Keeping Cool in the Eternal City By Michele Dalpra

Arriving by train at The "Statzione Termini" on a sweltering 42 degree summer day in Rome is somewhat of a journey in itself. Thinking of the cool shower and air condition of a hotel takes the entire sting out of fighting queues and wasting time in cabs, with this in mind in the middle of summer and the lack of air conditioning in most public places, you have to plan the shortest route from air conditioning to air conditioning during the hot Italian summers.

Let me discuss the issues relating to water, not the drinking, more the swimming in, and its not the river Tiber. Italy has not embraced the concept of your own private pool, especially in hotels, for simple reasons, most of the hotels are situated in stunning 16th century buildings with more history than Australia, therefore doing any type of construction is a journey into bureaucracy, Italian style and the other logic is that it's only really hot for 2 months of the year, and its 40 degrees plus with stifling humidity.

There is a solution, the Radisson SAS (via Filippo Turati, 00185, Roma, Italia - Telephone +39 06 444 831, www.rome.radissonsas.com, info.rome@radissonsas.com ) is the landmark you should point to in the hot summer months. As you arrive at Roma Termini station, you can see the hotel from the comfort of your train. It may also shock you that the hotel is on the style and shape of a luxury cruise liner, again following the nautical theme. On the 7th floor is the jewel in the crown, an outdoor pool, 1 of a few hotels in the eternal city. The lifeguard will look after your every need whilst on the "pool deck".

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