Romatic

The room and bathroom were clean, there was air conditioning, and street noise didn’t come through. The bus stop is only a four-minute walk away. But the bed was bad, and footsteps in the hallway were really loud. The place itself felt strange, with a small, messy entrance hall leading to three rooms that looked nothing like the photos. Our flight landed at 5 am, so we asked the owner about checking in that morning and paying half a day’s fee. He wasn’t willing to work something out.

The host was extremely helpful and the service was excellent. The rooms are good and have the basic things you need. It’s near Ottaviano metro station, and the Vatican is about a ten-minute walk away.

One morning the owner was loudly arguing with his companion and woke the whole building. When I knocked to ask him to keep the noise down, he opened the door and shouted at me in an aggressive, threatening way. He said he lived there too and that his own needs hadn’t been met during my stay. I have to ask: who’s the paying customer here, and who’s being paid? The owner seems confused about those roles and about what’s appropriate, and his manners were extremely poor. I wouldn’t recommend staying here.

What makes the Romatic a real bargain is Paolo. He’s a gentleman, knows the city well, and wants guests to have a safe, memorable, enjoyable time. He gave us a map and a list of good ways to see the sights. The room is basic but clean and nicely presented, with air conditioning, a mini fridge, private bathroom, tea and coffee facilities, a TV, and a large comfortable bed. The Romatic is in a safe residential area, with a supermarket close by and lots of bars, restaurants, and cafes to choose from. The Vatican Museums are about a ten-minute walk away, with a metro station halfway along the route. For me, it’s budget excellence. Book it and enjoy Rome.