Palace Rome - Hostel

We arrived in Rome at 8 p.m. and ended up stranded with all our luggage after a horrible first day at this hostel. The conditions and the lack of professionalism ruined our vacation. We were so shaken that we even thought about catching a flight straight back to Athens, but eventually found another hotel at the last minute, and it was very expensive. When we entered the room, it was covered in ticks that looked like little crabs on the walls and beds. They were on the pillows and blankets too. Trying to kill them left blood splattered everywhere. At reception, a rude young man dismissed us and told us to go back and take pictures instead of checking the room. Even after we showed him proof, he said he wasn’t the manager and it wasn’t his problem, and told us to email and wait. When we said we’d call the police because they wouldn’t refund us or give us a clean room, he laughed and said, “This is Italy, the police won’t help you.” The place was filthy, far from the center in a terrible area, and the staff were beyond disrespectful. We felt they took our money and abandoned us somewhere hazardous. I’ve already reported this to Booking.com and hope the Italian health authorities take action. Stay away and save your money and health.

Getting to the city center took about 35-40 minutes. The bus stop is roughly a five-minute walk away, and buses often go to the last stop on Metro Line B. The neighborhood was quiet and felt safe even at night. If you don’t want to wait for a night bus, there are plenty of scooter-sharing services that can take you back to the main intersection nearby. For the price, Palace Rome Hostel exceeded my expectations. It’s among Rome’s most affordable options with a private bathroom and a location that isn’t too far from the center. The room was clean and looked well cared for, with housekeeping keeping things tidy. The bed was comfortable, the towels were soft and freshly washed, and the bathroom had shower gel and soap. The air conditioning worked well, and the free Wi-Fi stayed reliable throughout my visit. Staff were friendly, helpful, and spoke excellent English. I also appreciated the 24-hour reception, which gave it more of a hotel feel. The room is simply furnished with a bed, small table, and chair. Hangers are provided, but there isn’t really anywhere to hang them, which is inconvenient. The bedding seemed to be cleaned regularly, though it wasn’t new, and some stains were still visible after washing. The walls are thin, so you can hear cleaning or other guests talking, especially in the morning. If you’re a light sleeper, bring earplugs for a quieter rest. A comfortable and convenient budget stay in Rome.

The location worked well for us, with a bus station nearby, and our room was clean. We appreciated that housekeeping came each day. The only letdown for a couple was finding two single beds pushed together instead of one proper double, which wasn’t very comfortable. Apart from that, we had a good stay.

The wrong check-in date was my mistake: I booked April 4th and only noticed the next morning, April 5th. By then the app showed the reservation canceled as a “no-show,” and the hotel said there would be no refund at all, not even partial. I asked whether I could book the room again, but was told it had already gone to other guests. So the same room was charged twice for that night. I know I got the date wrong, but I expected some understanding and a basic sense of commercial fairness. The hotel was completely inflexible, and the room was resold. It felt like profit mattered more than the customer experience. This was the most expensive place we stayed on our Italy trip, and also the most disappointing. I wouldn't return or recommend it, especially to international travelers who might face the same lack of flexibility.