No.9 al Colosseo

Just a minute from the Colosseo, the location is incredible. The receptionists were welcoming and helpful, and the rooms were clean and matched the online photos. The price is good compared with nearby places. Definitely worth trying.

The stairs are a bit of a workout, but that’s a small trade-off for a charming, well-located hotel. Our room was very clean, the hot shower worked reliably, and we had everything we needed. The staff were warm and happy to help with directions or recommendations. The area felt safe and secure, which made it easy to relax. There are many public transport options, good restaurants, and historic sights nearby. We had a wonderful stay at the Royal Room Hotel in Rome, and I’d highly recommend it.

The room was small, but comfortable and had air conditioning. There’s no lift, though, and you’ll need to haul your bags up three flights of steep stairs. The location is great, right across from the Coliseum and close to lots of wonderful restaurants, so it’s ideal if you want to stay nearby.

The view was great and matched the online pictures. The rooms themselves weren’t awful, just not as good as they looked online, and they were boiling hot and noisy. You’re not allowed to change the heat settings because the controller has a big “DO NOT TOUCH” sign. With the windows open the noise is so bad you have to shut them. There was hair all over the bed, including under the sheets: long black strands and blonde curly ones. My hair is short and light brown, and my boyfriend’s is light brown and Afro curly, so it clearly wasn’t ours. The cleaner had long black hair, which might explain it, but it was still gross. You have to hand in your hotel key every time you leave. Half the times we came back, the guy on the lates was doing construction on the third floor. We had to walk all the way up, ask for the key, then wait 20 minutes for him to come down and hand it over. It made it feel like guests weren’t trusted to keep their keys outside the building. On our third and last day, the hairdryer blew up in my face, with sparks and black smoke everywhere. It had tape over the top, so they knew there was a problem and still let guests use it. A hairdryer element blowing like that suggests it had been there for years. I was fuming. It could have set my hair on fire. Why keep letting people use it instead of replacing it? I was going to give two stars, but after the hairdryer incident and seeing that it had been taped up, I’m giving one. I wouldn’t recommend it.