THE pool at the Aldrovandi is attractive and most welcome after sight-seeing. Our room was spotless...as it should be for the price. We liked the location very close to the park and didn't mind a 10 minute walk to the Via Veneto. We wouldn't go back though mainly because of the ridiculous price of the meals. The ludicrously named "Baby" restaurant was pretentious, overpriced, nutritionally unbalanced and the portions were too small.The very average breakfast buffet was 30 dollars each. Staff were pleasant but not particularly well informed...they couldn't tell us how to get to Ciampino airport by public transport ...in fact the concierge told us "no-one goes there". Rather a dull place with acres of empty rooms and swirly carpets.

If you are unlucky enough to be given an odd numbered room on the lower floors, then you're likely to have the pleasure of being waken up by the trams that run just 5 metres outside the main entrance of the hotel at 5 minute intervals from day break. To make the experience even more pleasant, the trams drivers seem to have the habit of ringing their bells leading up to the tram stop close to the hotel.

The rooms were pleasant and the bed comfortable. There is a workable desk although the broadband connection (which apparently should be available) was missing. The bathroom was the highlight and was very good by Roman standards.

Without being overly helpful the staff were certainly not rude.

The hotel itself was a little out of the way and it always seem to take a while to get a taxi.

Because it was August and in preparation for the heat, we wanted a hotel in Rome with a pool. The Aldrovandi Hotel has a small but elegant pool and poolside dining except we were sightseeing so much we never used it!
Located at the top of the Borghese Gardens, it is a 15 minute walk to the Spanish Steps. Wonderful room- great bed, marble bath. $$$$ but you can get a deal through a travel agent. Loved the hotel, location OK for tourists.

I stayed at the Aldrovandi for four nights at the end of July with my boyfriend. We got a great deal with Expedia and only paid £450 for the four nights.

The hotel rooms have been recently refurbished and our room was fantastic! The bathroom was marble, the bed huge and comfortable and everything was extremely clean and very stylish.

I am surprised at previous reviews mentioning unfriendly staff. We couldn't have found the staff any friendlier! All the staff we met were smiling, helpful and attentive with excellent English. One of the bar men even recommended places to eat outside of the hotel and we ended up having one of our best meals out based on his recommendations.

The "extras" at the hotel are expensive. The mini bar is highly priced, as in any hotel I've stayed in, and the food at the poolside bar is also quite expensive - 20 Euros for a club sandwich, but we ordered a side of french fries and were not charged any extra for it.

We didn't eat in the "Baby" restaurant but I am not surprised it is very expensive - it is Michelin starred. We chose to eat at the Cavlieri Hilton restaurant one night, which has two Michelin stars, and that cost £317!

The pool was great - the use of the pool is now free for guests, with sun loungers and towels also provided free. It was fantastic to get back to the hotel after a hot day sight-seeing and relax by the pool for a couple of hours.

One small word of warning, and the only negative thing about the hotel, was that a few small items of mine were stolen from our room on the first day. These were not expensive - they left my jewellery and everything with sentimental value, but took a tube of foundation and a trial size perfume!? I have alerted the hotel to this so hopefully the culprit will not be working there much longer. Otherwise I would thoroughly recommend the Aldrovandi and would not hesitate to stay there again when I next return to Rome.