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I Dreamed I Lived Like A Princess In RomeBy Madelyn Miller, the travelladyThe last time I visited Rome was over 20 years ago. I was with my ex-husband at the end of our 3-month trip following EUROPE ON FIVE DOLLARS A DAY. We stayed in a youth hostel which only had hot water two days a week. (not the nights we were there, either) There was a garbage strike and the whole city stunk. We never saw the Sistine Ceiling, the Vatican or any of the “important sites.” We just left as soon as we could and all my memories of Rome were a nightmare. So I especially appreciated my recent stay at the Rome Cavalieri Hilton . It made me realize there is balance in life. All my bad memories of Rome were instantly erased when I walked into the sumptuous lobby. This is Rome. This is the Eternal City. I had found it at last. I knew I had moved up in the world. Actually I was staying on the executive floor and it was worth every extra euro it cost. The floor has complimentary food all day and wines and special drinks are free. You could almost think of it as an all-inclusive with the world’s best view. My room had a private patio that was mirrored on each side, reflecting the glorious view again and again. And one night there were fireworks and the sparkling lights reflected in the mirrors was truly magnificent.
At night there were not just chocolates on the pillow, you got a whole box of chocolates! Actually, I was able to bring those home because I could sit around in the executive lounge when I had spare time and eat all the Perugina famous baci piled into gigantic crystal bowls. (kind of like our silver bells, only filled with crunch nougat and much better) The bathrooms were ultra deluxe with bidet and dressing table in addition to an oversize sink and tub with shower. It was not surprising that the amenities were all Hermes—everything in this palatial-like resort is first class. Rome’s Most Sumptuous Stylish, Unique Suites
Every one of the 370 guest rooms has a balcony. And each and every view call be described in one word: breathtaking. Is there a nicer room than mine?
How did I know I had arrived? The entrance is in full bloom with a lovely fountain.: An instant sense of tranquility and luxury welcomes travelers as they enter the Rome Cavalieri Hilton. The lush, Mediterranean vegetation that surrounds the hotel has been extended to the front entrance where beautifully manicured gardens and a cascading waterfall have replaced an outdoor parking area. Fine Art Worthy of a MuseumThe reception and concierge desks are designed by Italian architect, Gaetano Castelli. The surfaces are made of Sodalite, a rare Brazilian semi-precious stone dramatically shaded in blue, gray and green. This stone is believed to facilitate communication between people, stimulate creativity and soothe and relax the soul. It certainly worked on me.
A 15-acre urban resort, the Rome Cavalieri Hilton houses an impressive art and antique collection, world-class dining, a full-service spa and the city’s largest indoor and outdoor pools. It also became the only hotel in Rome to offer Executive Floors and a breathtakingly panoramic Clubroom when the first phase of the renovation was completed in 2001. Fit For a Princess...Or How a Princess Should Stay Fit
The less energetic may like relaxing in Ancient Roman thermal style and enjoy a sauna, Jacuzzi or Turkish bath before indulging in an expert “La Prairie” beauty treatment or massage. Two red-clay floodlit outdoor tennis courts and a summer open-air swimming pool complete the hotel’s recreational facilities. I felt like I never needed to leave my palace. Has Rome improved with age? Perhaps. But I know my choice of hotel was a whole lot better on this trip. Now when I think of Rome I will dream of my nights in the Cavaleri Hilton. Rome Cavalieri Hilton tel+39 06 35092233
www.cavalieri-hilton.it This is one of my favorite hotels in the world. Be sure to stay on the concierge floor and take advantage of a fabulous lounge serving non-stop food, offering computer access and worth every extra euro. Best Way to Get to ItalyUS's seventh-largest airline, serving 181 communities
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When I wasn’t gazing at the glorious view, I could
watch the news or a movie on the flat screen TV. I think you could also use
it for other things, but I am not so techno-savvy. I did appreciate that the
hotel had wireless internet, which is still hard to find in Rome.
I confess, I did not try every one of the suites, but
mine was so fabulous, I can only imagine the others are all equally
wonderful. With a choice of 25 suites, Rome Cavalieri Hilton guests have the
option of further space and comfort. Each suite has been newly
decorated with antiques in an individual design and is now equipped with a special
leather multi-massage chair and a DVD surround sound system. Plasma
flat-screen televisions are tastefully installed in a gilded picture frame.
Each bathroom has gold-plated
fixtures, Italian marble and an additional
television. 
Well, perhaps. The new Super Suites on the Executive
Floor of the Rome Cavalieri Hilton. The Penthouse and Planetarium. Two new
2,150-square-foot Super Suites showcase a Tai Ping sculpted carpet, Karl
Lagerfeld sofas and armchairs (recently purchased from a Sotheby’s auction
in Monte Carlo) and each suite has a connecting room which may be
transformed into a private gym upon request.
The luxurious master bathroom
features a tropical mist shower with chromo-aromatherapy and a raised
hydro-massage mini pool where one can enjoy sweeping city views or watch the
plasma screen television. The bathrooms are fitted with precious stone and
crystallized marble, along with Swarovski crystal water fixtures. Another
exceptional feature will be the amount of private outdoor space on the
highest terrace of the Eternal city: a private staircase leads from the
living room directly to a 2,150-square-foot roof garden with a small pool
and a gazebo, ideal for private parties and sunbathing. 
Antique multi-chrome marble panels, originally
decorative features of an aristocratic southern Italian palazzo, adorn the
center of each desk, encased at the sides by contemporary curved bluish
green crystal looking into infinity. Also displayed in the lobby are some
rare Old Master paintings, furniture, tapestries and artifacts dating from
the 17th and 18th centuries. 
With the growing popularity of guests enjoying the
hotel’s Mediterranean gardens, the hotel added a one-kilometer long nature
path has 11 exercise stations with corresponding equipment and
instructions. In addition, sports lovers may enjoy daily membership to the
fully equipped 2,000 square-meter Grand Spa Center featuring the latest
Technogym equipment for cardiovascular, aerobic and isometric workouts and
swimming in a glass-domed heated indoor pool, complete with a cozy
wood-burning open fireplace. 