Location

The hotel is located near metro station Cornelia. A 10-to 15-minute walk will get you there. It’s on the orange line, the same metro line that leads to the Termini hub station.

The hotel offers shuttle services in the morning and in the evening. The hourly morning shuttles will drop you at the Vatican. Whereas the evening shuttle service will drop you at Trastevere. The hotel charges a very decent Euro1.5 per seat. It’s the exact same fare as the metro.  Also, the hotel will pick you up and take you to Fiumicino Airport (FCO) for Euro15 each way. Expect a 30-minute drive.

Tip: Make sure you book your airport shuttle and buy your city shuttle in advance at the front desk.

The bedroom

The rooms overlook either the pool and garden area or the front and side gardens of the hotel. Our balcony overlooked the side gardens and the tennis court of the property. We booked a family room with two double beds. It was ideal as each adult shared a bed with each infant. The mattresses were comfortable.

The room was close  to 300 sq. ft. We were able to stow two car seats, two strollers and two pieces of luggage easily.
The bathroom looked a bit aged but was well equipped.

The Wi-Fi signal was great and consistent. Also the hotel made available a complimentary smartphone device Handy! in the room.

Swimming pools and spa

The hotel has one of the best swimming pools in the city. Keep in mind that if you want a swimming pool in a Roman hotel, you will pay at least Euro 250-300 per night and it’ll feel small and crowded. The Crowne Plaza showcases a big outdoor swimming pool, a smaller pool in the spa/hammam facilities. A fully-equipped gym is accessible from the spa or the outdoor pool.

I did not take pictures of the spa/hammam facilites out of respect to management’s no photos policy. But I can assure you that I was impressed by the steam room, the sauna, cold pool and jacuzzi.  All complimentary for hotel guests.

Daily breakfast buffet

I was impressed by the breakfast buffet at the hotel. It featured your usual American breakfast foods as well as Italian ones such as fresh cheese, tarts, cakes,  viennoiseries and various coffees that you can self-serve at dispensing machines.

How I much paid for this wonderful stay at the Crowne Plaza Rome-St. Peter’s

I paid for our 5-night stay with my British Airways Avios., thus zero dollars. Thanks to an accelerated miles accrual with my RBC British Airways Visa card, I saved close to $1,100. However, keep in mind that Rome charges a $6 tax per night per adult up to ten nights. You have to pay it to your hotel.

Verdict

There’s not doubt in my mind that we will stay again at the Crowne Plaza Rome-St. Peter’s on our next Roman vacation. The staff was wonderful: swift with our questions or requests and very warm with our children. There’s no way I’m paying Euro 350 per night at more central hotels.
I believe Crowne Plaza is the most neglected brand by IHG. These properties deliver a lot of value for guests. IHG can definitely put the Crowne Plaza brand out there, open more properties and allow it to succeed where other brands have failed in certain destinations.