Having recently stayed at La Griffe Hotel Roma, I was expecting a pleasant and luxurious stay in the heart of one of the world's most beautiful cities. Unfortunately, my experience was marred by a series of disappointments that significantly impacted my time in Rome. The most immediate issue was the service, particularly at the front desk. The staff members often came across as rude and unhelpful, which was surprising and unwelcoming, especially for visitors to the city looking for guidance and assistance. The one exception was Michelle. She was kind and helpful, but the other four people I encountered treated me like I was bothering them.
Cleanliness and room maintenance also fell short of expectations. During our four-day stay, our room was not cleaned on two occasions. This lack of attention to basic hotel services was both inconvenient and frustrating. I walked down to ask my room be cleaned on the second day (bc the phone was still broken). I was told that I needed to leave my room for it to be cleaned. I informed the desk staff that I did leave for 6 hours the first morning (from 7 am - 1 pm for a tour) and then again the next morning (from 9 am - 1 pm). There should have been plenty of time to clean and refresh the mini-bar. Neither happened. I did go the the market across the street for sodas and water.
At breakfast, the quality of food did not meet the standard one would expect from a hotel of this supposed caliber. The eggs were consistently runny and undercooked, which made for an unappetizing start to the day. My husband finally insisted that we go to McDonalds (which is on the corner) to get breakfast because he could not do runny eggs.
Further, the room's amenities were not up to mark. The phone in our room was out of order, and despite reporting it three times to the hotel staff, it remained unfixed throughout our stay. This lack of response to a basic request was not only inconvenient but also unacceptable. When I asked for a taxi, the desk staff told me that I should have called down to get a reservation. Difficult with a broken phone. Snippy is their language.
If the staff gives you grief about asking for a taxi, go out the door to the right and walk down to the traffic circle (about 3 blocks). Look across the circle to about 10 oclock or to the left and up. There is a taxi stand. Found that out the hard way too when the staff was too busy with an empty lobby to talk to me.
Another surprising inconvenience was the inability to get ice from the restaurant. Such a simple request being turned down was bewildering and indicative of the overall service attitude encountered.
Lastly, the laundry service was disappointingly slow. Despite sending in our laundry well within the stipulated time, it took three days to be returned, disrupting our plans and causing unnecessary hassle because I had to wear the same clothes for several days. BTW, Chinese laundry within walking distance is a better choice and TONS cheaper and you do not have to deal with the front desk staff who told me that I needed to drop it at the front desk (instead of putting it outside the door as the paper stated), but if the cleaners don't come...I guess you don't get laundry picked up and they charge you almost $80.
While La Griffe Hotel boasts a fantastic location, the level of service and attention to basic hospitality standards were underwhelming. For a hotel that presents itself as a premium choice in Rome, my experience was unfortunately far from premium. This stay has left much to be desired, and improvements in service and amenities are crucial for a better guest experience. There are other hotels on the same street that are a must better experience and don't cost almost $1000 for four nights. read more