Soraya Guest House Colosseum

We lasted about ten minutes before looking for another hotel. At check-in, it felt like we'd wandered into an abandoned horror set. The building was covered in graffiti, the entrance looked broken, and a smell like mold, a wet basement, and regret hit before we got inside. The elevator seemed ancient, creaking and shaking so much I was bracing myself before we reached the second floor. The room had a sticky feel and a grim, old smell. A black hair was on the pillow, there were stains I didn't want to identify, and the doors wouldn't close or lock properly. The receptionist vanished after 5 PM, and our calls got no response. We felt like we'd been left in an old Roman prison.

The room didn't look like the website photos at all, so whoever took those pictures deserves an award. There was black mold in the shower, and the living room couch smelled like a wet dog. Its pullout bed wouldn't fold back in, making the couch useless. The room felt unclean. The metro is nearby, which made getting around town easy. But the building facade was covered in graffiti, and people outside kept shouting late into the night. Getting into the building at the start was a mess, and communicating with the staff was more work than it should have been. For the price, I wouldn't recommend staying here.

We were very happy with what we booked: a huge apartment with two bedrooms, a living room and a kitchen stocked with what you need, a sofa bed, and three decent-sized bathrooms. The balcony was roomy and had a wonderful panoramic view of the archbasilica. The apartment was cleaned and towels changed every day, though I don't think daily towel changes are needed. The location was incredibly convenient for Rome. Open the building door and you're right at the metro entrance. At reception, the young women were kind, polite, professional, and ready to help with anything. I was impressed and delighted. Thanks for a lovely stay. We'd happily come back!

The apartment house is right by the Manzoni stop on Metro line A, so many places are only a few minutes away, including Basilica Santa Maria Magiore, Arcibasilica Papale di San Giovanni in Laterano, and Colloseum. Our room was cleaned daily, with fresh bedclothes and towels. There’s a breakfast bistro nearby, along with a few shops for water and snacks. A very good place to stay.