Baglioni Hotel Regina ★★★★★L

It might be one of the most romantic cities in the world, but Rome is the perfect city break for everyone: single travellers, loved-up couples, families, and us - a very excited group of friends. And we were even more excited after our short drive from the airport, where we’d got our first taste of the Eternal City. Our cameras hadn’t stopped clicking since we’d touched down, until we arrived at the Hotel Regina Baglioni, awestruck as we gazed up at its elegant façade.  We entered to be warmly greeted by the staff, who offered each of us a welcome drink which we enjoyed whilst admiring the Italian sculptures, the Renaissance art and the Murano chandeliers that surrounded us.
 
After a quick ‘who’s sharing a room with who’ discussion, we walked up the marble staircase to our bedrooms… and we were in for a real treat. Featuring ensuite Italian marble bathrooms, designer furniture, original Murano chandeliers, silk upholstery, high ceilings and precious silk tapestry, not to mention countless modern amenities, each room is like a little piece of paradise. My friend and I had opted for a Deluxe Room, which boasted an Art Deco style and was adorned with antique features and characteristic Italian marble. We had a spacious yet cosy seating area with armchairs and a coffee table, and floor-to-ceiling windows which filled the room with natural light.

Too excited to unpack, we reconvened with our group in the bar, where we decided that our first afternoon would be dedicated to indulging in a bit of retail therapy, followed by some pampering in the spa – this was going to be a very girly trip! After exhausting nearly all the shops on Via Condotti, we treated ourselves to a gelato in a pretty piazza and watched the Italians go about their daily lives. We managed to fit in a bit of sightseeing – I’d seen Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon before but they never failed to impress me.

The spa was calling, so we wandered back to the hotel, slipped into our complimentary robes and slippers, and wandered downstairs. After some relaxation time in the sauna, Turkish bath, Jacuzzi, we headed to the massage rooms where we each had two treatments, surrounded by atmospheric lighting, calming music and floral scents to get us completely in the zone. It was hard to believe that the bustling city centre was just outside!

Our day just kept getting better… we finished it off with a delicious meal accompanied by a glass of wine or two in the Brunello Restaurant, serving upscale Italian cuisine in a chic dining room. After a nightcap in the form of an exotic cocktail, we retired to our rooms and agreed to meet the following morning for the extensive breakfast feast.

The rest of our trip was filled with historic and modern delights, helped along by the expert concierge team who organised museum visits, restaurant bookings, private transfers and everything else we asked for. It’s easy to understand why the hotel is renowned as one of the historic palaces of Rome, and it was a dream to come back to each evening. We’d never be able to find anywhere so perfect for next year’s trip – perhaps we’d just have to pay Hotel Regina Baglioni another visit!