Atlante Garden Hotel

Rome was amazing, and this was a special trip because I proposed to my partner while we were there. The friendly staff were the one good part of the hotel experience. We’d booked a room with a balcony or outdoor area a year ahead, but on arrival were given a tiny box-like room. I complained, and the man said they only had two rooms of that type and both were booked, so it seemed they’d double-booked us. They moved us to a more spacious room, but the bathroom was awful. The jacuzzi bath didn’t work, the shower often went cold, had weak pressure, and sprayed in every direction. The hotel wasn’t very clean either. I was offered another room at their sister hotel, but they wanted another €200 euros per night.

The room and bathroom were spacious and clean, and the location was great. Everyone on the staff was helpful and courteous. There were a few annoyances: the shower’s hot water was inconsistent, the hair dryer was horrible, and the desk chair was lumpy and uncomfortable. The dryer was like a vacuum cleaner hose attached to the wall, and you had to pull it out a certain distance and hold it there to keep it on. There was no ice or ice machine for guests either.

I arrived at 11:00 PM and checked out by 9:00 AM the next morning because staying even another minute felt impossible. This is barely a one-star hostel, not a four-star hotel. There were ants and bugs in the bed, the AC was broken and wouldn’t blow cold air, and in Rome the room became unbearable. The bathroom was filthy, with peeling ceiling material and a dirty bathtub covered in some kind of sticky adhesive. The entrance was a makeshift mess from construction that we hadn’t been told about beforehand. When I complained and left early, the receptionist wasn’t surprised and acted as if this were normal. They still charged me for the night, even though I couldn’t sleep there and the conditions were a health concern. I saw no accountability or professional integrity from management. This place is a scam. Save your money and health, and stay somewhere else.

I loved being so close to many historical sites. This was the best hotel of my 10-day trip through Italy and Greece.