We were a group of 11 ladies celebrating a 40th and two 50th birthdays. Had originally booked Hotel Sonia but were moved to Hotel Opera. I cannot comment on how good the Sonia would have been but we certainly don't think we lost out with the Opera. It was everything we could have wanted. The service was second to none.

Breakfast is simple continental style but an excellent range and fresh. You are served immediately on arrival with fresh orange juice and the best cappuccino. The breakfast room is pretty compact and bijoux so you may have to wait a few minutes for a table.

There is no bar in the hotel for us not aproblem as we were there to see Rome and not the inside of our hotel. Excellent location only 5-10 minutes walk from Trevi fountain and many other historical sites round about.

The staff assisted us in decorating the breakfast room for a small birthday celebration with banners and ballons etc before we went out for a birthday dinner. They were very enthusiatic about our celebrations and could not do enough to help.

The rooms are very clean with a mini bar, good showers and the most comfortable hotel bed I have slept in in years.

Special thanks to Michael and Rigos for all their help. I would not choose to stay anywhere else if in Rome.

Upon arrival at Hotel Sonya we were told our reservation had been moved to another hotel. Before we had time to worry about anything the desk clerk from Hotel Opera Roma arrived to escort us a few hundred feet to that hotel. Our friends whooped and hollered and called for us to come see their room on the ground floor. They had been given a luxurious suite that included a loft accessed by spiral staircase for their adult son to use. The bathroom for the suite was down a marble staircase and included a beautifully lit spa room. Our room on the second floor was luxuriously appointed although somewhat small by American standards. The bathroom was gorgeous but at 6'2" I couldn't bend over in the shower. Americans would probably prefer a larger shower to a bidet, but hey all travelers aren't American! Our room and the luxury suite both had long French windows opening onto a rather bleak courtyard. Although the view was unremarkable the room was quiet with no street noise. The desk clerks knocked themselves out to answer questions and give directions. There were superb lattes and cappucinos in the morning in the elegant breakfast room. The compact buffet offered a great bread pudding and savory as well as sweet items. The hotel was spotlessly clean every day. This was a wonderul accidental find.

What a great stay! Hotel is super friendly. The service was top notch. Rooms are small, but have everything you need...fridge, waters, TV, wifi, clean bathrooms (very important in Italy as some bathrooms leave much to be desired). If you are looking for a room with tons of space and expect to spend leisure time in the room, then this may not be great for you, BUT if you are looking for a clean room, authentically friendly service in an area within walking distance to everything (Borghese gardens, Coliseum, Trevi area) then this is the place. Oh, and did I mention the staff and the great service?

LOCATION: You will need a taxi or bus to the Vatican, but everything else is within walking distance. There are many good shops and coffee bars around the block, and the hotel is situated right off of Nazionale which is a main strip for shops, food, etc. Literally, it was a 5 min walk to the Coliseum located to the south. 5 min to the Trevi area with tons of gift shops and some great little wine bars and restaurants, but be sure to wander off the beaten path as that is where we found some of the best places where the locals gather. Train station is only about 5 blocks. Don't bother with a taxi because the taxis are more hassle than it is worth. If you don't have too much luggage, then just break out a map and walk the 5 min walk.

AMENITIES: During our travels, we spent very little time in the hotel, however we wanted a good hotel, clean, good price, friendly service, great breakfast and this was the place. If you want 5 star service (room service, spa, restaurant, etc) then you will have to spend substantially more, but these services seem redundant when you consider that great any Italian trattoria or cafe is only a block away. Ask the people at the front desk about good coffee shops, wine bars and trattorias. They will give you recommendations for good local spots that you would otherwise never find and trust me, you will enjoy. This is so much more authentic than sitting at the hotel bar, right?

NOISE: We stayed on the front side of the hotel, and the rooms were fairly quiet. I have seen other reviews with complaints of noise, and if you are a very light sleeper, then you should expect problems at pretty much any hotel in Rome because let's face it. Rome is a bustling city and is noisy, but during night hours at Opera Roma, I felt that the noise level was more than reasonable. Some cars can be heard on the street, but for the most part, the street was quiet, and the noise did not penetrate the rooms.

ROOMS: The rooms are small, but most European accommodations are not spacious unless you are willing to pay the extra price. All in all, the rooms were perfect for my husband and I. The bed was large, there was a closet and safe. The bathrooms were very clean. Rooms had a TV, wifi and closets. The shower was very small (no bathtub in my room) but it was clean and functional. Water pressure was awesome! If you want a spacious room, then buyer beware because you will pay the additional price. We stayed at two hotels in Rome and the second we paid more and did have more room, but the cleanliness and service was lacking. I would definitely choose Opera Roma over the other. Probably not great for kids but I didn't see the larger rooms, and there were couples there with children of various ages, so obviously it is feasible.

BOOKING & PAYMENT: I recommend using the hotel website directly for booking or calling. They all speak perfect English and various other languages. Knowing Italian always helps when getting around Roma, however Opera Roma accommodated Asian, German and French travelers while I was there as well. Ask to pay cash for a discount. You will save about 10 or 20 euro per night.

LOCATION & AVAILABILITY: The sign out front is small, but if you find Via Firenze, then you cant miss it because the street is only about 2 blocks long and is situated on the left side of the Opera house. The owners also have Hotel Sonya a block away. Opera Roma only has a few rooms, so if Opera Roma is full, ask about Sonya as the staff and ownership are wonderful and Sonya has recently been renovated.

I had a fantastic experience in this Hotel in Rome I was in the suite..........free wi-fi - clean hotel - people very nice and helpfull - good breakfast but the suite is incredible...fantastic my wife did not want to leave Rome because of that!!!!