Z-ArchSuiTes

Z Arch didn't give us a key of our own, so getting back in meant buzzing and waiting for ages. The woman we spoke to called us ungrateful because she had moved us to another room. Was she expecting applause for putting us somewhere else after their bad pipes flooded the first room? Were we supposed to swim in toilet water? The replacement room was just as awful: no toilet paper, part of the wall had fallen down, the snacks were stale, and there was chewing gum on a pillow and black mold in the shower. Booking.com then messaged to say Z Arch was charging €414 for supposedly clogging the toilet with toilet paper. We used a normal amount. Their plumbing is faulty, so expecting us to pay for that problem is ridiculous. We won't be paying.

The staff were almost impossible to reach. One of us ended up changing clothes in a shared hallway after we'd travelled there and still couldn't get into our room, even though we had been told it would be ready at 3.30pm. They need to sort out communication if they want to succeed in this business. Nobody wants to hang around after a journey. The room looked so dirty that I didn't want to lie on the bed. The bad hotel experience didn't ruin Rome for us, since the city has plenty to offer, but I was surprised to read the hotel's rude replies to paying customers. Those unprofessional responses make it seem like they don't know how to run a business.

We had to buzz again and again and call the number whenever we returned, and often they ignored us or hung up. We didn't even have a key to get back into our own room, so we could be left stranded outside. Other travelers in the same apartment had the same problem. I wouldn't stay at Z Arch Suites again or recommend it to anyone.

The value was fair, but getting around takes some effort. It's in a working-class suburb rather than a classic tourist area, and you have to walk 10 minutes to reach the busy metro, then ride 5 to 6 stops to the central sights. You need to be reasonably fit and unfazed to stay here. The room was smaller than I expected, with stains on the sofa chair, and both room and bathroom could use refurbishment despite having the basics. Service was practically nonexistent: there were two sweets on the coffee table and a bottle opener with an 'enjoy' note, but no wine to open. There were also warnings about fines if you left things untidy or didn't wash up.