Hotel Scalinata di Spagna

On my third visit, the stay was really bad, and the price felt very high for a three-star hotel. We were given rooms in the “new wing,” but it was an old, drab place with small, drab rooms that weren’t easy to reach. Getting in meant a key for the building door, a code for the elevator, and a card for the room. They only gave us one key and one card. It was a long way from the charm I remembered from years ago, when this was a lovely little hotel in a nice location. Breakfast was nothing special: bottled juice, eggs, bacon, and lots of dry cakes that seemed to be from the day or even the week before. The “terrace” wasn’t well maintained either. Worst of all was the front desk staff, including the owner. If you dislike customers and their comments and don’t want them to feel at home, I assume you hate working in hospitality. Fabrizio, I feel sorry for you for hating your job so much.

The young person at the front desk had the worst attitude I’ve encountered anywhere I’ve traveled. If you don’t want to work, just quit. Good luck finding another job with that attitude. Don’t get me started on room service, there was nothing there. This was by far my worst experience in Rome. I’d rather stay at an Airbnb.

Tucked right beside the Spanish steps, this little hotel is a gem. It’s central, and the rooms were clean with a view that was second to none. The hotel may be small, but it’s run like a tight ship, and breakfast was very good too. Everyone was welcoming and helpful. Concierge Fatima showed us to our room and made us feel at home, while Daniel at the front desk helped us find taxis many times so we could reach our tour meeting points on time. Highly recommended!

Being in the city center, just steps from the Spanish Steps, made this a handy base for sightseeing on foot. The room was clean but quite small, and the shower felt especially cramped. The receptionist wasn’t very friendly, and the TV didn’t work during my stay. The room entrance is separate from reception, which can be confusing and awkward if you have large suitcases. Breakfast tasted good, though there wasn’t much variety. For the price, the hotel is decent, mainly because of its location, but the comfort is pretty basic.