Hotel Venus

A tiny place, but everything felt just right. There was wine in the room, a free minibar with champagne and snacks, robes, and even fresh strawberries delivered to us. The people were kind and really cared about the service. I travel a lot and have stayed in plenty of places, but this was truly incredible. Right in the centre of Rome. Stop looking and stay here!

The pool water was dirty, with green stuff in it, and the air conditioner needs servicing. The advertised photo doesn't show what you actually get. The toilet and shower leaked, there was a smell, the toilet didn't flush properly, and the walls and edges weren't clean.

It's fairly remote, but very quiet. The owner was friendly and helpful. Up front there's a little garden that's kept very neatly, and in the back there's outdoor seating surrounded by flowers and greenery. You can use the grill at no extra charge.

Wi-Fi was nowhere to be found in the room, and the bathroom fan screeched. Cleanliness was poor overall. The room's old wall-mounted AC rattled so badly that sleeping with it on was impossible. With the window open instead, the heat and loud music outside still kept us from getting a good night's sleep. The terrace looked nice and spacious, but the folding chairs were really uncomfortable, and spiders, ants, and other insects ended up on your lap. Breakfast was called a Swedish buffet, but it was a joke: two kinds of the cheapest cold cuts, tomatoes, cucumbers, some cheese, and bad coffee from a street-style vending machine. The food was 'not bad, not great', but the prices were definitely at the 4-star level. Given how the hotel advertises itself as 4-star, this was easily one of the worst places I've stayed.