Our First Day in Rome: Checking Into The Westin Excelsior

Our first day in Rome started with a bit of luck and a lot of points. We managed to snag a stay at the five-star Westin Excelsior Rome using Marriott Bonvoy points, which felt like the perfect way to kick off our Euro Summer.

The hotel sits on Via Vittorio Veneto, one of Rome’s most elegant and historic streets, surrounded by embassies, cafés, and grand old mansions lined with trees. Built in 1906, the Excelsior was designed as a luxury hotel from the start, and it still holds on to that Belle Époque charm with its marble floors, chandeliers, and sweeping staircases.

The Stay

From the moment we arrived, the staff made us feel so welcome. Service was amazing, breakfast was delicious, and the cappuccino deserves a special mention. Thanks to my Titanium Elite status, we were also upgraded to a premium room at no extra cost.

After landing from our long flight midday, we forced ourselves to stay awake and fight off jet lag.

Once we got settled, we wandered through the neighborhood and found a little café for lunch.

The Via Veneto area is gorgeous and quiet, with tree-lined streets, elegant architecture, and a mix of cafés and embassies that make it feel both local and grand at the same time.

How We Scored the Hotel, Status, and Upgrades

People often ask how we stay at hotels like this for free, so here’s the truth.

The key to earning points and elite status quickly with any hotel brand is simple:

1. Get the hotel credit card. I use this one, which gives multiple points per dollar on Marriott purchases and a welcome bonus of 125,000 points plus one free night. Our stay at the Westin Excelsior was three nights for 100,000 points, so that signup bonus alone could easily cover an entire luxury getaway like this.

2. Sign up for the Bonvoy program. It’s free and you can sign up here.

3. Use the card for everyday purchases. Propofol Papi uses our hotel card as his daily “debit card,” which helps us rack up points even faster.

Titanium Elite Status

My work travel is what pushed me to Titanium Elite, one of the top tiers in Marriott Bonvoy. It comes with some really nice perks:

• Free room upgrades, sometimes even suites

• 75% bonus points on every stay

• Guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout

• Access to Executive Lounges at select properties

• A welcome gift at check-in (breakfast, points, or amenities depending on the hotel)

Gold Elite Status via Amex Platinum

If you don’t travel often for work, you can still enjoy perks through the Amex Platinum Card, which gives you Gold Elite status automatically. That includes:

• Room upgrades when available

• 2 p.m. late checkout

• 25% bonus points on stays

• A welcome gift of points when you check in

You can sign up for the Amex Platinum here to start earning faster and enjoying hotel perks right away.