Calisto Luxury Trastevere

We arrived on January 8th in winter, and the shower never got properly hot. The water started out mostly lukewarm and turned cold while we were in there. We got out shivering. We told the owner on Friday, and they said they'd come check it. Since the boiler was in another guest's room, they couldn't look at it until the afternoon. Later, the owner said a technician had turned up the boiler temperature, and that they had booked alternative accommodation for Saturday in case the problem continued. After a long day on Saturday, we got back and tried the shower straight away. We were shivering again. We immediately booked another hotel through Booking.com. We weren't happy with the alternative the owner had suggested, and we'd have had to move hotels on Saturday, when we were meant to be at the Vatican all day. That would also have meant two cold showers. I complained to Booking.com and said I wouldn't get a refund. I haven't heard from the owner since I told them I was booking another hotel. It was a really unpleasant experience. We paid for something that just didn't work, and during a very busy trip to Rome we had to find somewhere else at the last minute.

Calisto isn't a standard hotel, with 24/7 reception or a lobby. Andrea and his wife Nariya run the place, which has just 3 rooms in a beautiful historic building in the tourist area of Trastevere. Follow the directions rather than looking for a hotel sign on the street. The name is on the entrance panel and on the doorbells for a few rooms. They cleaned our room daily and provided water and coffee. The breakfast ticket covered one food item and two drinks, with a choice of croissant or eggs, plus freshly squeezed orange juice and coffee. We could leave our luggage for a few hours after check-out. Thank you for everything.

We called just a few hours before arriving and were lucky they had a room free. It's a clean, well-organized B&B in an excellent part of Trastevere. Bus stops are about a five-minute walk away and connect you to Rome's main attractions. The Lungotevere is nearby for evening strolls or aperitifs along the Tiber.

Our room was very clean and well-maintained, and the accommodation is right in the heart of Trastevere. It's a lively neighbourhood with nightlife, restaurants, and shops, and a perfect place to stay. Andrea and his wife gave exceptional service.