On a street lined with flowering oleanders in the famous and exclusive Parioli residential district of Rome, you will find the Hotel degli Aranci (£). This compact hotel was originally a villa built in 1900 and is in the quieter suburbs of Rome. Close by is Villa Borghese beyond which are the Spanish Steps. The dome of St Peter’s Basilica can be seen from some of the terraces. As such it is within reach of most of the main sights.
Reception and Welcome
Reception area is small as befits the size of the hotel and sets the scene for the rest of the hotels decor. Marbled floor wood paneling and a hint of Asiatic details.
Check-in was rapid and efficient but most of all friendly and in English. We soon had our key cards and headed to the lower ground floor. It was slightly misleading as the the ground floor, where the main entrance to the hotel is on one street level where as the lower ground floor is on the next street level. Hotel delgi Arancini is built on the side of a hill.
The architecture and decor of the hotel is along classic early 1900s lines referred to, on their website, as Liberty Style. The Asian influence is in the form of wall panels and other details. There were areas where the decor was looking a little tired and in need of renewal.
The Room
The room where we stayed had a long hallway at the end of which was the bathroom. to the left, through an archway, was the twin-bedded room. Apart from the beds there was a built-in dresser above which was a large TV. Additionally, there was a small desk and chair and two bedside tables. All this did make the room feel slightly crowded.
The bedroom was decorated with sage green walls with a large mirror at the head of the bed. Opposite this was a wall panel with Japanese style painting of an Asiatic bird on blossoming cherry tree branches.
The beds and both pillows were firm and comfortable which made for a decent night’s sleep.
The bathroom had a marble floor which. we discovered later, became dangerously slippery when wet. This was remedied by putting the bath mat down. The bath was far too short to even sit in comfortably. Added to this the taps on the side and the soap holder meant it was very awkward to get in the bath and even more so when getting out. It also meant it was difficult having a shower. All in all not thought through well. The rest of the bathroom was again in the classic style with basin, bidet and toilet.
Public Areas
The Food
We ate dinner in the restaurants of Rome. However, we had breakfast everyday at the hotel. There was huge variety of food on offer; continental and English breakfasts. In Italy breakfast often consists of pastries and a coffee; both were available along with fruit and an assortment of bread rolls and spreads. Also available were cold meats, cheeses and eggs as well as a variety of cereals and yoghurts.
In conclusion
The Hotel degli Aranci (£) is a comfortable hotel ideal for any visitor to Rome. Adequate and comfortable with excellent food it served me well for my few days in the Eternal City. It was a real haven of rest to return to after a days sightseeing. Despite little niggles here and there it was the friendliness of all the staff that that made an impression on me. They were very helpful which always came with a smile. In my books that is always a huge plus.
To book a stay at Hotel degli Aranci (£) click on the link. For more information visit www.hoteldegliaranci.com
Please Note: There are affiliate links on this page. That means that if you click on them and subsequently purchase anything I get a small commission. This is at no cost to you. Affiliate links in the text are always followed by a ‘£’ sign in brackets – (£).
Both myself and my readers value my editorial independence and I will always write an honest review be it good bad or indifferent.
