I chose the Sofitel for my stay in Rome because of its' reputation for upscale, luxury accommodations. This was a special trip to celebrate my husband's 70th birthday. With almost no lobby, and limited seating that looks like it came from Ikea, the hotel is more about 'style' than substance. Decorated in marble tones and white, the decor aims for a contemporary, minimalist look that in reality translates to a lack of comfort and purpose. Our 'luxury' room had no chairs, no desk, and a bathroom counter that didn't have room for any personal items. Our Juliette balcony was a rip-off. It wasn't high enough to provide ANY view, and not wide enough to sit on. These balconies are limited to the hotel's third floor ONLY, so this provides an idea of what you can see. Other buildings and trash. To set up a his computer in our room, my husband was forced to sit on a foot stool and hunch over a small cocktail table. The hotel has some of the worst room design I've seen. It's obvious the designers didn't try to stay in the room. To add to the overall inconvenience of the hotel, it is situated at the top of a steep hill, so even using the metro, you end a long, hot day with a 15 minute steep, up hill trek. I regret my choice of this hotel and would not recommend it. The staff were friendly and nice, but not accommodating to personal needs. They have such a volume of tourism they don't need to provide anything more than a basic level of service. Another hotel choice, definitely!