Hotel Villa Zaccardi

The staff are exceptionally friendly and the hotel is beautiful. Still, for a four-star place at this price, arriving in mid-February to find no heating and no hot water was unacceptable. We were first told the heating would be fixed by morning, but later had to ask for a portable heater just to stay warm. Hot water was only available early in the morning and late in the evening, and even then it turned cold after about five minutes.

We found a fabulous restaurant right next door, and the staff here were really friendly. The hotel is outside the bustle of Rome, with bus and tram access straight into the city in about 20 minutes. Best sleep and shower we've had in four weeks.

Public transport stops are only a short walk away, which made getting around Rome easy. We stayed four nights and arrived late, but the receptionist was immediately welcoming and professional, with genuinely useful transport advice. His charm really stayed with us. Breakfast was included and had what we wanted: eggs, yoghurt, pastries, bread, butter, meat, cheese, tea, and coffee. Having a kettle and a small fridge in the room was handy too.

Villa Zaccardi gave us the local side of the city we like to find away from the tourist spots. The room was a bit smaller than I expected, but that was okay since we only used it for sleeping, and the place was very clean. Friendly locals were helpful with directions, and we quickly learned the bus system. The trolley stop was a few blocks away and took us into the city centre in no time. Breakfast was so good, and the adjoining restaurant was fantastic. One of my favorite memories is watching pasta being made on site and choosing fresh seafood from the ice. The cook cut a filet right in front of us.