Looking To Save Some Money? Stay At This Hotel In Italy - My Experience Staying At Courtyard By Marriott Rome Central Park
Marriott
I took an unexpected trip to Rome and only had six days to find affordable accommodation. I originally wanted to stay in the city center, but all the hotels were out of my budget, even though I was traveling off-season. After hours of research, I remembered hearing about the Courtyard Marriott Rome Central Park in a YouTube video and decided to check it out. It was in a decent location and within my budget, so I booked a seven-night stay. Here is my experience at the Courtyard Marriot Rome Central Park Hotel in Italy.
About Courtyard By Marriott Rome Central Park
Marriott
A winning combination of convenience and luxury at Courtyard Rome Central Park. Our four-star hotel boasts an ideal location near some of the most celebrated destinations in Rome, including the Vatican City and the Olympic Stadium. Start your day in our fitness center or with a delicious breakfast at Pineto Restaurant. Grab a snack or enjoy Mediterranean cuisine and specialty cocktails on the outdoor terrace at Moscati Restaurant and Bistro. When you visit Rome for business, maximize your time in our hotel's conference digital venues with Ledwall, Videowall, and a continuous sanitization air system inside the hotel’s air-conditioning tubes. Recharge in spacious bedrooms with free Wi-Fi, marble bathrooms, and Smart TVs. Our rooms and suites boast indulgent balconies with Saint Peter's Basilica views. With a wealth of hotel amenities and its location, Courtyard Marriott Rome Central Park provides you with unforgettable experiences. - From Marriott.com
Getting To The Hotel
Roma Ostiense Train Station - Wikipedia
I first learned about this hotel while watching this video from Hoffman Happy Travels. I liked how they took the train from the airport to a transfer location and another train from there to the hotel. The rooms looked clean and spacious, and another selling point for me was that it was a Marriott, and I could continue to earn points to build up my status.
I went on this trip with a friend. We flew into Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (FCO), took a regional train (REG) from FCO to Roma Ostiense, took another REG train to Gemelli, and then walked down a hill to the hotel. Even though we successfully did this, I do not recommend it only because the elevators at the Roma Ostiense station did not work.
When we arrived at the Roma Ostiense station, we quickly realized that our train to Gemelli would be on a different platform. We needed to go downstairs and upstairs, which is fine unless you have heavy luggage like I did. My friend knows how to pack light 😅. The elevators were not working that day, so we had to haul our luggage up and down stairs. We missed our train and had to wait for the next one.
I recommend getting a taxi, hiring a private driver, or getting an Uber.
the room
Room Tour Video On My YouTube Channel
We initially booked a standard two-twin room and were upgraded to a two-twin St Peters Dome view high floor with balcony.
You can see St. Peter’s Dome in the distance behind the trees
The room was spacious and clean, with enough storage for my friend and me not to feel like we were on top of each other. The beds were very comfortable, and I got a great night’s sleep on them.
My favorite room features were the air conditioning, mini fridge, and the bathroom.
Marriott
The bathroom is marble, which gives me vibes of the opulence of ancient Rome. This is a value hotel, but the bathroom felt deluxe. Even though I was in a Marriott, the design stayed true to its Italian origins. But we did run into one annoying problem with this gorgeous bathroom.
Our tub would drain very slowly, so whenever one of us showered, the other had to wait at least 30 minutes to allow the water to drain out completely, and as we showered, the water would pool at our feet.
Other than that, I loved the bathroom. It was well-lit and had timeless decor and design choices. There was also a bidet that I didn’t use. Also, this was the first time I had ever seen a towel warmer, and I was amazed. It was so nice to wrap up in a warm towel after showering.
I wish more American hotels implemented this.
the food
Cacio e pepe - My First Meal In Italy
The food was incredible. The on-site restaurant is Moscati Bistro Restaurant.
It is authentic Italian cuisine that is pricey since you are in a hotel, but it is still relatively cheap for Americans. We had our first official meal of the trip here, multiple dinners and breakfasts from the buffet daily.
Fish Sandwhich
Gelato
Turkey Club
Chicken Caesar Salad To-Go - They packed it so nice!
Breakfast Buffett Day One
Breakfast Buffett Day Two
Breakfast Buffett Day Three
Breakfast Buffett Day Four
Breakfast Buffett Day Five
The Location
Speedy Pinsa
Carrefour Market - Eggs on the self!?!?
I was obsessed with these cookies
The hotel is not far from The Vatican and is near many convenience stores, a pharmacy, grocery stores, restaurants, and the REG Gemelli station. But even though it is located near a REG station, it is not the city metro and is still quite far from Rome's city center.
We had to take a REG Trenitalia train from the Gemelli station to Valle Aurelia and then take the city Metro to wherever we wanted to go in Rome.
The issue is that the REG trains arrive at certain times and are less frequent than the Metro. Therefore, it can sometimes take 45 minutes to an hour to get to and from the city center. During rush hour, it takes longer. If this is a deal breaker for you, I recommend finding a hotel inside the city center, as they are more expensive but make transportation easier.
The staff
Marriott
The staff was very friendly and helpful. They spoke multiple languages and helped with the culture shock we experienced from traveling abroad for the first time. They helped us get tickets for the REG trains, and on our final night, when we asked how we should get back to the airport because we did not want to take the train again, they suggested a taxi and organized it for us. It was only $50 for two people and four pieces of luggage. I was shocked, tbh.
final thoughts
Marriott
This hotel is perfect if you want to stay in Rome for a lower price than directly in the city center and don’t mind a mini-commute to and from the city center. The clean and spacious rooms, fantastic food, friendly staff, location near restaurants and grocery stores, and the REG make this hotel a great choice when visiting Rome.
It is one of the most memorable hotel stays I have ever had because this was my first time traveling outside the country. If you are nervous about traveling abroad like I was, you will likely not be the only American traveling here. There are many cultural differences, such as how to pay at the end of your meal in the restaurant and saying Grazie (thank you), but overall, we felt comfortable here and were treated very well. Even though the commute was frustrating, I would book a stay with this hotel if I ever find myself traveling to Rome again.
Hi! I’m Andrea, the creator of Cinematic Excursions.
I am a video editor, photographer, travel and events vlogger, and blogger who likes to write movie analyses and yap about fandom. I also have a useless film degree.
I have been creating videos since 2018. In 2023, I started Cinematic Excursions to share my unfiltered experiences traveling, cruising, going on excursions, and using city cards that are supposed to save money.
I also use my platform to document my experience attending events like New York Comic-Con, MCM Comic-Con London, and the Food Network New York City Wine and Food Festival, advising others and covering news from these events.