Hotel Cecil

Just like ALL hotels in Rome, super unjustifiable prices for a room that shouldn't be for human use. The room felt unclean, tiny, uncomfortable stay.

I booked a double room and they gave me a single room. No customer service, very unprofessional.

Perfect location, very clean, friendly staff

If you manage your expectations, you won't be disappointed. Let's call it 3.5 stars, rounding up for location. I was in Rome for 8 nights, mostly for work at the Villa Medici near the Spanish Steps, and was looking for someplace clean, decent, yet affordable (under $250 a night in bustling, tourist-filled June). Hotel Cecil did the trick. Rooms: Traveling solo, I booked a single room and -- arriving at midnight on a busy Friday -- I was given a room on the first floor, what can only be described as a crypt-like hovel. The window opened into the HVAC unit and the bathroom curtain reeked of mildew in the tiny plastic shower I squeezed into with the broken shower head and blinkering overhead lights. My Italian is poor and the overnight clerk didn't speak English, but through Google translate it became clear that no other rooms were available to move to that night. There's no way I could have stayed in there 8 nights, and the next morning Katerina (who speaks great English) promised to get me into a higher floor after another night in the crypt, which she did. My new room on the 5th floor had definitely seen some things; marks all over the walls, etc, but the bathroom was larger, the shower worked great, and the window opened to the street and I could wake up to sunny Roman skies. So, I was a happy enough camper. Amenities: In both rooms, the climate control was excellent and wifi strong. No complaints there. Also, bidets are standard, so I appreciated that. Shampoo available but no conditioner. No iron in the rooms, and I doubt there'd even be space to open an ironing board. My favorite feature was the 6th floor roof terrace. Open from 6-9pm each night with drink service and never crowded, this became a great place to relax at the end of the day, and enjoy an aperitivo and some fresh air as the evening cooled down before heading out for dinner. Location: marvelously convenient to so many sights, but especially the Spanish Steps. You're right in the heart of everything, and walking (or razor scootering!) distance to all the main sights, Centro Storico, Piazza Navona, Trevi, the Pantheon, etc. I can't speak to the breakfast, which I think cost 12€, because I usually struck out first thing in the morning to a nearby cafe which cost a third of that and was much more atmospheric. On my checkout day, staff graciously kept my luggage locked in a backroom while I explored for the day and arranged a taxi to the airport for 55€ cash, which was a darn nice Mercedes Benz, def worth the extra 5€ over a taxi flagged in the street (airport transfers are standard 50€ to most places in Rome). All in all, an affordable, clean and no-frills place in a fantastic location.