We did not want to stay in an airport hotel near Rome, but needed somewhere not too far away for our first night as our flight arrived early evening. After combing the internet, I found the Hotel alle Tamerici and we had a very nice stay here.

As there were three of us (including our 5 year old son), we booked a suite with two rooms. The suite was great, very modern, striking furniture and colours, very clean, our own little building all on one floor, away from the main block. Beds were very comfortable and the whole place was very peaceful. The only thing that was slightly disconcerting was the bars on all the windows, presumably for security.

It was dusk when we arrived, and we were tired, so went straight to the restaurant. There was only one other party, and I think we were the only hotel guests. There was no written menu, and our limited Italian made it interesting! But the food we had was very good, based around seafood, with a very nice prawn and orange starter, then pasta with king prawns, and tuna main course. Our son had pasta with tomato sauce. Food is evidently aspiring to be gourmet, and the restaurant is very chic.

Next morning, we could get a better overview of the place. It is essentially a walled compound on the edge of Ladispoli town, overlooked by flats. A lot of money has been spent landscaping the grounds, but its location feels slightly uncomfortable, as if it doesn't really fit with the rest of this pretty ordinary town.

Breakfast was buffet style, nice croissants, ham and cheese etc, and of course in Italy, very good coffee.

The hotel is well placed for the black sand beach just across the road, and the WWF Palo Laziale oasis nature reserve is adjacent. Nice for us as birdwatchers were the migrant birds drawn by the hotel's well manicured lawns, and we saw 3 Hoopoes (really exotic looking Mediterranean birds) fly in off the sea when we walked on the beach.

So, all in all, a nice place, bit lacking in atmosphere but then we were the only guests. Staff were friendly and helpful, and it does present an alternative to the airport experience at Rome, but only really for those with their own transport.