Oly Hotel

The BV Oly Hotel is a bright, blue-tiled building topped by a huge retro sign proclaiming its name in yellow lettering. It's surrounded by a parking lot made of flagstones laid out in a grid. Inside, the lobby is a bit tired looking, with a drop ceiling over tiled floors that are a mix of off-white and rust-colored stone arranged in a simple geometric pattern. There's a curved reception desk in one corner of the long room, and clustered seating areas with scuffed coffee tables and tufted chesterfield-style sofas in varying shades of blue occupying the other. Carpeted hallways and alcoves with vending machines make for a bland atmosphere. Perhaps the only highlight is the hotel's restaurant, which has been updated with contemporary decor and has outdoor seating, and is the sole place on-site where guests seem to gather. The hotel draws a mix of business travelers, plus families and couples on vacation. 

The hotel is in the Marconi area, a residential and financial district south of Rome’s city center. The property sits between a bank and an elementary school, with Santa Maria Regina church at the end of the block. The neighborhood can be bustling and noisy, yet lacks interesting restaurants and attractions. However, public transportation options are close by, with the Basilica San Paolo train station a nine-minute walk and the Marconi metro station about a 12-minute stroll, giving guests fairly easy access to the city center and its attractions. Leonardo da Vinci International Airport can be reached in 20 minutes by car.

The hotel has 103 air-conditioned rooms, all with green patterned carpeting and solid-color accent walls, paired with brass lamps and hardware. The old-fashioned decor has retro touches in some of the wood furniture, topped with green glass, but most of it is simply dated and uninteresting, though not entirely unpleasant. Units are comfortable and well-maintained, and Standard rooms have either double beds or two twin beds along with work desks and upholstered chairs. Free Wi-Fi comes standard, and all units have flat-screen TVs and mini-fridges stocked with free bottled water, but electric kettles are missing. Some upgraded rooms and suites have sofa beds and/or private balconies. Junior Suites add separate living rooms and espresso machines. The tiled bathrooms are tidy and spacious, and they contain shower/tub combos, bidets, terrycloth bathrobes, a generous supply of toiletries, and tube-style wall-mounted hairdryers. Guests should be aware that smoking is allowed in some units. 

The main restaurant is one of the hotel's highlight features, with a contemporary dining room where typical regional dishes, along with a free breakfast buffet that's well-liked by guests, is served. Another is the downstairs conference center, with two meeting rooms, a breakout room, and an auditorium with theater seating that can accommodate up to 220 people. The center also has its own dining hall and a small lobby bar with an espresso machine. A free shuttle runs to the Basilica San Paolo underground station, as well as to and from offices in the area for business guests. Free outdoor parking is included, and indoor parking is available for a fee. The hotel steers guests to a nearby fitness center with a spa and an indoor pool, but it's not included in rates. Wi-Fi is free throughout.