Residenza Monti

We had a good stay, and the receptionists were friendly. They offered breakfast from 7 to 10 if you wanted it, though the check-in location was a bit far. The building has an elevator, which helped after tiring days getting up to our top-floor room, and the bed was generally comfortable. The sheets were clean, apart from what looked like half a hair in the middle. The only indoor noise was occasional, such as someone playing the TV loudly in the bathroom. There was also some outside noise at night, which is to be expected in such a central spot. Room 301 is in an excellent location, just steps from the Colosseum and close to the Cavour B line metro station. From the mini balconies, though, you can’t see the Colosseum. An air conditioning unit blocks one side, and an open door to another building, perhaps abandoned, obstructs the view on the other. We were given the “nicest” room, which made me wonder about the others. The antique furniture was a shame, since more modern furnishings would make a big difference given the price and location. There was no daily housekeeping during our four days. Luckily, there were enough clean towels, shampoo, and a few new bars of soap. The bathroom felt a bit spooky. The living room floor was dusty, and the kitchen fridge was switched off with open cheese and ham inside that smelled unpleasant. There were used dish sponges and cloths, dishes left to drain from the previous guests, and used soap in the bathroom. The toilet flushed slowly, and the water was hard to regulate, swinging too hot or too cold. The kitchen knives were too dull for many things, and there was no microwave. There was a washing machine but no detergent. At night, the heat and my allergies made it hard to breathe, so a window looking onto the floor below had to be cut out. Fortunately, there was a fan, which was also useful to carry into the bathroom because it got too hot during the day. The spiral staircase seemed unsafe in one spot. The bathroom and kitchen windows were dirty. The air conditioning and Wi-Fi didn’t work, but thankfully the penguin was a lifesaver.

The apartment faces the Colosseum, and many of Rome’s main sights and monuments are an easy walk away. The metro is nearby too, with several bars and restaurants right outside. The staff were very friendly. With a location this good, I would definitely have returned if not for the cleanliness and amenities. Despite listings on several booking sites saying “daily cleaning,” there was no daily cleaning. Before we arrived, they’d only done a cursory clean, which was fortunate. The amenities were poor as well: the hairdryer had no adapter, the Wi-Fi didn’t work, neither did the air conditioning, though there was a penguin and a fan, and there was no coffee maker. Clean towels, shower gel, and soap were provided. A real shame.

Just a few minutes’ walk from the Colosseum, the location is convenient, but the apartments need a lot of improvement. The kitchen was bare, with no dish soap, and the furniture was old. There were few towels, and the pillows felt like cheesecloth. The bathtub shower was almost comical, with its under-the-water heating and a one-meter-high curtain that made it impossible to avoid flooding the bathroom. It felt like something out of Psycho! The hairdryer couldn’t be used because there was no adapter.

“Residence of Horrors” would fit this place. There was dust everywhere, even in the blankets, and the toilet wouldn’t flush. Bring a bucket if you stay, unless you want unwanted company. A dead cockroach was sitting on the mezzanine window, and I’m sure it’ll still be there during your stay. The elevator didn’t work, water dripped from the kitchen ceiling, the spiral stairs felt unsafe, and the door lock was broken. We got locked out and the property offered no help. After several calls, they said, “You came back as you left.” Great assistance. An outsider eventually came with Lubrication and got us back in. Obviously, I highly discourage staying here!