Review: Hilton Rome Airport

Next time you have a layover at FCO you should visit the QC Terme Roma Spa which is only about a 5 - 10 minute cab ride away. It's a complete sanctuary and the grounds are pretty stunning. They also offer apertivo hour with drinks and food included in the entrance.

http://www.qctermeroma.it/en/

Slow wifi is really an Italy problem, rather than a problem unique to this hotel. Italy has the slowest wifi in Europe; meanwhile, Romania has nationwide wifi that puts the U.S. and Germany to shame. Go figure...

@ James -- Very true, though interestingly wifi was really fast in Sardinia at both hotels.

Enjoyed the review, per usual. I am wondering why you left some of your flights off the review, though. I thought that part of the reason for the whole trip was to try Meridiana and others? It says here that you guys had a layover in Rome, so I assume that there was some content between Sardinia and this that you aren't going to post about? Not intended to be critical - Im so appreciative of the service you provide on this blog and am just craving more content!

We stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn at FCO. While not connected to the airport it had family room that allowed my family of 4 to stay all together. You then get a shuttle to the airport. Also, if you decide to stay at FCO and have time go to the town of Fiumicino which is only 20 minutes away. It is a little town and it has amazing restaurants.

Maybe the person cutting in line was running late?

@James: If you will stay in Italy for more than just couple days just grab a TIM Italia SIM card (if your phone is unlocked) and you will never need wifi anywhere in the country. They have amazing packages for international visitors that are very cheap. Last June I got a 30GB 4G data package which included local calls for 20Euros and it was valid for 30 days. I had 4G on my phone almost everywhere I was in Italy. I never even signed for wifi on the hotels while I was there.

I stayed there in 2009 and ate at the restaurant and it was terrible. They couldn't cook a hamburger. I asked for it to be medium well and the first try it looked cooked on the outside but when I bit into it it was almost raw on the inside. I complained and they took it away and after about another 20 minutes they brought another one out and it was the same- uncooked on the inside. I then gave up and just ate the fries. I don't think they charged me though. The room they gave me smelled musty and I noticed the hallways were dingy and smelled musty also. Maybe they've done a renovation since then but I wouldn't want to stay there again unless I had no alternatives. We paid with points because they were charging over $300 a night for rooms the night we stayed.

Is it just me or do those brownies look like the brownie bites in Admirals Clubs...

Many years ago I volunteered to be bumped from an AA flight out of FCO, as Chicago was limiting incoming due to a snowstorm, and AA was struggling to rebook passengers on other flights.. They offered to upgrade me from economy to J, and give me a free room here, in exchange for delaying my return for a day. I was happy to have an extra free night in Rome, not to mention the flight upgrade, and really liked my room at the Airport Hilton.

Lately, though, I've seen that Trip Advisor is running about 20% poor/terrible on this property, so I was looking forward to your take on it. Unfortunately, you have the Diamond status that both you and Gary tell us is nearly useless, and apparently got upgraded to one of their few decent rooms.

Recent Trip Advisor reviews, all but the last one being from this week:: “Look for alternatives”, "Only if absolutely have to !!!!”, “Convenient location, understaffed and poor service”, “Terrible! Old, outdated, small rooms, a rip off.”, “Hardwood floors make for a noisy night!”, “Not up to par”, "A shocker", “Horrible check in...", "What A Let Down", “Mayday Mayday staff Training needed urgently ”.

Apparently this is a tolerable place to stay if one is Hilton Diamond though.... 😉

I stayed here with my sister and her husband a couple of years ago. When we ate dinner at the restaurant, they delivered a basket of bread that contained a half eaten roll. It was totally disgusting, as it implies they are recycling bread baskets. I would never stay there again.

I cannot believe that hotels and airlines do not monitor this site. Those pillows are a joke, you made the point all the other amenities. SMH.

Stayed here a year ago chiefly because we had a very early departure the next morning and I didn't want to have to worry about getting a taxi or taking a shuttle. The hotel is a bit of a haul but being able to just walk to the airport was worth it.

Although I am an Honors member, I don't have any level of status. Having said that, the pictures of the room assigned to Lucky look exactly like ours. Basic and certainly didn't appear to be an upgrade. Ultimately it was fine for an airport hotel, clean and convenient which I are my priorities in that situation.

@Robert Hanson the extensive breakfast buffet at the restaurant (complimentary for Diamonds) is one place where this hotel really shines. That plus the fact I've never heard any noise from other rooms, Diamonds have a dedicated check-in desk to the left rather than at the main counter, and the convenience of being connected to the airport makes this airport property a winner for me (though it is true the beds leave something to be desired).

We stayed here before and unless something changed, they have a serviceable shuttle running to the city that we took advantage of - it's important to note that this is a positive feature of the hotel. We had just gotten off a cruise so were just passing through after having stayed in the city prior to the boat portion.

I spend 12 weeks a year in Italy and I keep hearing here on OMMAT about the slow WiFi. The last time I recall slow WiFi in Italy was around ten years ago or longer. On the other hand, I stayed at the Philadelphia Airport Marriott last week and I thought their WiFi was a bit sluggish.

I haven't stayed at the FCO Hilton lately but it looks (thoroughly renovated) great.

Stayed there last weekend. The check-in line at 8:30 pm had 12 people in it and only 2 desk clerks working. I saw a Hilton Hhonors (I'm also Diamond) sign and went to him but had someone rush past with a "parking problem" that took forever! I was livid by the time I was able to check in but the clerk could not have cared less... When I mentioned it to him, he told it didn't really take THAT long - okaaaay...

I'm checking into the HGI Rome Airport tomorrow....we'll see if it's better?

No unlimited suite upgrades for diamonds? Perhaps you should bring a laminated copy of the T&C to assault the front desk staff.

What a missed opportunity by the hotel to showcase their evening cocktails collection. Might have been a real highlight. 😛

I echo Henry's view: why Meridiana was left out, even though it is a short flight. We could also have some understanding of the domestic lounge situation in Italy, and if priority pass is useful in such situations.

I find Hilton's Diamond upgrades a hit and miss. DCS might have something to say about your non-suite, but my latest experience at Helsinki's Hilton Airport, I can once again say, suites are not easy to come by, even as a Hilton Diamond.

(@DCS - any tips on Hilton Airports' Suite upgrades? I even have to pay for early check-ins in the morning, even though I am only there for 24 hours - leaving the next morning!)

@Lucky, I stayed at the HGI Rome Airport a few years ago on arriving in Italy. So we were pretty jetlagged and my most vivid memory is of our EARLY trip to the gym. I remember the hotel being just fine and no lines at the desk. No Diamond upgrade but we were on a points + miles rate that I remember being something ridiculously cheap like 30 euros and 5K miles.

The only hassle was the shuttle which took forever to arrive at the designated pickup location. We drove right past the Hilton and I thought "should have stayed there." I feel better about my choice now!

With 40 + years of travelling for business and pleasure...FCO Hilton has the best executive lounge.
We were in EU for three weeks and stayed at Hilton night before our flight home. We stopped by the club for a glass of wine before dinner.
We left three hours later after coffee and a sweet.
Great service.
Fine amenities.

"Our flight from Sardinia arrived in Rome"

It would have been interesting to see that trip report, as well as one about whichever airport you used while in Sardinia. I mean, I know the flight itself must have been extremely short, but still. It would be nice to see a review of a short domestic flight in Italy and another airport that doesn't usually show up in many TRs.

So I guess this was an average airport hotel.

It would be interesting to see a list from you Lucky about which were some of the better airport hotels you have stayed, and which were some of the worst.

I've stay here a number of times with no problems. Decent hotel with pretty de sent do in options for airport hotel. We what I did there? IT'S AN AIRPORT HOTEL

I've stay here a number of times with no problems. Decent hotel with pretty decent dining options for airport hotel. We what I did there? IT'S AN AIRPORT HOTEL

I had a great stay at this hotel during hurricane sandy. When I checked in as a gold I was upgraded to a 1 bedroom suite, that night when I got the word my flights had been canceled to IAD, and I would need to spend at least 1 extra night there the manager let me keep my room but only charged me for the going rate for a regular room.

Wow. Your room looks like a hospital or college dorm with some cheap art and nice furnishings. As for eating at the hotel restaurant ... come on! You're in Italy!

Has anyone stayed at the HGI in 2019 willing to give an opinion?

Thanks for the reviews. Could anyone tell me where the shuttle, into the city, makes its stop? I will be taking a cruise and planned to stay here the night before.

I like to know my routes ahead of time. Thanks