Pacific Hotel Fortino

On entering this modern, red-brick building, guests are greeted by a large lobby area with light wood pillars and a reception desk. Royal blue touches like the carpeted areas and elevator doors add a vibrant pop of color, and there’s a large seating area with comfortable, striped sofas. The lobby is often bustling with business travelers attending conferences and making use of the hotel’s free Wi-Fi. The same color scheme continues throughout the public areas of the hotel. The restaurant has wooden dining chairs with bright blue cushions and crisp, white tablecloths. There are a number of larger tables available, ideal for business lunches. 

The hotel is situated outside of Turin’s center, in a quiet residential area north of the city. The famous sights aren’t right on the hotel's doorstep, but they are easy enough to get to from here. A 10-minute cab ride will get passengers into the historic Roman Quarter to see the attractions like the Piazza Castello, the Royal Palace, and the original home of the Holy Shroud -- the Royal Church of San Lorenzo. The largest market in Europe -- the Porta Palazzo is accessible on foot though, in around 15-minutes. To get to the nearest train and Metro stations -- Torino Porta Susa and Principi d'Acaja -- is a 20-minute walk. Turin Airport is a 15-minute drive.

Guest rooms here are a good size and spotlessly clean, along with a decent amount of closet space. They are all equipped with a small flat-screen TV with satellite channels, air-conditioning, minibar, hairdryer, desk, safe, and free Wi-Fi. The decor is the same as the rest of the hotel, and the expanse of blue can feel slightly overwhelming and repetitive -- there’s blue carpet, chairs, bedding, and bathroom tiles. The walls and curtains are a pale yellow though, which does lighten it all up, but doesn't add much in terms of style. The eight suites have a king-size bed, living room with kitchenette, sofa bed, whirlpool bath, and a terrace overlooking the garden. Salvatore Ferragamo toiletries are an unexpectedly nice touch.

The Convention Center at the Pacific Hotel Fortino is outstanding. There are 10 modular rooms which can accommodate up to 500 people in total. They have the latest audio visual technology, and can be set up to meet any requirement, with movable walls, stages, and other equipment. On the first floor there is a terrace with an attractive garden, and comfortable blue wicker chairs and tables. The bar serves a range of drinks until late, including a good selection of Italian wines, and the Italian restaurant serves regional dishes presented in a modern style, along with a breakfast buffet. There’s free Wi-Fi throughout and underground parking for an additional fee. Guests who enjoy a daily workout will be disappointed though, as there’s no fitness center here.