Simply Rome

They should call it “Simply Filth” instead of Simply Rome. This was the worst hotel or apartment stay of my life, and I can’t understand where the good reviews came from. The room smelled like a damp locker room as soon as we walked in. We later found mold all over the “bathroom,” which may have been what caused the smell. It’s in a small attic corridor with low ceilings, and during our stay a Polish family had taken over the area, partying, drinking, and screaming on the “terrace” late into the night. Our only tiny window looked out onto it, so we ended up hearing those parties whether we wanted to or not. The bathroom was so cramped that an adult man could barely turn around without hitting something. The shower was even smaller. I’m 183 cm and couldn’t stand up straight, and hit my head on the moldy ceiling several times. Disgusting. The toilet didn’t have a flush button. There was no hot water at all, and the water pressure was awful, almost nonexistent. They provided no shower gel, just a tiny piece of regular soap. The Wi-Fi didn’t work either. The “breakfast” was two cheap croissants, two coffee pods, a little milk, and two bottles of water. There were no cups or glasses in the room; supplies were shared by four rooms. The Polish family had taken everything, so we didn’t even have a cup to make coffee and had to drink from plastic. The mattress was cheap, hard, and squeaked whenever I moved. The pillows were tiny, and there were no extra covers. The location feels like the middle of nowhere. The one upside is that it’s a 20-minute walk from Ciampino Train Station. The AC worked very well, and it was the only reason I stayed. The lady who showed us the room was very nice and tried her best. Apart from the mold, the flat surfaces, sink, sheets, and so on were clean. It was also quiet and cheap. An awful experience. I wouldn’t recommend staying here unless you’re completely desperate.

There’s no room service since it’s an apartment, but the owner, Louis, picked me up from Ciampiano train station, which is about a 20-minute drive away. I think that’s around the cost of a taxi. He also drove me to Ciampiano Airport. Traffic was very busy, so that took about 20 minutes too, but paying for the ride was worth it. The place was spotless, with large beds and very clean, crisp sheets that seemed professionally cleaned. There’s a TV, dining table, and fully equipped kitchen. Takeaways, a bar, and a supermarket are all about a five-minute walk away.

The Simply Rome staff were there whenever we needed them, and the people were kind to talk with and helpful in guiding us around the area. It was a good place for my family and me to wait for our flight or spend time in Italy. The rooms are fairly large for a couple or a solo traveler. Bathrooms are fully equipped, and each room has its own fridge and microwave, as well as a TV. A good experience for us.

We’re loving our stay in this beautiful apartment. Inolia is friendly and very helpful. I was glad they picked us up from Ciampano airport and are going to drop us off too. We’ll come back and recommend it to family and friends.