La Residenza dei Principi

The only real plus was being close to the historic sights. We had a terrible stay, and the extra night I booked but didn’t use wasn’t taken into consideration. The room was very cramped for two adults, and the shower’s hot water kept coming and going. The elevator was dusty and looked like it hadn’t been cleaned. One morning, a woman was talking loudly on the phone in the hallway, and we could hear her entire conversation from the room. Getting in was a mess. There were no instructions for entering the hotel, and the rooms were hard to find on the fifth floor of an old building. I had no signal, so we asked the owner of the restaurant next door for help. Once we reached the hotel, nobody was on site. An employee from another hotel nearby helped us with the building entry code. They should send instructions by text or email ahead of time to avoid this. Residenza Dei Principi is called a bed and breakfast, but breakfast wasn’t included in the rate. City taxes were charged separately too, while most hotels include them in the price. One of the worst bed and breakfast experiences I’ve had. Stay away.

We booked two of the four rooms, which made this charming, practical B&B feel like home. It’s affordable and centrally located. Internet was decent, breakfast a bit better than at other similarly priced places we stayed in Italy, and having kitchen and snacks available around the clock was a real bonus. There aren’t staff on site, so be clear with management about when you’ll arrive. In our case, staff met us on the street, helped with our bags, and gave us excellent tips about the area and sights.

It’s a small place, really one apartment with four rooms, in a beautiful old building. The location was great and I felt right at home. Breakfast is a little buffet you take to your room on a tray, since there’s no breakfast room. There were fresh cornetti with different fillings, toast and yogurt, and the self-service area stayed available all day. Check-in went smoothly. Ring the bell and staff come over from another location. They got in touch the day before to ask when we expected to arrive. In the few interactions I had with them, they were friendly and helpful.

From the hotel, we could walk to the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain and plenty of other historic sites. Restaurants, souvenir shops and markets were all nearby too, as were the train station and metro. Staff were super friendly and helpful, and breakfast was delicious and included.