St. Peter's Relax

We paid nearly $700 for two nights at the end of September 2023, which felt ridiculous for a tiny room and bathroom. Online, the listed prices appeared to be $70-$100. I was very disappointed, and at that rate this felt like a complete rip-off. We’d stayed at a four-star hotel in Athens that was a thousand times nicer for only $150 a night. Our VRBO had canceled two weeks before the trip, so this was our last option. Book well in advance for a better price. This is more like an elevated hostel than a hotel or B&B: no front desk, no concierge, and practically just a bed. There was no view, only a wall outside the window. I don’t know why people mention breakfast, since nobody was there to make it and this wasn’t a full kitchen. The tiny kitchenette was shared by three rental rooms, and a sign on the fridge said it was for staff only. After my 10-hour flight, I found the entrance locked in a run-down building in what felt like a somewhat sketchy area, about 20 minutes from Vatican City. I called and was buzzed in remotely, then climbed three flights past yellow-taped scaffolding and a rickety-looking little elevator to another locked door with a security code. The hallway led to three rooms. It took about five hours before we could get into our room. Someone eventually came to check me in, but couldn’t speak English at all, so I had to use Google Translate. I was told the room wasn’t ready and to leave our bags in the kitchen, which didn’t reassure me. Someone from an office contacted us on WhatsApp mainly to get payment quickly. It was a random number asking for my credit card details, and I refused until I could speak to someone in person or get a call from a verified number. I also wasn’t going to hand over my information before I’d seen the room and made sure our luggage was there. Once we finally got in, the full-size bed filled nearly the whole room, leaving almost no space for our luggage. The bathroom was too small for us to be in at the same time, even smaller than the one on our cruise ship, if that’s possible. I will say both the room and bathroom were clean. Still, the whole experience was such a letdown that I felt compelled to leave this long review. I can’t understand how anyone who has stayed somewhere remotely nice could give it five stars.

The owner was so warm and easy to reach whenever we needed her, and her tips for getting around Rome were really useful. The Trionfale market is right across the road, and the Vatican City is only a short walk away. My husband and I spent four nights here and found the place very clean and comfortable. We had a wonderful time, highly recommend it.

The owner was extremely friendly, and our 1.5-year-old son loved her. The place was very clean and well managed, with impressive self check-in. Just follow the instructions and there’s no need for a receptionist. One thing to know: its location is marked incorrectly on Google Maps.

The owner was very friendly and available when we needed help. The rooms were clean and comfortable, and breakfast was more than we expected. The Vatican, Ottaviano metro and shops are all within walking distance.