Just returned 2 days ago from a week stay at kolbe. Not quite a 4 star by United States standards. Senior suite...2 bedrooms, 2 full baths(tub+shower in both), ground level facing courtyard with floor to ceiling doors that open to allow access to grassy area with lovely lemon and orange trees. A little nerve-wracking when the lock to courtyard door in both rooms could be pushed open....we were traveling with our children. The rooms offered privacy due to a very tiny entry way between the two entrance doors to rooms. Hard to describe...need key to access main door then opens into entry, then need key for each bedroom. Rooms were large by European standards, clean, minimally appointed to the point of being nearly austere . That's ok, don't care for clutter anyway. Each room had lcd tv, with only 2 English channels, no kid's programming in English. The kids enjoyed cartoons in German and Italien! DVD players NOT available from desk!! Bathrooms were decent size, clean, plenty of towels upon request. Slippers offered but NO robes :( ! Water was hot and plentiful and spa -like shower heads were a nice treat. No kleenex tissues available in the room. Heating needed to be activated by front desk, so just make the call. Room service was prompt and food hot. Caution ...room service hours are on Italien/island time! They do not serve prior to 7am...nor after 10pm..closed during odd hours during the day as well. Also, be advised, "bambinos menu" changed nearly every day...never knew what was going to be available for the kids. Something as simple as pasta with red sauce or pizza was actually hard to come by on some days...that was frustrating! The french fries were however available each day, hot and as yummy as fast food stlyle found in the USA. Prices ranged from 8 to 18 euro per item for room service. After a long day of touring, shopping, walking it was nice to order up a snack and curl up with the kids to plan the next day's adventure. Hotel's restaurant was pleasant as was the staff. Breakfast buffet was very well stocked. Coffee, latte, cappucinco, espresso, hot cocoa were all rich and delicious. Fresh, still warm pastries with chocolate inside, muffins, cakes all available each day. Sliced salami, proschutto, cheese,and mild ham were also available with multiple fresh bread options, rolls too. Yogurts, fresh juices, cereals also present. Serving time was reasonable...7am to 10am. If you have an early tour planned then ask front desk for boxed breakfast to be ready for your pre- 7am departure. no charge. Taxi service ...easy and quick. Prices ranged about 7 to 10 euro each way for trips to Vatican, piazza navonna, piazza barberinni etc. To make the return taxi trips easy we carried city map and pointed to hotel on map for so taxi driver would know our destination. Prices were always consistent, never got the impresion we were being "taken for a ride". We actually enjoyed the numerous taxi trips especially at night. Driving past the monuments and historical sites at night when all lit up was really something to see. For touring try Presto tours(AMerican guides) and rome's dark tours . Presto was great for a private Vatican tour, well worth the $. The Dark Tours group was excellent as well. The crypts, catacombs tour was amazing as was Masssimo, our guide. Day trip to Naples and Pompeii was good. Pompeii was really the place to see!! Colloseum morning tour was wonderful as well. I love to explore on my own but some of these sites are so vast that have a guide was a smarter way to go. Weather...ranged from 40 to nearly 60 daytime, cooler after sun goes down. Short bursts of light rain , just long enough to scurry into cafe for something warm, like a limoncello!!
- Casa Kolbe
- Casa Kolbe Rome
