I think this hotel is not great for anyone over 30. The beds are too hard, the rooms big on "design" but low on comforts. A luggage rack and tissues are two things they don't seem to have heard of. In addition, bathroom doors that don't "really" close don't work for me - even when I am vacationing with my husband... let alone if I was sharing with a friend... In addition, I was bit up by bugs at the hotel.... The staffs' English was poor.

The location (if you don't mind a very "lively" scene nearby of street walkers...) is GREAT! Easy walk to major sites or jump on the metro.

Great location, right on the Gran Via and within easy travel by metro to anywher for 1 or 2 euros. The staff were very friendly and approachable, great spoken english.

There was a massive fight in one of the rooms when we were there but the staff sorted it out very quickly and it was quiet each night thereafter.

Some "interesting" people on the doorstep as it is right on the edge of a red light area but they pay you no real heed and presented no problems for any of our group.

Some excellent bars and restaurants within strolling distance.

Rooms were comfortable and modern and offered good accommodation at reasonable rates.

The bathroom of the first room we got at Hotel Italia must have experienced the repeated flooding one of the earlier reviews described, since it had a very strong smell of mold in it. Looking at how the bathroom was constructed some kind of unwanted growth seemed inevitable, as I could see inside the wall through a crack between the wall and floor panels right in the corner towards which the floor happened to slant. The receptionist seemed surprised hearing about our problem, but it was clear that nobody with a normal sense of smell would be happy with that room - then again, it was a smoking room. ;o)

Second room was luckily better, and we had a nice stay for the rest of the week. Rooms were on the smallish side but clean, modern and very well insulated from the noise outside and in the other rooms (and I know this was not due to it being particularly quiet in either place). Hallway noise could be heard quite clearly, though. The breakfast offered pretty good variety and there was room for us both times we got up early enough to enjoy it. No piled up dishes in sight and refills arrived until very close to the end of the breakfast.

The location was good, we didn't feel unsafe at any hour. Half a dozen young women at a time were standing around offering their services right outside the hotel entrance pretty much 24 hours a day. Not threatening, but made us a bit uncomfortable at times.

If you get a good room it's a good stay, bearing in mind that a large part of the price is due to the location. Because of the state of the first room we got, I personally would not risk this hotel again, though.

We loved this hotel. We needed a triple room for a college daughter staying with us and the room was huge. The shower was invigorating. Balcony is small but you can step out and take a photo of the street below. The internet allowed us to unwind after a day out and about. We used the subway due to its ease of use. Literally walked out the door and you were on your way to any location. Only minor downside was the class of people right outside the door. They really did not bother you but it was a shame that it seemed to bring this great hotel down a little bit. It seemed all English speaking people there during our visit and the staff spoke English very well. No communication problem for us. The staff were very nice. Television is only National Geographic in English.