October 6, 2008

We booked our rooms months in advance. We were traveling with my 80 year old mother and requested 2 separate rooms. One double for single use and a large double for 2 persons. The room for her was extremely small, could not open the suitcase except for on the bed. Our room was also small and a double size bed. Bathrooms were small at best. The furnishings were old and did not look clean. Noise level was not good. They were renovating the floor above the hotel which is located on the first floor of the building.

I asked about the room on the website which looked lovely. We were given that room but it was not the same that was in the photo. This room was larger, same furnishings as the other rooms. Downside, it was on the street side, which was noisy all day and most of the night. We had to use ear plug to get any sleep at all. My mother was given our old room as an upgrade as there were no other rooms available. The staff was very friendly and tried hard to make things right. But you can not change that the hotel was misrepresented on their website and travel review websites.

I have traveled Europe extensively and am not a very picky person, but I was very disappointed with the reviews I previously read and I have relied on in the past, from this website to make my choices for hotels.

I would not recommend this place to anyone who wants an nice, clean, quiet place to rest.

Forte Winks or 40 winks were just about the amount of sleep we got in this hotel. Maybe its because we arrived late in the day, although we booked months previously and gave notice of our 8pm arrival time, but we were given the room backing onto their reception.

The room was small and poorly lit, but clean and decorated in mock antique style. The bathroom didn't have a bath but a shower I could just about manage to get into. The sink and the bidet both had more floor space than the shower!

On one side of our room we had the breakfast buffet room, on the other the busy street, the reception was on the other side and the quite side backed onto the next guest room. We could hear every buzzer/ phone call/ arrival/ departure in reception, every shop shutter or car in the morning and breakfast preparations and orders.

When we arrived on our first night we did not realise that the Hotel Forte had its reception on the first floor so when they eventually buzzed us in, we were left standing in a very old dusty/dirty looking foyer for a good time with no-one about, before we went outside and buzzed up again explaining we were new arrivals – “ahh it’s the 1st floor” we were told. The lift looked out of operation so I carried our bags up. So for three days and nights we enjoyed Rome and endured our hotel until our day of departure. We booked a taxi for the airport over 6 hours before our departure. After waiting 15 minutes past the selected departure time I asked where the taxi was. I overheard enough to understand that it had never been booked in the first place. The hotel did, however manage to secure us with another taxi in 4 minutes. On our departure day we even had to ask at reception for more toilet roll!

We stayed in Rome before in 1996, at the Regno in the Via Del Corso, so we thought we knew the standard and area we were booking. The Via del Corso is more central but the Hotel Forte was adjacent to the Spanish steps and therefore close to the Metro. On balance I would opt for the location of the Regno, as there are not to many attractions North of the Hotel Forte, whereas the Regno was in the Middle of everything bar a trip to the Vatican.

We paid 540 euro for three nights in October, which wasn’t extortinate but was not good value for money either! I think some of the Residenzia accomodation types look better value for money with modern fixtures & fittings etc.

What a great little hotel. The hotel is situated on a quiet side street in a great location. Staff was great.

Our stay at Hotel Forte was absolutely fabulous. I contacted the hotel prior to our departure to have them send a car to meet us at the airport. As we walked out of arrivals the hotel car service was there to help with luggage and escort us to the car. Upon arrival at the hotel (which is in the best location you could ask for.....spanish steps, trevi fountain all in walking distance) the staff was there to welcome us (very warm and spoke English well). Our room was small, but for the $$ (240 Euro) it was totally worth it. The hotel is very charming, VERY clean, breakfast enough to keep you going until lunch (cereal, juice, coffee, pastry), and in a central location. The Metro is about 5 min. walk, which we took to Vatican City. I give this a thumbs-up. After staying at several other hotels, which cost more, over the years this was a pleasure. I'm sure you'll enjoy!!!!! Ciao.