A.Roma Lifestyle Hotel

Housed in a long, four-story building with stacked rows of windows, A.Roma Lifestyle Hotel has a modern rectangular look. The grounds are exceptionally manicured and equally modern, its tidy flat grass dotted with sculptures, walkways, and benches, all encircling the huge lagoon-style pool with a wood sundeck and loungers. The spacious reception area feels at once imposing and au courant, with high marbled walls, massive red drapes, moody uplighting, and huge drum pendant lights. It's a refined and upscale look that carries into other public spaces. The lobby lounge, which extends into a bar, features rich red upholstered armchairs and couches with contrast piping and huge windows that look out onto the hotel's verdant lawns. The hotel attracts a range of guests, including business travelers and tourists, though the latter should note that the hotel is situated on the outskirts of the city and doesn't make the best base for sightseeing. But it is ideal for a breather from Rome's compressed bustle.

The hotel is located in a quiet and pretty residential area, but it's fairly far from central Rome, with only a few restaurants in walking distance. The hotel offers an inexpensive shuttle bus to the Vatican (15- to 30-minute drive, depending on traffic), but some guests note that the somewhat limited service can be a nuisance. The closest tram, Gianicolense-Casaletto, is a 15-minute walk, and guests can expect to get from the hotel to Piazza Venezia in central Rome in 30 to 40 minutes. Leonardo da Vinci International Airport is about an hour away via public transit, or a 21-minute drive. The hotel offers bike rentals and airport transfers for an extra fee. Free parking is available on-site.

The understated guest rooms are tastefully decorated (if a tad generic) with neutral color palettes and wine-red accents. Rooms are immaculate and feature wall-to-wall carpeting, large windows, light wood furniture, and plush upholstered seating trimmed in contrast piping. Bathrooms are modern with toilets, bidets, and combo showers and tubs, or separate showers and tubs in upgraded rooms. 

Amenities include 42-inch Smart TVs, electronic safes, USB ports, and free Wi-Fi. There's no fancy Nespresso machines or minibars, but rooms do have coffee/tea service in the form of electric kettles, and mini-fridges contain free bottled water and a soda or two, restocked daily. Bathrooms include free individual toiletries, hairdryers, and slippers. Room sizes range all the way from the fairly spacious 270-square-foot entry level rooms to a massive 2,150 square foot Presidential Suite with an additional spacious private terrace. 

A.Roma's sprawling grounds and high style are reflected in its extensive features, which is one of the property's biggest selling points. Sapori dal Mondo, the hotel's restaurant, features buffet-style international dishes and 10 different cooking stations and offers everything from sushi to pizza to pastries. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner most days of the week -- but not all. Guests tend to enjoy the big, American-style breakfast buffet which is free for guests each morning. The hotel has a nice lobby bar and lounge and a stylish rooftop bar with views of St. Peter’s Basilica.

The hotel's spa is enormous (over 30,000 square feet) and is open to hotel guests as well as the public. It's cheaper for guests, but still costs an extra fee, which includes access to saunas, a steam bath, expansive relaxation areas, an indoor saltwater pool, and other amenities. Massages and other treatments are also available through the spa, and some treatment rooms feature couples whirlpools. Hotel guests get free access to the fitness center, which includes modern weight-lifting and cardio machines. The hotel also has a large, green lawn with walking paths and gardens, and a lagoon-like outdoor pool with a terrace surrounded by loungers.

Thanks to its ample size, the hotel offers 19 business, conference, wedding, and event rooms, with high-tech features like video walls as well as breakout rooms and a ballroom. For transport, A.Roma provides free parking, plus shuttle service to the Vatican, airport transfers, and bike rentals for extra fees. High-end services include concierge service and 24-hour room service. Babysitting, personal shoppers, and even hair appointments can be arranged as well.