I recently stayed at Hotel Columbus from Sept 13-19 2008 and before choosing this hotel I did extensive research. I have never been to Rome before and I traveled with a female friend. We were looking for a good hotel that was close enough to everything and also had some Italian / Roman charm to it. What we were not looking for was your everyday american "sheridan or Hilton" type hotel. Let me start by saying the location is excellent. The hotel is probably 3000 feet from St. Peters Basilica, The Vatican Museum, and maybe 10000 feet from St. Angelos Castle. From the Hotel we walked to the Trevi Fountain, Piazza Novenna, Spanish steps, and just about every other attractions. For the Collosseum, it is maybe a 20 -25 minute walk or you can simply walk to the subway station (5 minute walk) and take it to Termini Station, then get on the B line and take it 2 stops to the collosseum. Another thing we found very helpful was the fact that directly across from the hotel was the Hop on Hop off tour busses. You can buy a 24 hr pass or a 48 hr pass for 19 or 23 euros a person and basically use the bus as a cab taking you all around the city and stopping where you feel like or riding up top and seeing the whole city for an hr or two. Definitely worth the money. We didnt take a taxi once, except to get to the airport on our last day since it was an early flight.

Room:
I read alot of mixed reviews and was somewhat nervous, but once we arrived in the room, it was absolutley fine. We stayed in a double bed in room 410. The room was cozy, with a small window looking out towards St. Peters Basilica. The bed was a little springy but overall no problem. The bathroom, while very small shower (VERY SMALL) was very very clean and nicely tiled. There was an inroom safe and a TV that got 2 english channels. All of the front desk staff were helpful except one rather grumpy person. I didnt pay any attention to him and it did not affect our stay at all. They all spoke english very well and were helpful when we asked about how to get places etc etc. The resturant was very expensive and we chose not to eat there. There are more then ample places around the city to eat.

At night time the street infront of the hotel becomes a ghost town as the vatican city pretty much closes up. Thats no problem as when you walk out of the hotel go to the right, walk for 2 minutes over the bridge and your right in the city of rome with lots to do. Its actually really nice to come back to the hotel at night and have it be nice and quiet and peaceful. I would consider it more of a plus that it is quiet outside at night.

The continental breakfast that is included is ample to get you through the morning and a good part of the day. There is cheese, salami, bread, cereal, juice, and some other "interesting" stuff. Defintiely worth it as other hotels charge 11 euro each and more if you go outside. There is also internet for 2 euro an hour (very good deal).

Overall I highly recommend this hotel, even if you are "not looking for a spiritual location". The hotel is centrally located. Depite what the maps show, everythign is VERY close in Rome and you can walk just about everywhere. I have photos of the room and hotel and will try to post them later as I do not have them on me.

I would defintiely stay at the hotel again. And as a point of reference, I am in my late 20's as is the female I traveled with. We have traveled extensivly and have good taste and do not like cheap or crappy hotels. This was defintiely not cheap or crappy and for european hotels, I was again, impressed.

We stayed at the Hotel Columbus for 3 nights in the middle of August 08. It is in a great location in central Rome - right opposite the Hop On Hop Off open top bus tour of Rome bus stop and 2 minutes from the Vatican yet in a quiet area across the River Tiber. Only 10 minutes walk to the Metro station. The staff were not very helpful but friendly enough. We booked a twin room but were given a double. The double was basic and dark. We then asked for a twin room, and it was no problem to change. The twin room was far nicer - bigger and brighter - Room 310. Must admit - there was weird banging that woke us up every night - we assumed it was either decorators working in middle of night or our neighbours arriving - but realised on the last night the noise went on too long and too late. Spooky! We strongly recommend a meal in the garden restaurant of the hotel - it was the best meal we had in Rome! You need a travel kettle and hairdryer for the room but there was handy mini bar/fridge. There is a drinking water fountain just outside the hotel which is great for re-filling your bottles of water - the water is safe to drink and very refreshing! A word of warning - there is a pavement restaurant a few metres down towards the river on the same side as the Hotel. Got green table clothes. Awful food and very expensive. If you cross the road directly across from the hotel and walk through the back streets towards the Vatican 'Wall' there are cheap tasty pavement restaurants there which were very nice. Love Rome - must go back!!

If you are looking for a location near to The Vatican then this is the place. On leaving your hotel front door you turn left and the Vatican is on your doorstep and I never tired of that view. People should remember that this hotel is an old monastery so if you are looking for flatscreen televisions and large bathrooms with wet rooms then this is not for you. The bathroom is rather small and the room is sparse but hey who is going to spend time in their room other than to sleep when there is so much to do and see.

I can't comment on the breakfast as I never tried it but the restaurant is nice with a price of approx 35 - 50 Euros per head excluding wine. The rack rate for this hotel is 350 Euros which I would not have paid - we got a special deal through Expedia. This is a popular hotel for people of the cloth and we had a priest who had just been ordained by the Pope having a family celebration on the Sunday.

Rome is very easy to get around and everything is well signposted. We did not use public transport as we found it much more fun to walk everywhere and discover Rome by ourselves. Il Trastevere is a short walk away and this is great after 6.00 p.m. at night with a vibrant nightlife with many bars and restaurants. Other major landmarks are all within walking distance - the only thing being that the cobbled streets eventually take their toll on your feet.

I will definitely go back to Rome but I think I will try another hotel.

I assume that anyone giving a negative review of this hotel has never stayed in a European capital city before. $500 a night will get you a good hotel in a bad location or a bad hotel in a good location (we have stayed here a few times and pay around $300 depending on season). It is a bit frayed at the edges (small tv, small shower, small lift - what do you expect in a 15th century palazzo - they can't exactly pull a few walls down) but for the money you will be hard pushed to beat it.

It is close to the centre - very good for the Vatican and St Peters, 45 minute walk to the Forum, but does not suffer the constant noise of being near Piazza Spagna, Via Veneto, Termini, centro storico etc.

Don't expect 5 star luxury, but you will be hard pressed to get better for the money - unless you want to stay outside of Rome (e.g. EUR). Quiet, good location, plenty of bars and restuarants are walkable.