Villa Monte Mario

It’s a Catholic youth hostel, and I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re over 35. The rooms are very basic and not well maintained, though they are very clean. The location is inconvenient, about an hour by bus from most attractions. Breakfast is okay, but the restaurant isn’t. Nuns run the place, and it’s extremely cheap compared with the rest of the city. 🏨🏩🧒🏼

The staff were extremely nice, though not many spoke English. We managed to communicate well enough and had a very enjoyable stay. You can get a good dinner at the hotel for 10-15 Euros, and the bus line right outside goes straight to the Vatican. The A/C was out while we were there, but that wasn’t too much of an issue in mid-May. The stay was comfortable and we had a really nice time.

The place feels safe and is good value, with a nice location. Getting back from central Rome can take around an hour on a packed bus, often involving two buses. The complimentary breakfast was pretty good and handy. It’s run by nuns and other staff, and has a distinctive nunnery or hospital feel that’s quite authentic and unusual. Traffic outside the window was very loud. There was no aircon or fan, so we had to keep the window open.

Everyone was friendly, and I thought breakfast was very good, as long as you’re not expecting eggs and bacon. The bathroom was large, while the room itself was basic. The bus stop is 30 minutes away, and getting there was an adventure. We had to figure out where to buy tickets, and the bus drivers weren’t much help. Some people described it as quiet, but our room faced a busy, noisy street. With no air conditioning in summer and the noise outside, I probably wouldn’t stay here again.