Domus Aurea Relais Guest House

The room was just right for me and my husband, and the staff and owners were phenomenal. The kitchen area for breakfast and coffee was adorable, with a perfect European breakfast. And the location really surprised me, we were only steps from the coliseum. I can't say enough good about them.

The owner didn't seem to care about our situation and wouldn't offer any kind of refund for the disruption, so we cut our losses and left. On our first trip to Rome, we were disappointed that the rooms looked nothing like the photos. My husband had recently torn his calf and needed to rest after check-in, but jackhammering started directly beneath our room. It was so loud we couldn't stay, and we were told the work would continue for our entire stay. I wouldn't recommend this place.

The hosts were very nice and helpful, and they accommodated our late check-in. Still, it felt more like a hostel than a hotel, and I wouldn't recommend staying here. There was so much misdescription, and the shower and facilities were severely lacking. The rooms didn't have a landmark view, and the online photos looked nothing like the room I stayed in. Getting in and out of the shower felt close to a safety hazard. I'm a size 8 in Australia and struggled to fit through its door. The bathroom pump made loud noises all night. We were so disappointed that we nearly left on arrival, but it was too late to find somewhere else and we were only in Rome for two nights. If our stay had been longer, I would've switched hotels the next day. Not worth the money.

People complain about the small rooms, but where else can you get a room like this so close to the colloseum at this price? We had a great short trip and felt it was good value. The service was fantastic too: they let us leave our bags during the day and gave us another key so we could get back in. I'd recommend it for a quick trip 👍🏼