Vatican Garden Inn

We were a family of five, my wife, me, and our three kids, and the hot water problem made this a tough stay. We arrived in December, when it was very cold, and there was no hot water at all. It was impossible to shower or wash properly in the morning, especially for the kids. The owner said it would be fixed, but it wasn’t resolved until our last day. For a winter family trip, I wouldn’t recommend it. The room itself was clean, and the beds were comfortable enough for a good night’s sleep. The location is excellent too, with major sights within walking distance and a nearby metro station. But from the Booking.com photos we expected two separate rooms so the kids could sleep apart. It turned out to be one room with three beds all in the same space, which wasn’t ideal for us. The bathroom was disappointing: the shower was old, water sat there instead of draining, the hairdryer barely worked, and the whole setup felt dated. If you’re a student or just need a clean, convenient place to sleep, it might work. For families or longer stays, the bathroom and hot water issues made the experience more negative than positive.

Communication was prompt, and checking in late at night with codes was convenient. Prices are relatively cheap compared with other hotels nearby, and we booked through Booking. The location is handy too, about a 15-minute walk from St. Peter’s Square. Still, despite the name "Vatican Grand Suites," the place feels like a standard, basic B&B. The rooms didn’t have the suite-like amenities the name might suggest. The bathroom had mold, dust had collected behind the radiator, and the shower’s soap holder was broken. Breakfast was brought to the room, but the brioches were unpackaged and the quality was lacking. There was no mineral water provided, and it would have been nice to have a bottle on arrival, as at other places I’ve stayed.

The location is great for seeing Rome, with places to eat nearby, and communication was easy. We never had any problems. It’s a lovely, clean room that works well for families, and breakfast was more than good. We absolutely recommend it!

The room was tidy and looked new, with a pod coffee machine, a kettle, and a bathroom in very good condition. But after the way we were treated on arrival, I wouldn’t choose this kind of place again in Italy. I’d rather pay more for a hotel. We paid £140 for two people, which felt like quite a lot for somewhere 30 minutes from the centre by bus. Our booking was through Booking.com. We realized on arrival day that check-in was only until 23:30. From early morning we kept trying to call the host because there was no email or messaging option, but they didn’t answer. We contacted Booking support in the afternoon. The first person hung up before sorting it out, and a second woman said she’d emailed the host to say we’d arrive at midnight. When we got there at midnight, nobody opened the door. We could see light through the door hole and hear someone walking inside, and the doorbell was so loud I think the neighbors could hear it too. We sat outside for 30 minutes with no one letting us in, so we had to find a hotel in the middle of the night. We went back the next day, and a woman finally opened the door. The disappointing thing was that she didn’t speak any English at all, not a single word. When I tried explaining what had happened, she just gave me Google Translate and then the host’s number, even though the host wasn’t answering. I understand that people on the street in Italy may not be able to communicate in English, but hotel staff not being able to speak it is very poor, since I’m sure 90% of guests don’t speak Italian. You might ask why I didn’t complain to Booking.com. They said the booking was made through a partner called hong kong tuyi business travel, so complaints had to go through them. But you can’t call them, and their reviews are one star, so it seemed like a complete waste of time. If you’re travelling on a budget, think carefully about finding somewhere safer to stay, so you don’t overpay.