Just got back from a very pleasant stay at the Franklin 'Feel The Sound' Hotel in an area of Rome called Prati, about 15 mins walk North of the Vatican.

This music-themed hotel is modern & clean, with quirky little details which make this hotel stand out from the rest. Revolving disco ball in the bathroom, bedside table drums and Bang & Olufson Stereo Systems in every room, from which you can play album's borrowed from the CD library in the lobby (fabulous idea)! Plus, we each received complimentary slippers! Also complimentary is internet connection, which is a rare treat these days & was very much appreciated (& used!).

Our trip to Rome was a special celebration - my fiance & I were celebrating our 10th anniversary together. We informed the hotel of this when we booked & requested the nicest room in our price range. What we were allocated was better than I'd hoped. They very kindy gave us a lovely room on the 1st floor with a jacuzzi bath & an outside balcony area with table & chairs. The bed was nice, big and very comfortable. The Bang & Olufson stereo gave off a fantastic sound & was also connected to a speaker in the bathroom which, along with the disco ball, meant we had our very own (bathroom) night club!

Breakfast was continental, but surprisingly filling & offered the nicest croissants I'd ever tasted! The cappuccino's were pretty good too.

The location of the hotel was, for me, it's only downfall. If it was located in the heart of Rome then it would be absolutely perfect! However, then they'd probably charge double or triple the price I paid, which was one of the reasons I booked this hotel. I did initially search for a hotel in the center of Rome, but even the grim-looking 2 star hotels weren't cheap. I got what I thought was a pretty good deal from Expedia.com, so I do recommend booking with them. Anyway, even though the Franklin Hotel wasn't located in the busy city center, it was still pretty easy to get to.

We wanted to save a bit of money on transport, so when we arrived in Rome (Ciampino Airport) we took the Terravision Coach (booked in advance for €10 return). This takes you directly to Termini Station, where you can take a taxi, bus or metro to Franklin Hotel. We decided to take the Metro Line A to Ottaviano, which is the nearest station to the hotel. From Ottaviano station it's a 10 minute walk (look out for the downstairs bakery just outside the exit on Via Barletta! It was packed full of eager customers drawn it by the delicious smell of it's bread & pastries!).

At night the area around the hotel is fairly quiet, due to it being mostly residential, but still felt relatively safe. Prati is known for being quite an elegant area, so you shouldn't worry about safety. There are a few restaurants nearby (3 restaurants on the same street as the hotel) & if you walk towards the Vatican, you'll find plenty more.

On the whole, I would recommend the Franklin hotel to everyone I know. A few of my friends have even seen my photos of the hotel & are already planning their stay there!

Very friendly, helpful staff. Relxaed atmosphere and reasonably priced . Great idea for a hotel with with excellent sound system. Good selection of music too.....bring your own if you like, in case it's not all to your taste!!

Tucked into a working-class neighborhood not too far from Vatican City, the Franklin Feel the Sound Hotel offered us clean and hospitable accommodations and one of the best breakfasts of our two-week stay in Italia.
As a family of four, we needed a quad room, and while the fit was a tad tight, the room was clean, tidy and always stocked with enough towels and pillows for four people. It also had the best working air conditioning of any of the five hotels we stayed in in Italy.
The front desk staff we saw most often during our three nights there was Pino, I believe, and he went out of his way to help us navigate around Roma. He even called a long-lost relative for me in Tuscany, and translated when we would be arriving. The Franklin has a very reliable contact for taxi service to the airport (getting us a much cheaper ride out than we had in), and they know the local restaurants well. The only limitation in our recommendation is that the Metro (subway) station is a pretty decent hike from the hotel. After long days sightseeing in Rome, those last few long blocks back in the humidity were tiring -- but the hotel was always a light, airy oasis to return to. Despite the graffitti and non-polished neighborhood, the streets were filled with workers and tourists at all hours, and we felt safe throughout our stay. Considering the prices we saw elsewhere in Roma, this was a delightful bargain.
Oh and the breakfast was something to look forward to. There was freshly made espresso as well as juice, and we delighted in taking our sweet Tuscan melon, yogurt, salami, breads, croissants, cereal and other pastries out into the pleasant morning sun. A small courtyard out back has several tables to help start your day.
First appearances can be deceiving; this was a find!

The staff were extreamly helpful and attentive. The hotel was very clean, modern and stylish. The beakfast was a continental style buffet of very good quality. The hotel itself was within walking distance of the Vatican and in a quieter area away from the hords of tourists. The 70 bus went from just outside the hotel into the centre of Rome. This bus was incredibly frequent and took just uder 10 minutes to reach the old town. The metro station was a very short walk also.

I would higly recommend this hotel and intend to go back soon!