30 Euro per person daily to the room tab. (Hilton Honors membersip doesn't work for free entrance)

We liked it because it was free for us (2 rooms) and we were there for 6 nights, which made a nice refuge from the city for our kids. We spent at least $60 a day on taxis. It was March so we splurged for the indoor pool for 6 of us one day.

Free is not always free so you have to decide.

I

The Hilton is like not being IN Rome but it is darn comfortable. It is very swank and just as nice as it sounds, a real resort. I was at a convention there recently and have a home nearby-Piazzale Medaglie d'oro. I'd do the two free nights, then go in the midst of things, perhaps down in Trastevere to get a "real Rome" fix. Or perhaps a few nights in the N. Lazio countryside.

Thanks.
Our plan would be to spend two nights here for "free" and then spend four nights outside of Florence at Villa Massa which I hear is spectacular-we would explore Florence and Tuscany from there. If we saved on the Rome hotel, then we could stay at Villa Massa. We are thinking of staying at the new Hilton Garden Inn at the Rome airport the last night.

Do Villa Massa for sure and if it is contigent on the free nights in Rome, go for it. You will stay in the center of Rome all day and most of the evening, a 15 minute cab ride should not be to bad.

And besides, if you love that much, there is always next time to stay in Rome itself.

But Villa Massa.. oh me o my! You will love it!!

That brings back some wonderful memories. I stayed at the Cavalleri Hilton in the 70s, and remember a beautiful view of Rome from its location on Monte Maria. We asked some policemen for directions to the hotel (I was driving a Porsche 911) and the policemen, in an Alfa Romeo, signaled me to follow them. So there was a Porsche chasing a police car through Rome at high speeds to keep up, even going through one or two red lights. Finally they stopped, waved us past, and the hotel was just up the hill. What an introduction to Rome!

Wow! How exciting. We won't be in a Porche or an Alpha Romeo, I am sure. Can't wait! Thanks for the info.

My wife and I will be spending 4 nights there at the end of September. Also on Hilton Honor points. We figure the money we will save on hotel stay can be spent on numerous other things in Rome. So what if you have to pay for taxi, think of what you are saving each night. That is what we calculated, given that 4 nights at even a modest hotel in Rome will add up given the high Euro these days.

Hello,
We always stay at the Cavalieri and we love it. Depending on the Hilton Honors level you are, different things are included in your stay. Check to see what your membership level entitles you to. You might be able to use the pool and spa facilties as a perk of your membership. I would stay there reguardless because it is so nice. As for the shuttle, it drops you off at the Piazza Barberini which is close to the Trevi fountain and the termini station.

Donna

Donna: A previous poster said she stayed at the Cavalieri Hilton and loved it. They used points also for their stay and were on the executive floor. We will be staying there also and I am hoping that since I am gold status we also will be put on the executive floor since that is what has happened in the past whenever we have stayed at the Hiltons.

Have you always been put on the executive floor at this hotel? Also I was told that the shuttle worked well for getting to and from downtown Rome?? Do you have any comments on the shuttle?

Thank you

It sounds like you should stay there, especially if it means you get to upgrade hotels in another part of your trip. Now you know all the pros and cons and are prepared for what to expect. As you can imagine, in order to have enough points for 2 rooms for 6 nights, my husband has the upper level Hilton membership. The indoor pool is still not free because it's not owned by the hotel. It's more of a health club and used by locals as well as guests. We were not on the Executive Level, but they gave us view rooms. They were some of the nicest rooms I've ever stayed in. You should request a view when booking. (The other side of the hotel looks out onto the parking lot.) We had our nightcaps on our balcony looking out over the city. That's a plus. The shuttle stop is not the best, but we didn't mind paying taxi fares because the hotel cost us nothing. I'm sure you feel the same way. If you're there in the warmer months, the outdoor pool is free. You may have to pay for towels? The Cavalieri gets mixed tripadvisor reviews because of the cons that I listed in my earlier post. You can imagine some people are paying upwards of $600 a night and they get a little miffed about these things. Free is good.

Thanks-we have weighed the pros and cons and it sounds as if the cons are outweighed by the pros. It sounds spectacular and we don't mind paying for a taxi to get us home at night-it certainly won't keep us from exploring Rome! We have requested a city view-hope we get it!

I've stayed there 3 times (6 nights at a time) and will probably return.
While it has slightly slipped (IMHO) in quality service the last time we went (about 15 moinths ago),it's still a great hotel.
I,however,would not stay there if I were paying for it. Their shuttle is okay,but stops WAY too early to return after dinner. If you mistime it,you can wait an hour (plus the 20 minute drive).
I also doubt that I would stay there if I thought I wasn't a Honors Diamond. Getting upgraded to the Rome view, being able to use their great spa, and their fantastic lounge help make this a special stay.
I have read that they sometimes upgrade "golds" as well,do you have HH status?

When I stayed there as a Gold, I was told that hotel policy is to only upgrade Hilton Diamond level members. On the other hand, we did get a Rome view room and complimentary breakfast buffet, which was the best buffet spread I have ever seen. We managed to get around using the shuttle bus to get us to Piazza Barberini, then used the hop-on-hop-off bus to go to most of the sights we wanted to see.

Have you found out if there are award nights available when you want to go? The Cavalieri is usually pretty booked up.

Richard
When did you go? Some folks at Flyer Talk have reported being upgraded to the lounge floors as golds. I assume that's an exception.
I totally agree with making sure you can get the rooms. Without a diamond force I would not have been able to stay the first two visits.