I recently traveled to Italy where I spent six days in Rome. During this leg of my Europe trip, I stayed at Hotel Athena.
It is a pretty decent hotel that's close to the city center. If I did this trip several years ago, I would have stayed at a hostel to save money. But since turning 30, I no longer have that extra energy to stay at noisy hostels with a bunch of strangers in the room. I'm prioritizing sleep and privacy, and if that means paying extra for a nice hotel room then so be it.
Location
Hotel Athena is located outside of the city center, in a quiet area close to Policlinico University. There are a few food places close to the hotel. There are also two subway stations within a 10-minute walk so it was still easy to get around.
I loved that it's close to Tiburtina Station, which is where you can get a train to the airport. This is also where you can catch the bus if you're traveling outside of Rome. So even though it's not in the city center, I loved the hotel's location.
Amenities
The room has all the basic amenities and more. A huge cabinet, towels, and toiletries were provided. There was a TV, fridge, hairdryer, and hot and cold shower. The bathroom was small and a little cramped but I'm also small, so it wasn't really a problem for me. The Wi-Fi worked. My room also had a balcony, which I loved.
My booking included a free daily breakfast of a croissant and coffee, plus some cookies and jam. I didn't enjoy it that much because, as a Filipino, I'm used to savory breakfasts, but it was still better than nothing. There was also a snack vending in the reception area in case you get some late-night snacking urges like I did.
Cleanliness
Overall, the room and the ensuite bathroom were quite clean. The hotel staff cleaned the room daily. They also refilled my toiletries and toilet paper daily.
Customer Service
The customer service was good. The people at the front desk were very accommodating. The front desk is open 24/7 with the staff on rotation. The other hotel staff members were also friendly. They always greeted me with "ciao" whenever I passed them by the hallways.
Price
I paid PHP16,343.30 for five nights which puts the nightly rate at PHP3,268.66 or €55.70. I thought it was a very good price for what I got.
Overall, I can say that my stay at Hotel Athena was very pleasant. The bed was comfy. The fridge was convenient to have. The hot shower, TV, and everything in the room worked. I had no complaints. I would recommend Hotel Athena, and I would probably stay here again if ever I return to Rome.
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