Quiriti Vatican Relais

The rooms were clean and cozy, though a bit tight for three people. The air conditioning worked well once we figured out the controls, after accidentally turning it off while adjusting the thermostat and letting the room get pretty warm. The mini fridge barely chilled anything, and there was no ice, so my leftover tiramisu didn’t make it. Breakfast was simple, with pastries, juice and coffee made to order by a very kind gentleman from the Philippines. No bacon or scrambled eggs, but the chocolate croissants were hard to resist. We felt safe in the quiet neighborhood, though getting inside meant figuring out several codes for the front door and hall, maybe another one too. The old-fashioned elevator looked alarming, so we took the marble stairs instead and found they were slippery. Two of the three of us bruised our backsides and our pride. For Vatican visits, Quiriti Vatican Relais is handy, about a 15-20 minute walk from the sights, with small trattorias nearby and a metro stop a few blocks away. We were comfortable here, but next time we might stay somewhere more central to spare our feet and tailbones.

The host was kind, and the location worked well, with restaurants and bars nearby, away from the busy center but about a 20-minute walk from it. Still, €250 for two nights without breakfast felt like a lot for what we got. I’d asked for a romantic Valentine’s Day setup, and the host promised rose petals on the bed, but we arrived to find only the towels folded into an odd shape. The bed was badly damaged. The bathroom, on the other hand, was in perfect condition, with a great shower and nice lighting. Since the room is in an apartment with other rooms and a shared kitchen, people shouting woke us every morning at 7.

The manager spoke to me in a really condescending way while showing me to the room, and even made fun of a guest. It felt like a dorm, not a hotel, with no privacy in the dining area beside the other rooms. The photos on booking.com seemed likely to be edited, since the place wasn’t as luxurious as they made it look. My room smelled bad, the pillows were stinky, and the bathroom was very old. I asked to leave and cancel after two hours, but she didn’t reply and charged me 415 euros for three nights I never stayed. One of the worst places I’ve stayed. Super disappointing.

We loved how pleasant the place felt, and many thanks for all the care. The rooms were clean and well kept. Restaurants, shops, sights and the metro are all nearby, and the location couldn’t be better. If we come back to Rome, we won’t look anywhere else :)