I stayed at this hostel after my hotel room had been sold to someone else (even though I arrived at 1200 noon and had paid a deposit) and having trawled the streets of Rome for 6 hours had found no alternative. I was advised that this was the only registered hostel and that private hostels did not have their standards monitored.

On arrival I was told to book for only a couple of nights at a time and spent the first two nights in a female dorm 205. This was OK as it was only occupied by 5 people. However, when I went to book the next two nights I was told that I had to move my stuff to dorm 218. The bed was occupied so I just moved my luggage into the locker. When I arrived back much later that evening the bed was still occupied. She moved to the top bunk (already occupied by another person’s belongings) and I had to sleep in a bed that was warm from a stranger! Reception would not move either of us to another dorm. At 2300 hours, the person occupying the top bunk came into the dorm and asked where her things were. (Reception asked us to move them). She took everything from the dorm and I suspect went to another room, along with her friend. I suspect that these two people were occupying ‘empty’ beds and had not registered or paid. (An issue with respect to the organisations revenue and health and safety in case of a fire).

The conditions of the 205 dorm are appalling. I received approx. 20 bites to my face and arms during the 2 nights I slept here (they are still visible 3 days later). It smelt and was occupied by 20 females. There were no individual bed lights which meant the main dorm lights were left on until midnight and not switched on until 0830 in the morning. Anyone coming to bed late just switched the main light on so they could see (this happened at 0145) and anyone wishing to leave early for the airport had to take everything outside to the corridor to pack.

The toilets, wash basins and showers were quite clean on arrival but rapidly deteriorated during my stay. They also smelt and were dirty.

With the exception of the young lad that registered me on arrival, all the staff were miserable and unhelpful. I was very pleased to leave and come back home.

I am a member of the Youth Hostelling Association in the UK. I certainly have never been bitten by anything when I have used UK hostels!

I went backpacking through out Europe for 3 weeks, and I must say, this was the worst hostel we stayed at. Spent 3 extremely uncomfortable nights there. There is no air circulation or air conditioning in the dorm rooms. The windows must be kept open resulting in mosquitoes and loud traffic noises. It's cheap, but be prepared for very uncomfortable nights. It was cooler in the hallways and the washrooms. If I could have, I would have dragged my mattress into the hallways to sleep.
Recommendation, bring Ear plugs & Bug repellant. Be prepared to sleep in your underwear as it is extremely hot & humid inside the dorm rooms. It would have been more comfortable to sleep on the streets than in here. I would just show up to use the showers!!!