Have just spent 4 nights here and could not have been more pleased. From the way my early email queries were answered to the very last transfer arrangement, everything was handled in a friendly, efficient and caring manner. I felt that the management really wanted us to have a good holiday.. and we did...The location, near the Spanish Steps, was ideal.

The Sistina wasn't our first choice, but we'd definitely go back. It's small and very friendly, brilliantly central and a laid-back place to stay. The rooms are beautifully old-fashioned, none of your inpersonal, formica, where-am-I-because-all-these-hotel-rooms-are-exactly-the same rubbish. Comfy beds and a well-stocked minibar plus air conditioning made our stay a pleasure. The staff were helpful and friendly and the buffet breakfast more substantial that a lot of continental options. Despite being in one of the busiest parts of Rome, once the windows and shutters were closed, peace reigned. It probably wouldn't score four stars in Britain, but it was immaculate, comfy and central, so who cares about stars?

Our two nights at the Sistina Hotel were among the longest nights of my life. Rome was our last stop on a 3-city tour of Italy, and we had stayed at a 4-star hotel in each city we visited. Each hotel was great, except the Sistina. We couldn't believe that it was considered a "4-star" hotel. There was only one staff member working there at a time, so we were on our own to find our room. Our room and the hallways stank of smoke, the furniture was old and dingy, the television set was tiny and had no english-speaking channels and the air conditioning was so bad that we ended up switching to a smaller room (which, because of its size, cooled a bit easier). The staff members were not friendly at all, and the breakfast buffet was sub-par (especially compared with the breakfasts we received at the other Italian hotels) and the breakfast area didn't seem particularly clean. The only thing going for the hotel was the location, but that just wasn't enough to make us forget about everything else.

When another hotel refused to honor a confirmed reservation, we wound
up at the Sistina. What a delightful surprise - great staff, great room, perfect location, beautiful public rooms, and a great breakfast. The only drawback was the weak A/C; but, then, we were in Rome during a brutal heat wave. We probably did better at this hotel than our original pick. Next time, we'll just book here FIRST.