We booked this hotel even after reading the reviews and knowing it was far away from the city center. Due to budget constraints, the other hotels considered were at the same distance from the city center but didn't look as new and modern as Black Hotel did. But we chose it nevertheless.
Unlike previous reviews, we found the staff to be relentless and talkative in every single occasion we needed them.
- Getting the airport phone number and calling them every now and then to give us updates about our missing luggage. Calling us on our mobile (international call, remember) to tell us the luggage had just arrived
- Calling for taxis and booking restaurants
- Help us finding our way to the city center and numerous roman landmarks using the very complex transport system
Breakfast was par to most of the hotels we've seen in the category. Can't speak about the meals, because we had none at the restaurant. Judging by the affluence, i'd say it's pretty popular.
The rooms were a little smaller than we'd expect, but nothing claustrophobic. Good fluffy pillows and a very clean and distinct look all around. Very very good taste in decoration, lighting and overall look. In my personal oppinion, the variety of foreign TV channels should be bigger (most italian, bbc world, a spanish, a french and a german channel).
Sure getting out of the hotel to the city center and back is a nightmare and takes a long time. Watch out for bus timetables, which can be tricky. There is no 274 (which ends at the Cipro/Vatican Museum Metro station) at weekends and holidays so take one that gets by a Metro station. And if you ever use a taxi to get back to the hotel, it's probable that they don't know where the Black Hotel is. In this case, just tell them it's close to the Midas Hotel (don't you dare to call it Jolly Hotel Midas, because there are a hundred Jolly hotels around and they'll get even more confused). It'll help.
