Really loved this hotel, but have to knock it down a few stars due to staff issues.
Location, location, location! The Hotel Columbia is located just steps from St Peter's Basilica and the Vatican. It's a historical building with frescos on the ceilings. Interesting hallways, rooms, adorned with classical art and statues. When you walk through the doors, you're swept away into the past, and can almost see and hear the dancers in the ballroom, the clinking of champagne glasses and the romance of yesteryear. Don't be surprised if you see clerics in long robes, adding to the mysterious vibration of this hotel.
We had a large room #252 (we think trying to remember now) facing the main street of Via Della Concilazione. Lots of storage for clothes. No ironing board or iron. Hair dryer.
Queen size bed, very comfy. The bathroom came with a bidet. The shower was small, but water pressure excellent. The shower floor is very slippery, and next time I'll bring a shower mat or wear shower shoes. Warning that the water is not regulated and if you're not careful you can scald yourself.
Good cleaning service, very friendly, but under the bed is dirty and dusty. They don't offer extra pillows or blankets and we used our travel pillows and blankets, and towels (I pilfered from a closet they forgot to lock--they never forgot again) to shore up our heads. When asked for more pillows and blankets, the front desk didn't fill the request, only glared at us. The beds clothes are not covered with sheets like most hotels these days, and the silky blue cover was exposed. No idea if they wash this between guests. Only a black light might reveal it's history.
There is street noise but closing the window blocked this out all but one night when the road was closed and construction commenced, preparing for an event the following day. Any idea what metal poles being dropped between solid brick buildings at 3 AM sounds like? Anyways, the day of the event was pure pandemonium! Thousands of people descended on Via Della Concillazione all wearing team colors to participate.
On another day, the entire police force was being blessed by the Pope and, again, crowds!!!
Our taxi's could not get near the hotel during the sporting event, so we had to walk 2 LONG blocks to get a taxi or return home after LONG and hot tours.
Keys are heavy metal things and we lost ours, then was berated by front desk for not leaving keys before our journeys into Rome. We didn't know we were supposed to do this... And it took an entire day to get a new key. I mean, this was some major upset--they got PISSED. However, this was the day of the road block, and our cab driver freaked out when the police wouldn't let him turn down our street, and he screamed at us to "get out," and we lost the key when we had to tumble out of the car, trying to grab our things.
Homeless sleeping on the steps next to St. Peter's! (meaning this hotel) And plenty of disturbingly deformed beggars slithering on the roads on hands and knees in prayer for your money. Unfortunately there are traveling vendors along this street, too, and they beg you to buy from them. They know you have money because you're at the hotel.
There was one person at the front desk, Stephania, who was the most helpful and she resolved our key problem, and gave us kind words about the loss. The rest of the staff was intimidating. They speak English but, dole it out only when necessary.
The wifi is free BUT you have to log in with a new password every 24 hours. The wifi isn't good. I had a lot of trouble with my Gallaxy 3.
They have a courtyard restaurant, but we assumed in an area off to one side we could sit. The seats were dirty, old fabric patio lounge furniture that hadn't been cleaned since EVER, so we thought it was fine to relax here. We found out that we were not supposed to sit here. They didn't force us to leave but made it clear we weren't welcome. What is the point of the courtyard?
Breakfast was the same everyday, yogurt, pastries, hard boiled eggs, coco puffs (seriously), and Italian coffee that you HAD to mix with hot milk or it would knock you over. They didn't offer coffee varieties, but I did hear one man order cappuccino. I don't know if he paid extra for this. No one working here smiled. they seemed like inmates.
The elevator is big enough for 2 people, slow, and just weird. I couldn't use the stairs due to a hip injury and the elevator seemed to have a mind of it's own.
I'd totally stay here again...but check event schedules. (Provided the hotel will tell you... they denied knowing anything about the event that blocked their main access.) read more