Di Rienzo Pantheon Palace

The location is great, but the rooms feel worn and run down. They look as if they could be nice, though the wallpaper is peeling. One shower knob wouldn't switch on the extra jets, and a neighbor's air conditioner was so loud we needed earplugs to sleep.

Salvo was very nice, and the hotel is right in the center, but there were a lot of problems. The promised double-glazed windows weren't there, so traffic sounded as if it were right beside the bed. We stayed over the weekend, and the bar across the street was so noisy that earplugs didn't help us sleep. Cleanliness was unacceptable too, which is a shame because the place has potential. The reception was staffed only for check-in, then nobody was there. A large window into the bathroom meant being woken whenever someone used it. The laundry basket in our room had already gone moldy. Although we booked a four-person room, two people had to use an extra couch and a folding bed with a broken slatted frame. The door handle didn't latch by itself, so we had to lock the door, and the shower door was broken and still hadn't been repaired.

The view of the Pantheon was great, and the food was incredible. We kept coming back for dinner even though we wanted to try other restaurants around Rome, mainly because Antonio made the experience so good. He was warm and personal, made us laugh, and gave us great recommendations. He made us feel like family. I never usually leave reviews, but he was an amazing waiter and made the whole visit five stars.

We had no place to stay when we arrived because the hotel had no reservation for my family. Our booking had been cancelled soon after we made it due to a scheduling conflict, but for some reason we never got an email. The hotel wasn't obligated to help us, but Salvo told us not to worry, rearranged some guests quickly, and found space for us. He assured us everything would be all right, and it turned into a perfect stay. The location made it easy to walk everywhere, and breakfast was included. Each morning we had front-row seats to one of Rome's greatest buildings. Salvo was one of the kindest, warmest hosts we've met. I can't imagine staying anywhere else in Rome.