San Pietro Leisure and Luxury

I wouldn’t book this place expecting standard hotel service, secure check-in, or predictable fees. It operates as an unstaffed vacation rental, with no front desk, despite being listed as a four-star “hotel” on the booking platform. When I arrived, a sign on the door said “this is not a hotel” and told guests to call a number for entry. I was traveling internationally without cellular roaming, so I couldn’t call. I spent two hours walking around Rome with my luggage, looking for public Wi-Fi so I could contact management and get in. The check-in and information left for guests also raised serious concerns. A note in the room asked me to write down sensitive passport details and leave them for the maid to collect, which could expose guests to identity theft. Another note asked for cash Euros for the local city tourist tax, even though I had already prepaid that tax with my booking. Check the receipt carefully to avoid being charged twice. The room itself matched the online photos, but the property has none of the usual four-star hotel infrastructure, security, or reception services. It functions entirely as an unstaffed rental. THIS IS NOT A HOTEL.

The area was quiet, and the Vatican is nearby. It’s about a seven-minute walk to a bus stop. We stayed one night, but getting in was difficult: the box holding the front door key wouldn’t open easily, and it took us 30 minutes. The room was small and looked clean and tidy at first. The next day, I noticed mould stains on the pillow we’d slept on. The hygiene here wasn’t up to Italian standards, and we were very dissatisfied, especially about that.

The room was cozy and modern, but it lacked basic amenities I’d expect from a proper hotel. The place felt isolated and poor value for the money and time. It’s more like a guesthouse tucked into a residential area, with an inconvenient location for public transport and no restaurants, supermarkets, or sights nearby. There’s no lift, either. Carrying my luggage up the old, narrow stairs to the second floor was exhausting and unacceptable. You have to climb them every time you go out and come back, which would be very inconvenient for older guests. I strongly wouldn’t recommend staying here. I had to cancel and give up my money because of the hassle, but it turned out I couldn’t cancel at all.

The room was very nice and spotlessly clean, with a charming balcony to sit on. The staff were amazing, especially Rafael. The place is right by the Vatican walls and close to both the bus and metro, making it a perfect base for our Rome trip. Thanks for having us. Hope to see you again!