Hotel Paolo II

Valentino at reception was friendly and helpful, with good suggestions for places to go and a hand with cabs or anything else we asked for. The continental breakfast was just right, and they made us cappuccinos each morning. It was clean, I felt very safe, and we enjoyed our stay a lot. One of the sweetest, most quaint hotels I've stayed in, and a favorite from our trip.

We came from New Zealand and have been traveling around Europe. Hotel Paolo II was warm and clean, with rooms serviced as needed and plenty of restaurants nearby. The front desk service was lovely from the moment we arrived, and every time we came and went during the day. Breakfast and the service were just what you need to get the day started. It's a short walk through Vatican City to the Metro, with access to Rome's famous sights. Highly recommended.

The staff are what make Hotel Paolo II such good value. They cleaned the rooms carefully every day and paid attention to requests, doing their best to look after each guest. We were so warmly looked after by Valentino, Oliver, Samadi, Cinthaka, Sanje, Neth, and Marco. Every one of them was kind, attentive and helpful. If I owned a hotel in Italy, I'd want them on my team. The Vatican area has its own appeal. It's farther from the historic or tourist center, but close to the Vatican and many lovely places. The neighborhood feels safe, calm compared with busy Rome, and beautiful, for religious or secular sightseeing alike. There are more home-style restaurants here than in the tourist centers, so it's easier to find good food at reasonable prices. For a trip where you're out sightseeing most of the day, having a spacious room, high ceilings, a large practical bathroom and a good breakfast matters. We found all of that here. The room was very spacious and the bathroom was wonderful for a mid-to-low-cost hotel. The facilities were a little better than I expected for the price, which feels like a fair way to judge a hotel's rating. The location, facilities and service all work together to make the experience. Good structure helps the staff serve you well, and location can make a trip much better. Even after spending the day out, it was lovely to come back and rest comfortably, then start the next day with the staff's smiles and warmth and a great breakfast for the price. Highly recommended.

The room was clean and a decent size when we arrived, and the staff were generally friendly and helpful. Hotel Paolo II is handy for the Vatican and public transport, and is a reasonable budget option for getting around the city. The main problem was the shower. It leaked a lot, leaving water all over the bathroom floor, which was messy and a bit hazardous. Fixing that would make a big difference to a guest's stay. Decent enough overall, so three stars.