Clarin Hotel

The small fridge kept drinks cool, and the air conditioning made sleeping in midsummer more tolerable. For €5, the optional breakfast buffet was cheap and filling. It’s served only until 9:30 a.m., though, so if you want to sleep in, I’d eat elsewhere. The rooms are a little small, and some staff could be more enthusiastic. The price is good for what you get. The location is handy if you need a hotel near the train station, though it’s about a half-hour walk to the main sights.

The staff are nice, and breakfast is fine, enough to get the day started. Rooms are tiny but cleaned every day, and there are towels in the bathroom. For this price at a two-star hotel in central Rome, that’s what I’d expect. It’s a good pick if you want to explore on foot, with everything within a 15-30 minute walk.

For a short stay of one to three nights, it’s fine. I wouldn’t choose it for longer. The included breakfast is supermarket croissants with sugar on top. The juice is great, though. Beds aren’t the most comfortable, but nothing hurts when I get up, and I actually like feeling the springs, so that was a pleasant surprise. The doors barely block sound. When college classes are staying, they can be noisy well into the night, and you may wonder if the door is there at all. Staff were mixed for me, my friends, and others. Some were nice and professional; others seemed to wish they were on the other side of the planet. One guy at the desk practically swore and stomped around the floor when I asked for a room key after forgetting mine inside. It was a very small inconvenience, and I think he’d forgotten what he was hired to do. In the end, the stay was good, though the staff were inconsistent.

It’s on the fourth floor, and the old lift can’t take more than three people. The room had a bit of a smell, and Wi-Fi costs extra. It’s an okay place if you’re looking for cheap accommodation.