Hotel Gioberti

I stayed in January and found the rooms perfect and impeccably clean. The reception staff were very kind and helpful, and the breakfast room was well organized. The woman working there was always smiling and available. One man wearing glasses behaved inappropriately during service: he cleaned his glasses, blew his nose in front of the buffet, and touched food directly. It was unhygienic and unprofessional. Even with that issue, I thought the hotel was fantastic and well worth it.

The room was worn down, but very clean, and the staff were the big positive. The front desk did their best with what they had, and the breakfast attendants were excellent. Breakfast itself was basic, but I enjoyed it. We could visit all the major sights, and our longest metro ride was six stops, about 15 minutes, to the Vatican. The station is a three-minute walk away. Termini is right across the street, which is convenient for trains and an overnight stop. But if you’re staying to enjoy Rome, the neighborhood is a problem. Our driver warned us not to walk there at night. After around 22:00, we didn’t feel comfortable going out. There were dealers and people sleeping rough nearby, with sirens and shouting at night. We’d hoped to return for a nap and then head out to enjoy Rome’s nightlife, but after 22:00 we needed a cab to the front door. Inside, though, we felt safe: the front door was locked and someone was at the desk 24/7. The room was warm, and the AC didn’t work. The desk said there was no AC, despite it being advertised, and told us to open the windows. There were no screens, so we worried about birds or insects, though neither turned out to be an issue. We had to shut the window at night because of the street noise. The showers leaked, leaving us to step onto a soaked towel and hope not to slip. The towel heater didn’t work either. Cold water seemed to be circulating through it, leaving the towel cold and wet from condensation in the morning. There are no English-language TV channels, so coming back early limited what we could do. The hotel was presented as four-star, but I don’t know how. If the location doesn’t put you off, being close to Termini is useful.

The best part is the location if you want to be near Termini. Trains and buses are practically at the door, and it’s easy to explore on foot. There’s good shopping and food nearby. I liked the spacious, quiet, comfortable rooms, their high ceilings and elegant design, plus the USB charging ports. The corridors are also finished to a high standard. Still, to me this is a three-star boutique hotel, not the four-star place it advertises. The bathrooms are tiny, with almost no room for things, and the shower felt cramped even for me, though I’m slim. We had no heating on a late November weekend when the nighttime temperatures fell into single digits. The room was cold, and reception said heating would be available the next day, but it never came on. There’s no kettle, tea, or coffee in the “superior” rooms, so I brought my own after learning that in advance. Some reception staff were friendly enough, while others were standoffish. Breakfast was passable, not great. The machine “juices” weren’t real juice, and the salad tomatoes weren’t fresh, though I liked the coffee, pastries, and fresh green melon. There’s no bar, cafe, or restaurant, and the lobby is very small, which made me question the four-star rating. I might stay again, but I’d check other options too.

It’s handy for the train station, with plenty of shops, supermarkets, restaurants, and cafés close by. Staff were polite, responsive, helpful, and always smiled. The breakfast staff were especially kind. The corridor was large and clean. The rooms were spacious, but the view was terrible and there was an unpleasant smell when we entered. The hotel needs maintenance: cracked walls with patchy paint, stained carpets, dust on the tables, and even a spider web on the top frame of the bed. Breakfast was disappointing too. The eggs were cold, and the boiled egg looked old and inedible. Walking to the main sights isn’t ideal. Trevi Fountain is 28 minutes away on foot and the Colosseum about 20, along streets with plenty of ups and downs that make the walk tiring. If you want to reach the main attractions on foot, this isn’t a good choice. The staff were good, but the hotel needs work to be better.