Hotel Fontana

We had a fantastic view straight onto Trevi Fountain from our room at Hotel Fontana. Andreas was courteous and professional when we checked in, and he's a real asset to the hotel. The place is right in the heart of the action, directly in front of Trevi. It was noisy, but we didn't mind.

The room was okay, though old, with worn furniture and awful blankets. At least the air conditioning worked. What made the stay especially bad was the noise and the nighttime service. People gathered around the fountain at all hours, shouting and hollering as if it were their living room. Guests were often blocked by people sitting on the hotel steps. One night I had to push through a group with my suitcase just to get in. The daytime front desk man was friendly, professional and helpful. The nighttime one was a nightmare. We had an appointment and needed to leave on time, but the front door was locked and there was no employee in sight. After ten minutes of shaking the door to get someone's attention, we heard someone run down the stairs. He didn't apologize, just pointed at a “be back soon” sign. When we explained that we couldn't be locked inside with an appointment, he responded with pure attitude. The rooftop restaurant and bar felt like a tourist trap perched above the hotel. Prices for food and drinks were ridiculous for what you got, and non-guests had to pay an extra fee just to eat there. The hotel charges far more than it deserves. With the noise, poor night service, dated rooms and high prices, I couldn't see where the money was going. I've had better stays in hostels, and the price gives them no excuse.

We didn't stay at the hotel, but went to its “roof top bar” and found the description misleading. It was just a room on the third floor with two large windows, and the fountain was barely visible. The place was nearly empty, so we moved our table and chairs closer to a window to see it better. Staff promptly told us to move back. I could understand that if we'd blocked another guest's view or spoiled their experience, but there was nobody else there. Overpriced and disappointing, with poor service once you've paid. Tourist trap, don't go.

The hotel's location right in front of Trevi Fountain sounds appealing, but reaching its tiny entrance meant pushing through hundreds of tourists. The reception is basically a narrow hallway, and although the lift is said to hold four people, with bags it barely fits one. The building may date from the 17th century, but that doesn't excuse the poor maintenance and refurbishment at these prices. We paid €1,600 for three people for three nights and were put on the third floor facing the courtyard. There was no view, and the ceiling sloped so low over the bed that you had to crouch to stand comfortably. The room was very dated. The mini fridge could only hold about three small water bottles, and the worn chest of drawers and cabinets need upgrading. The cabinet had a safe crammed with so many items it didn't feel practical or secure. The bathroom layout was strange, with a step down to the toilet area. The old bathtub didn't look clean, the shower temperature was hard to adjust, and it was nearly impossible to shower without flooding the floor. The Wi-Fi password worked, but the signal in our room was extremely weak and unreliable. Breakfast was mediocre at best, nothing memorable or worth its price. The hotel seems to rely entirely on its position by the fountain. Beyond that, there's no comfort, quality or value to justify the cost. It felt like a tourist trap, avoid it.