We spent two nights at this property (March 24-25, 2008). Upon check-in we were told that they were giving us a quiet room facing via Santo Spirito (the back side of the hotel) because the rooms are quieter as opposed to facing the front as shown on all the advertisements. Later I found out that all rooms face the back of the back of the hotel and that there are no rooms facing the front. All the rooms at this property are small. We paid for a delux room. We returned around midnight from a late dinner, we discovered the shower would not drain. I called the front desk to advise and they were not receptive to move us to another room. They suggested that we take shorter showers, however the drain was completely plugged. This drain problem should have been discovered when the room was cleaned before we arrived. We really wanted to take a shower and after strongly pressing this issue we were finally given a key to another room to use the shower. You can read other reviews on this site for shower size. The other room was a single but decorated the same as our delux room. The next morning when I returned the key I inquired if there had been previously problems with the plumbing and was advised that the drain stops up when you wash your hair. We had looked in other rooms during our stay and all the rooms look like a delux rooms. Don't pay the extra for a delux room.

Upon check-out I brought up the fact that we had problems with our shower and the inconvience that this caused. Having paid for a delux room, I thought a working shower was part of the package. I was sternly advised that I was not going to be charged for using the other room that could not be sold that night because it had to be cleaned after we used the shower. Needless to say this matter could have been handled in a more professional matter, either by price adjustment or a simple apology would have done the trick.

This hotel's location to the Vatican would be the top selling point in my opinion. While many hotels in Rome are costly, the price paid for this hotel for what is provided in room type, size and ammenity should be judged with staying at a further location and saving the difference in cab fare or simply walking and enjoying Rome on the way to St. Peter's.

REMEMBER YOU WILL NOT HAVE A ROOM FACING THE VATICAN AT THIS HOTEL AS SUGGESTED IN THEIR ADVERTISEMENT. You will share the front entry with a very kind Nigerian with an interesting selection or Prada Purses. The courtyard is also shared by others and is not exclusive to this hotel.

Location, staff, breakfast and room exceeded our expectations. A sanctuary. Will definitely go again; who cares if the shower is a bit small? I'd gladly trade that for the electronic black-out blinds and calm and tranquility of this haven. Divine!

My family and I spent one night at the Cesi. We loved it! The location was perfect and the staff was very nice. The rooms were very clean and the breakfast buffet was better than expected.

What really surprised me was how friendly the staff was! It made the whole "Roma" experience better for my wife. From here we went to the Hilton Cavalieri Hotel (on the hill) and, I can honestly tell you, we wished we had stayed longer at the Cesi! For the price, location, and experience, the Cesi beat the Hilton, without a doubt.

The only plus side for the Hilton is that they had an indoor pool. But that is about it.

We stayed at the Palazzo Cardinal Cesi for a two night break. We found the whole place enchanting and the location could not have been better. We took a tour of the city which was booked for us from the front desk of the hotel and it could not have been easier. We enjoyed the location and above all felt very welcomed by the hotel staff and felt very safe when walking around at night. I cannot wait to return to the same hotel, perhaps later on in the year.

J. Ferrari
London
England