HiSuiteRome

From the street, it would be hard to guess that HiSuiteRome is actually a hotel. Two adjoining apartment buildings have been converted into 11 self-catering apartments, with a discreet concierge desk located two doors down. The suites are housed across three stories in a charming Roman palazzo on a central cobblestoned street. 

Inside, the suites are divided across two to three floors, and all feature separate living rooms and bedrooms. The extra space, cooking facilities and add-on services such as babysitting tend to attract primarily families or groups of adults looking to experience Rome as a quasi-local. 

Overall, the hotel attracts self-caterers who don't mind taking care of travel-related needs themselves and who won't miss typical hotel services, such as room service. The do-it-yourself attitude may be worth adopting because modern apartment-style hotels in such a central location are pretty rare, especially in this price range. Residenza di Ripetta is slightly pricier and more dated, while the five-room La Finestra sul Colosseo B&B is cheaper but not as centrally located, and lacks the in-room kitchenettes found here (it has a shared guest kitchen instead). The nearby and charming Navona Gallery & Garden Suites is slightly cheaper, but only some rooms include kitchenettes, and the more traditional look may be too fussy for some tastes. It's easy to see why HiSuite Rome is perennially popular and a great value -- so it's best to book early, as this tiny property can sell out. 

On a cobblestoned street filled with restaurants in Rome’s historic center, HiSuiteRome is set in between the Vatican and the Pantheon -- and each can be reached within 15 minutes on foot. The classic Roman street outside the hotel is popular in the summer when the bars and restaurants are filled with outdoor diners. Roman dinners tend to go into the early hours, so some street noise can filter through the bedroom windows, which are not double-glazed. 

Most of central Rome is not well connected by metro. The nearest stops to the hotel are either Spagna (Metro A) or Colosseo (Metro B), each of which are more than a 20-minute walk away. However, the hotel is only a four-minute walk away from Piazza Navona, so many of Rome’s central attractions are accessible on foot. HiSuiteRome is also near two major bus stops if you want to try your luck with Roman public transportation. 

A taxi stand is available at either end of Piazza Navona, and the main train station is about a 15-minute drive away. Fiumicino Leonardo Da Vinci airport is reachable within 40 minutes by car.

• Four-minute walk to Piazza Navona
• Five-minute walk to Castel Sant’Angelo
• Seven-minute walk to Campo de’ Fiori
• 11-minute walk to the Pantheon
• 15-minute walk to St. Peter’s Basilica
• 18-minute walk to the Trevi Fountain 
• 12-minute drive to the Colosseum
• 15-minute drive to Termini Station
• 35-minute drive to Rome Ciampino International Airport
• 40-minute drive to Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport

The rooms at HiSuiteRome are, as the name suggests, all suites. (Though there is one Luxury Room that can be rented independently or as part of the largest suite). Each feels like a modern studio, with few characteristics of the old palazzo building recognizable from inside. The decor is contemporary if a bit lacking in personality -- the aesthetic is Ikea-esque -- and the design is dominated by large photographs of Rome that sometimes take up an entire wall. Color schemes are gray and white, offset by an accent color (often red). All suites have functional, if not fully loaded, kitchenettes with sinks, two-burner stovetops, kettles, Nespresso coffeemakers, free tea and Nespresso pods, toasters, microwaves, and mini-fridges that can be stocked on request.

The standard One-Bedroom Apartments have a living area with kitchenette on the main floor, with stairs leading to the bedroom and bathroom on the second floor. The multi-level layout helps to divide the space, but means plenty of trips up and down the stairs.

All suites include sofa beds, which might appeal to groups to looking to share the space without necessarily sharing a single mattress. However, note that the Luxury Room and One-Bedroom Apartment only fit two guests (the One-Bedroom Apartment can fit three for an extra charge). The Family Suite and Duplex Suite can fit four, the Two-bedroom Apartment can fit five, and the Luxury Two-Bedroom Apartment can fit seven. 

Some guests complain about the hot water, but each room has an independent boiler and rainfall showers so this should only be a problem if three or more people want to shower back to back. 

HiSuiteRome requires a bit of a do-it-yourself approach to exploring Rome. At the time of this writing, the concierge is only available from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and located one building down from the entrance to the suites. Of course, staff can be reached by phone at other hours if needed, but for the most part guests are left to their own devices. 

There is daily maid service, but suites are better compared to apartment living than a traditional hotel experience. This means that unlike other mid-range hotels in Rome, there are no common spaces, no on-site bar, and no gym. Instead, you will find free bike rentals if the urge to exercise strikes. Plus, the central location means all your eating and drinking needs can be satisfied by stepping just outside the front door. The hotel sometimes offers breakfast promotions; for example, those staying more than two nights might get a free welcome breakfast on their first morning of free pastries and jam, delivered to the apartment.