Ariston Hotel

This seven-story hotel has a smart exterior, and its interiors are done in a contemporary style, with clean lines and simple color schemes. It's a refreshing departure from so many of the outdated hotels that fill the center of Rome. The lobby has charcoal color rugs and sofas, brightened up with green cushions. There are trendy Philippe Starck-style clear perspex "Ghost" chairs and matching tables, and striking modern artwork on the walls. This theme is continued into the spot-lit corridors, where the walls are a pale gray and the doors of the guest rooms are done in bright shades of orange and lime green. The hotel has a bustling atmosphere that complements it's smart style -- the lobby is often busy with guests checking in and out. Many who stay here are business travelers who find the location near the station convenient, but it attracts many tourists as well, including some families. The property is also pet-friendly.

The Ariston Hotel is just a two-minute walk from Termini Station, where trains, the metro, and buses connect to the rest of the city and the country. The neighborhood is gritty and quite run down, though it's safe for the most part. There are lots of bars and restaurants in the area, and visitors can sample a range of cuisines from traditional Italian to authentic Chinese, due to the large Chinese community in the area. Plenty of Rome’s major sights are within easy reach of the hotel as well, including Santa Maria Maggiore church (a four-minute walk), the National Roman Museum (an eight-minute walk), and the Baths of Diocletian (also an eight-minute walk). The Colosseum takes around 20-minutes to reach on foot, a fairly reasonable amount of time given this city's eminent walkability. The Spanish Steps are a 10-minute bus ride, and the Trevi Fountain takes around 15 minutes to reach by bus -- a pleasant walk to either sight will take 25 to 30 minutes. Leonardo da Vinci International Airport is a 35-minute drive, or about 45-minutes by train from Termini Station.

The hotel’s 84 guest rooms come in a range of categories, and decor in the guest rooms will vary. Predictably, the look becomes more stylish and contemporary in the higher categories -- like Executive Rooms and the Matrimoniale Room (which we visited) -- where the property's signature gray and lime green hues can often be seen. Those in Standard Rooms are more likely to have slightly plainer and more traditional decor in warm oranges and browns. Expect to see a blend of vintage and modern accents, like the antique-style desk paired with bold abstract wall art in the room we saw. Keep in mind that room size vary as well, with some (like the Small Double Room) being on the cramped side, even for Rome. 

All rooms have flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi, and safes. Higher-category rooms have tea- and coffee-making facilities and a minibar. Bathrooms are modern and stylish, with walk-in shower cubicles with rainfall shower heads. Hairdryers and toiletries come standard, though most bathrooms are small and lack usable counter space. Many have mosaic or metro tiling and use vibrant colors like orange and lime green to make a statement.

Breakfast is included in the room rate at the Ariston Hotel, and the generous selection features typical continental fare like cereals, meats, cheeses, pastries, fruit, yogurts, plus hot food including bacon and eggs. Lunch and dinner are not served at the hotel. There is a stylish bar with contemporary leather bar stools and a vibrant color scheme composed of black sofas and lime green cushions. The bar, "T-Twenty" serves a range of drinks including a good cocktail menu. It also offers traditional Italian snacks like antipasti dishes. The hotel also has a TV room with black Chesterfield style sofas, a large meeting room that can accommodate up to 100 people, and a small fitness center that has a range of modern equipment including a treadmill and weights. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the property.