Rome Cavalieri Waldorf Astoria Review

After staying at the Rome Cavalieri Waldorf Astoria a few months back, I figured it was perfect timing for a review of this popular property. I know Derrick stayed there a few years ago and loved the property, so I was excited to check it out myself. I know a lot of people wonder if this property is truly worth the detour from all of the main sites in Rome. It can be a little bit of a pain to get to and from the property, but is it worth the effort? I'll cover that, the cost and my overall thoughts in this Rome Cavalieri Waldorf Astoria review.

Location Of Rome Cavalieri

The location of the Rome Cavalieri Waldorf Astoria can be its greatest asset or biggest deterrent for booking. Which way you will lean completely depends on what you want. It is about 25 minutes away from the main tourist corridor, and can be anywhere from 35-55 minutes from the airport depending on traffic. On the way to the property you will encounter a lot of winding streets and bad drivers. So even though it appears like it is pretty close to everything you need, the maps is a bit deceiving.

We took an Uber from the airport and it was around $70 for the 50 minute trip. The downside to getting to the hotel, or back to the airport, is there is no way to take public transport like the convenient train into town. That is a big reason why I booked it to start the trip instead of end the trip.

Having said all of that, the location gives it a unique feel. You are in a suburb, and you there are a lot more grounds to explore on property because of it. The outdoor areas are where the hotel shines too, especially the super deep swimming pool. It could be a nice respite from the hecticness of the city. This is a true resort, and not really for someone that wants a place to just drop bags before exploring all day.

Booking Cost

The standard award night cost for the Rome Cavalieri Waldorf Astoria is 80,000 Hilton Honors points. Since Hilton has dynamic pricing, the points cost can go as high as the moon from there. The cash price can be in the $500 Euro to $1,000 Euro a night range, depending on the time of year.

The property will be most expensive in the summer months, because of the amazing outdoor areas and pool. Having said all of that, if you can find saver award space your Hilton Honors points will always offer great value here. I think 80K is actually a bit below what I would expect for this location. I would have thought that this would be at least a 95K a night property. The slight reduction in points cost makes it an option for points bookings, as well as free night certificates, and a tempting option for 5th night free.

For the purpose of this Rome Cavalieri Waldorf Astoria review I booked it with a free night certificate. Those can be earned with the Hilton Honors Surpass or Hilton Honors Aspire card. I booked a two twin bed room and was upgraded to a balcony room. The great view of the gardens and pool from the balcony was the showstopper of the room.

Check-In

Checking in at the Rome Cavalieri Waldorf Astoria was a breeze, and only took a few minutes to get our room keys. I never noticed much of a line at check in throughout our entire stay, which is always a big plus to me. We were even able to get into the room early in the morning, a little before 10AM. Some of that may have been because it was in shoulder season though.

This will do nicely. A little older and beat up but still love the warmth and that patio view 😍. Rome Waldorf Astoria. pic.twitter.com/5zP2z8snym

— Mark Ostermann (@DetroitMark) March 15, 2024

Rome Cavalieri Waldorf Astoria Review: Two Twin Beds Room

I have a video walkthrough of the Rome Cavalieri Waldorf Astoria room for you above. It feels very warm and well appointed. It oozes luxury, even if the rooms are a bit dated and in need of updating. You could see scuffs on the walls, plus the furniture has seen better days. This is unfortunately what I tend to run into with a lot of Waldorf Astoria properties, which is a shame. They rarely live up to the projected luxury the name demands.

Even though it is in need of some upgrades I hope that they keep the same traditional design style. It feels very Italian, without going too far. It gets close to the line, but doesn't cross it in my opinion. The details and accents in the room do shine through.

The patio area is the best part of the room, for sure. Especially if you can get a city / pool view out back. It may even be worth paying for the upgrade to if you don't have status with Hilton Honors. We were upgraded because of my Diamond status that I still have somehow. I haven't actually earned (carried the Aspire card) since the pandemic, but they keep rolling me over. I think Hilton Honors Gold status from the Surpass, or Hilton Honors Business card, will go a ways here too.

Waldorf Astoria Rome Property Amenities

The next section in this review is the make or break point for people deciding on the Rome Cavalieri Waldorf Astoria as an option. If you want a place to relax during the night, or at the end of a long trip in country, then these perks should foot the bill. They even have a SIXT car rental in the lowest level of the property for convenience.

Pools

Let's start with my favorite area, the awesome pools at Rome's Waldorf Astoria. The outdoor pool was getting prepped for the swimming season, but I could tell it was a showstopper (cover photo). It flexes everything you want in a luxury resort pool area, including like what looks to be 10+ feet of deep end. This thing would simply not fly in the US.

If you have little ones there is a secondary pool that is shallow (pictured above), and for wading through essentially. If the weather is crummy, there is a pretty nice indoor option as well. When all three are rolling it has to be pretty spectacular.

Kid's Club

It looks like they have a pretty extensive kids club too, for ages 4-12. We didn't see it since it is only available in the summer. Looks like they have inflatable slides into the pool, arcade games, arts and crafts and other things. It is complimentary to guests too.

Spa

I am not much of a spa guy but this was my second favorite part of the hotel. Maybe that was because of the free access we got from my Hilton Honors Diamond status. Who doesn't want a nice steam after a long day of walking (or cough, cough drinking) in the city center?

I took a peek at the treatment areas and they looked pretty amazing. I am sure it costs a pretty penny though. Maybe you can splurge on yourself with that Aspire card property credit.

Fitness

There is a standard gym on site that seemed to be well appointed. They also had tennis courts that looked really beautiful to play on.

Restaurants

I have to admit that jet lag got the best of me during our stay. It could have been the wine too though, I guess. Whoops! Because of that I didn't make it down to the free breakfast we got as Diamond members (Gold should as well). My buddy headed down in the morning though and couldn't stop raving about the buffet and the food.

There is also a rooftop restaurant (La Pergola) that we didn't have time to check out. Derrick did say it was pretty amazing during his stay a few years back. It was Rome's first 3 Michelin Star restaurant back in 2005.

There appears to be different options out by the pool when it is in operation as well. The lobby bar is beautiful, and should not be missed either. They do serve food there too, and even had a sushi event while we were staying there for a few hours in the evening. We sat and had a few drinks at the bar and it was as beautiful up close as it was from afar. The service was great and we took a round outside with us to walk the grounds.

One thing is for sure, everything you eat and drink will be expensive. Outside of the comped breakfast buffet from Gold or Diamond status of course. It may be best to hit a few of the local spots within walking distance for dinner instead.

The Art Is Extensive & Worth Your Time

This is the first, and probably the last, time I will mention art in a hotel review. The Rome Cavalieri Waldorf Astoria's collection makes it feel like you have a personal tour through a museum at times. There are paintings and sculptures everywhere, and it is all very impressive. If you enjoy art, then this is a must visit location. You could easily spend half a day walking around the property and looking at everything. There are over 1,000 unique pieces and they even have an art historian on staff that can do tours.

Full Video Walkthrough Of Rome Cavalieri Waldorf Astoria Property

Here is a full walkthrough of the property from our buddy Mark Jackson as well.

Rome Cavalieri Waldorf Astoria Review: ToP Thoughts

The long and short of this Rome Cavalieri Waldorf Astoria review is that this is a beautiful full service property, but it is a bit outside of town. That juice may not be worth the squeeze for some. I think it is a great option for a few days at the end of a longer trip, or after you had your fill in the city center. Rome Cavaleri Waldorf Astoria is a place you will likely want to hang out on property for most of your stay. To be able to take advantage of the beautiful grounds, the pools, the spa and some good dining choices etc. To spend the points (or free night cert) for this property without truly taking your time with it feels like a waste.

If you are more dead set on taking in the sites that Rome has to offer, then I would recommend the DoubleTree by Hilton Rome Monti at around 60,000 points a night. It is near the city center, but has more in a local neighborhood feel, and has a nice little rooftop bar. I have stayed at that property twice now, and it is my go to spot when wanting to traverse all that Rome has to offer. Especially my favorite little restaurant in the world! Once you have had enough of the crowds, traffic, and all the commotion that Rome has to offer, that is when you head to Rome Cavaleri Waldorf Astoria for a night or two.

Have you stayed at this Waldorf Astoria property? Share your thoughts over in the ToP Facebook group.