Gialel Guesthouse

The location is the only real positive, with daily room cleaning as another plus. Beyond those, I can't think of anything good to say. We arrived in Rome in the middle of the night and were told they didn't care how we spent the night and to come back the next day for check-in. I later found out self check-in was possible, so we had to book another hotel and pay extra for a night. Breakfast was listed as included on the website, but they didn't provide it. When we asked, the woman rudely said it was a guesthouse, not a B&B. On arrival night, when we asked about self check-in, we had been told they were a B&B, not a hotel. About 30 minutes after entering our room, the lock malfunctioned and we were stuck inside. The doors use keycodes that anyone can learn once they're there, so someone could open your room while you're out. The website says the building is handicap friendly, but there's a photo of the stairs attached. The elevator requires a key, which you have to get on the second floor during check-in. Also, the elevator door is too small for a wheelchair. The room furniture looked like it could break at any moment, and they say guests will be charged for anything broken, lol.

The entry instructions were great: all the codes for the apartment building arrived early, which helped. If you're arriving late at night or early in the morning, make sure to arrange things with the vendor first so you have the codes and room access. We were on the fourth floor, and getting back there felt like climbing to the Spanish Steps every time, so check the floor you're booking if you have mobility issues. The location is superb. Nothing is more than about 30 minutes away, Repubblica metro is around 10 minutes on foot, and it connects well across the city. We could reach the main sights easily, including the Colosseum in 15-20 minutes via that metro. The biggest problem was the room: the shower and sink only had cold water, and the fridge needed to be thrown away because black mold was growing inside it. We're a well-traveled family, have stayed in some odd places, and aren't picky. Roma is a beautiful city with amazing sights. I hope you enjoy your visit.

The bathroom was what we walked into on arrival. I had to find some antibacterial spray and clean the toilet before I could use it. Absolutely disgusting. I sent photos to the WhatsApp number shown in the images and got back “hi?” We waited for TUI to resolve the problem, but the manager ignored their messages too. We left after one night and paid to stay somewhere else. This was the worst place I’ve ever stayed. It’s nowhere near a B&B, more like a halfway house or slum.

Stefano was fantastic over text, even though we never met him. He arranged taxis and was available whenever we needed him. We booked through Tui and had asked for a twin room because of a medical condition, but that request was declined. I emailed Gialel, and Stefano soon confirmed a twin room with its own bathroom. The location worked well, about a 20-minute walk from most sights, with cafes, restaurants, a pharmacy and a mini mart nearby. Our room was spotless and had a fan, air conditioning and a fridge, though no kettle. The furniture is old and shabby but does its job. It’s more like an air B&B than a hotel or B&B, and the room wasn’t serviced, which was fine for us. The beds were the most comfortable we’ve ever slept in. It’s a budget stay, so don’t expect luxury. We’d definitely come back.