My husband treated me to a trip to Rome for our anniversary. Hotel Locarno was centrally located and a good stepping off point for touring the city. He had read some good reviews and decided that Suite 605 would be a special treat at €450 per night. We understood that the Locarno was a four star hotel and we were staying in one of the best rooms. Sadly the hotel and the staff fell short of our expectations and tarnished what we had hoped would be a memorable trip. We fell impotent to get a satisfactory solution.

What was most frustrating was that every time we raised an issue, staff either ignored us or pretended they would do something and then just forget or choose not to deal with it. All our efforts to speak to the manager were thwarted – she was always out and when staff promised she would be around to talk to she managed to be absent yet again. We never got a face to face talk with the manager during our few days. We ended up leaving a note for her asking her to contact us in the UK. Of course, she didn’t and only finally responded when I had to resort to sending her another email outlining our concerns.

Specific Complaints Included
BATHROOM. The shower curtain in the bathroom was about a foot too short for the bath. Each time we showered, the water came out below the curtain, flooding the floor and making it not only messy, but more importantly dangerous. The manager tried to tell us that a long curtain would “ruin the whole Art-Deco effect” of the bathroom.
The toiletries were meagre – just a liquid soap and no hair conditioner or body lotion. There were no bathrobes and the towels were thin - again not up to four star quality.

BEDROOM. Both the mattress and the pillows were too hard to sleep comfortably and despite commenting to the staff on a couple of occasions, we did not get the impression that they were likely to do anything or even cared. Staff told us that the beds were new and would get softer in time – not time enough for our visit! It seems to me that if there's one thing a good hotel should provide then it is a comfortable bed! The air conditioning only worked on one speed and thewas not powerful enough to cool the room at night while the top of the wardrobe was thick with dust. All inexcusable! We ended our trip feeling tired and irritable through lack of sleep.

BREAKFAST. Again, the breakfast was mediocre considering this is supposed to be a four star hotel. A few rolls and some tasteless coffee with no visible staff on hand.

I have stayed in much better B&B’s at a fraction of the cost. In my opinion, Locarno is resting on its laurels and relying on its Art Deco appearance and maybe a reputation from a bygone era.

We have just returned from Locarno and really loved it. True, the room was small and there are a few blips - you can't reach the loo roll from the loo and the shaving socket was located behind the door so no chance of reaching the mirror. I would like to think the rather rickety lift had been serviced recently but being Italy, who knows. It was an experience

However, all this was mitigated by the extremely friendly and helpful staff and beautiful fittings. We loved borrowing the bikes to cycle round Villa Borghese and the location was perfect, near enough to many of the main sights but down a quiet side street. There are a few top restaurants nearby also a couple of pretty decent tavernas for a simple pizza or pasta.

I thought the room price a little high, but having paid Rome prices for food and drinks for a few days, came round to thinking it fairly reasonable.

I gather a refurbishment is to commence shortly which may tidy up a few corners.

I have to be honest and say I have not stayed at the Hotel Locarno...but not because I didn't try. I booked a reservation with the hotel 3 weeks prior to my vacation in Italy. Upon checking in I was informed that the hotel was overbooked and that there was not a room available for my fiance' and me. Although I was exhausted from several hours of travel that day, I smiled at the woman at the front desk and told her I understood, that sometimes these things just happen. She informed me that they had booked us at a comparable hotel, located just down the street. I thanked her and waited for the offer of a taxi to our new hotel. It never came...and the new hotel was not down the street, it was a few miles away, and up the Spanish Steps - not too convenient when you have 2 heavy bags. If you choose to stay at this hotel I would strongly recommend confirming your reservation several times.

A friend, as well as several travel books including Frommer's, indicated that Locarno was a great "artsy" choice for staying in Roma.
I was concerned about the bad reviews here (as I was correct to be), but wanted to trust my friend and the books, and was excited about the art deco decor. So, I decided to book an expensive room (junior suite) at the hotel, thinking this would alleviate some of the issues. On arrival, we were upgraded to the "Presidential Suite" room 603. This is admittedly a huge room, with truly traditional (and by traditional, I mean likely original) decor and furniture.
So what was the problem? Well, there were many.
The bed may actually be 100+ years old. It is flat, hard but bad springs at the same time; and EXTREMELY uncomfortable. Its like a box spring.
The lovely bathroom reeks of sewage smell, and we had to open windows (it was cold outside; I imagine this problem is even worse when it is hot) in order to alleviate the scent (so, we froze in the bathroom and after showers).
The room literally does not have enough light, management must think the little sconces are romantic, but in a huge room, they basically provide no lighting. We couldn't read at night. We could hear our neighbors very clearly in the next room.
I was miserable, still suffering jet lag three nights into our vacation, and had to request six pillows to sleep on to put on top of the "bed". My husband was embarrassed to also do so, but I think would have done well after all of our sightseeing and the ridiculously bad bed. You know the worst bed you have slept on, like your uncle's pull out couch bed from the 70's? This one is worse.
Also, the key to the room is nearly impossible to use. The employee who brought us to the room had trouble with it; and my husband (an engineer) struggled with it throughout our stay. Again, managers may think this is quaint, as it is an "old" original skeleton key, but like the other relics of the room, it is one that should be revised.

All of that said, the location is lovely, and the breakfast is generous and well-done. There is a nice roof deck, although it was too cold in November to enjoy. The bar and common areas are very nice. And, the art deco decor is truly amazing. Overall, the service was decent, but our other Italy stays (in Milan and Venice) were so truly superior, that I just can't give this one a good review. I have to believe that there are much better places to stay in Rome.
If Locarno decides to make some appropriate investments in: plumbing, lighting, bedding and mattresses, as well as superior service actions, and I read about those here, I would consider another stay. But, at this point, I definitely cannot recommend it.