DD Luxury House

Impossible to sleep with the air conditioning unit. It made an awful noise and only blew hot air. My wife and I ended up staying at the ALPI hotel next door, where we were welcomed warmly. We’d chosen this place on booking using filters for air conditioning, soundproofing, and pets. When we arrived around 8 p.m., Mario offered a lower price if we paid in cash, then said there was an extra cleaning charge for the dog. That was the first time I’d encountered this in Rome. The room faced the street, and the unit had a pipe going outside. After three hours of running, the room was still stifling. When I called Mario about the problem, he said he couldn’t come back before 11 p.m. He arrived with a “friend” of his who was 1m95 tall, and told me I must have changed the settings and it would work now. I’d paid for two nights and asked for a refund, but he only wanted to return the cost of one, saying the first night was already used up. It felt like he’d deliberately waited until 11 p.m. The advertised services weren’t there, and I felt the owners were crooks.

We stayed three nights and they took the rubbish out each day. Getting here from Roma Termini was easy. The only real downside was the traffic noise. I’d suggest telling the owner your check-in time at least a day ahead. Otherwise, everything was fine, and I’m not sure why there are so many bad reviews.

Mario was incredibly helpful, though he could have explained more clearly which Cafe to go to for breakfast. The location is spectacular, with plenty of places to eat, a supermarket, and a taxi rank. It’s a good 400m walk from Termini Metro, the bus stop, and train station. The room didn’t meet our expectations for this price range. There was nowhere to boil water for tea or coffee, the floors weren’t fully clean, and the toilet cistern leaked. Calling this luxury would fit a homeless person better. The facilities and service were below par for the price.

The room was okay for the price, and the staff were pleasant and efficient, though they seemed in a hurry. They asked for photos of our passports. I know registration is mandatory in Italy, but elsewhere we’ve been able to enter our ID details on site, so maybe there was a language misunderstanding. The “included breakfast” meant a coffee and croissant at a local cafe around the block. The room could use an upgrade: the paint was worn, the bathroom looked like it might have mould, and the air conditioner barely worked, blowing warm air out the back.