Romulus Hotel

We booked at the last minute, and with more time to look around, I wouldn't have picked this place. The restaurant serves food at reasonable prices, though don't expect fine dining for what you pay. Getting here by public transport was a hassle: from Roma Tiburtina, the bus leaves you facing a filthy pedestrian bridge with lots of steps to climb with your luggage. We arrived after dark and the hotel was hard to find because the signs were poor. It's about 10 minutes by car from downtown, but the bus only comes every half hour, and I wouldn't recommend taking public transport here. The hotel's beside a busy motorway, so traffic made it hard to sleep. Inside, the decor felt very dated, and the uneven floor was a tripping hazard. The toilet seat was broken, but reception fixed it promptly after I mentioned it. At night, the location felt very undesirable, with seedy characters hanging around and unsavory activity happening at the hotel. I'm appalled that this is considered a three-star establishment in Italy.

The rooms have a somewhat sinister charm, but the service and breakfast were really decent. Getting there was the problem. A taxi or car seems like the only option, since Google sent me to a bus stop on the wrong side of the freeway. I was scared for my life and nearly got run over before a helpful Italian man who was smoking a cigarette picked me up. It turns out there is a better direct bus that Google doesn't show.

The hotel was okay for a short stay, with free Wi-Fi and breakfast, and my room was fairly clean for an old building. But the location was awful. I spent about an hour and a half each day getting to the city and sights, using the shuttle, bus, and metro. The hotel shuttle and bus were very unreliable: they'd give a time and then never show up. The neighborhood felt like what I'd call the “Detroit of Rome.” When I first arrived, there was a group of what looked like actual prostitutes by the roadside. If you're only in Rome briefly, I think you'll regret staying here. You can find somewhere better located, and it'll be worth the price.

Google Maps will steer you wrong here. Don't come by train. It takes you to Fidene station across the road, and you can't walk from there to the hotel. Go to Tiburtina instead, take the bus, and get off at Via Saleria.