the St. Regis Rome | a travelhappier luxury stay
We enjoyed the nicest five-night stay at the newly-renovated St. Regis Rome this summer and were so impressed with the hotels’s warm, professional staff and its luxurious and well-appointed rooms. I loved it and I’d send clients there in a heartbeat. A big city like Rome can feel frenetic at times, so I think it is super important to be able to rest and relax completely when you’re in your hotel. The St. Regis was all that and more, and I can’t wait to return.
When we stayed in September 2018, the hotel was nearing the completion of its years-long, multi-million euro renovation. All of the common spaces looked amazing and we weren’t bothered at all — only the grand staircase was closed for renovation and we couldn’t hear any construction noises during our stay. In fact, we couldn’t hear anything ever - even with our room near the elevator (our preference when traveling with a tot!)
Newly renovated lobby of the St. Regis Rome.
Check-in desks.
Imperial Room at the St. Regis Rome
We booked an Imperial Room, which came with 24-hour butler service by the nicest butlers imaginable (Chiara was our favorite). The butlers offered to unpack, press laundry (up to 4 items per day), and give what I’m going to call a deluxe wake-up call: a butler will come in, open your window shades, and serve coffee/espresso/cappuccino/whatever upon request.
King bed with a pullout sofa/couch. Not pictured: the crib that Jules refused to sleep in :)
Desk/writing area with flatscreen tv and mini-fridge (to the right of the chair).
Black marble bathroom with soaking tub, separate shower, and water closet (with toilet and bidet).
Our imperial room was renovated in a powder blue and grey color. Toiletries are Laboratorie Remede, which had a minty/sporty fragrance. Everything about this room was luxurious and thoughtfully planned out. Sigh. I wish every hotel experience were like this.
Breakfast at the St. Regis Rome
My husband’s platinum elite SPG status got us free breakfast everyday, which was really nice. The breakfast buffet included hot and cold selections, an omelette station. The selection wasn’t as memorable as +
that at Sen at the Park Hyatt, but the staff was wonderful, the croissants were passable (but coming directly from Paris maybe this wasn’t a fair comparison), and the coffee and espresso were perfection.
Tips for a Great Stay at the St. Regis Rome
1) Go to the champagne sabering ceremony every night.
At 7pm every night, the St. Regis Rome does a champagne sabering ceremony in Le Grand Bar that is open to the public.
If you’ve never seen a sabering ceremony before, you’re basically using a heavy little sword (called a saber) to cut off the top of a champagne bottle — cork, glass, and all! They do this in St. Regis hotels and resorts all over the world, and it is fantastic fun. (And hello, there’s champagne involved!)
The St. Regis Rome’s sabering ceremony is done in the grand lobby, with a pianist playing on a baby grand piano. I was a little nervous to do it because dang that saber is heavy!
2) Let the staff know beforehand if you are traveling with a child or children.
Our room was ready with a crib when we checked in, which is always a sign of a well-run hotel.
Shortly after our first butler Chiara showed us around the room, she presented Jules with a St. Regis Rome stuffed animal (Romulus the wolf, I think) and a red balloon. She was thrilled, of course (and so were we!).
3) Take a ride in the hotel’s old elevator.
The hotel has a wrought-iron elevator that is over a hundred years old tucked away in the back of the hotel. Take a ride (we did!) or just marvel at the engineering if you’re even a little claustrophobic.
4) Let staff know if you’re celebrating a birthday or anniversary during your stay.
Welcome amenities for our anniversary stay included cake and champagne. Yay! (Also pictured: the Acqua Panna water that was refilled daily and at turndown service at night.
The staff was sweet enough to send us a small cake and bottle of champagne in celebration of our anniversary.
5) Take advantage of the exceptional room service, especially if you have young children.
Jules fell asleep during most of our dinners in Rome, which made eating out super easy. All the restaurants made room for her Zoe stroller (affiliate link), and we just ordered room service pasta for her when we got back. So good and so easy. Kids under 5 eat free, so this room service children’s pasta was complimentary (you just pay gratuity).
Overall Impression
Impeccable, warm service; magnificent common areas; and gorgeous, well-appointed rooms. Five stars.
Virtuoso amenities at the St. Regis Rome for 2019 include:
Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
Daily buffet breakfast, for up to two in room guests in restaurant
$100 USD Equivalent Food & Beverage credit, to be utilized during stay (not combinable, no cash value if not redeemed in full)
Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
Complimentary Wi-Fi
Visit Virtuoso for more info and rates, etc., then contact me to book.
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