Reading several reviews (after I had booked) I was a little worried about what I would find. I needn't have been. Although the exterior gave the impression of a third rate motel, the lobby was bright with a small bar and seating areas. The staff were helpful and business-like and spoke good english. The rooms were clean if a little sparsly furnished and the bathroom boasted a very powerful shower. We only stayed a couple of nights and we ate in the restaurant both nights. Food was a reasonable quality for a tourist hotel and at 14 Euros for the set menu I couldn't complain too much.
Now comes the thing that might put a few people off.... Yes, it's the location. It's well out of town but the transport links were good. The bus stop is about 300 meters up the street and we didn't wait longer than 10 minutes for the bus (777, 071, 709, 705) These all go to the little bus terminal at EUR Fermi Metro station. Take my tip and buy a travel card, 4 Euros a day or 11 Euros for 3 days, this gets you on all metro and buses. Hop on a train and within 20 minutes we were at Termini station, change trains to the A line and another 10 minutes saw us standing on the Spanish Steps.
Back to the location of the hotel, it is on a very busy main road but I guess if you're in town all day then this won't bother you. The shopping centre, newly built next door, gives the opportunity for a bit of retail therapy if you're really desperate in an idle half hour.
All in all, for the traveller willing to "get stuck in" with the transport system, for the money you would do a lot worse.

We went to reception to ask for a route planner as our tom tom sat nav was broken. The staff obliged and whilst at the desk my husband mentioned about going for a drink before we went to bed. Because I was at reception I gave them my room key and left the hotel. When we got back I went to Reception and got the room key. When we got into our room everything was stolen and gone through. All our credit cards ( money taken from them),
£ 1000.00 camera, £500 in euros, I pods, watches all stolen. The room was secure and there was no forced entry. Entry was gained using a key. The only thing not stolen was the Tom Tom that staff knew was broken!!!!
The staff were most unhelpful when reporting this to them. They wouldnot phone the police and kept phoning people and whisphering down the phone. The staff we left the keys with had gone off duty and the night staff amazingly struggled to speak much english!!
We were on the top floor so someone used a key!!!!! Please please beware - this was so stressful!!!

We traveled with Insight vactions and there was black mold all over the bathroom. We were supposed to have access to a restaurant as part of our tour, but the hotel restaurant was closed for a private party both nights we were there - so we had to walk out in the rain several blocks to get something to eat.

We stayed at the Cristoforo Colombo on June 28th, 2008 - at the very end of our 10-day bus tour of Italy.

I have to say that we didn't spend much time at the hotel. But, what we saw was nice. The lobby is large, clean, and well-decorated. Then, we walked to a separate building to go to our room. We had a first floor room that was really nice. Good size, clean - everything you could ask for. The bathroom was also nice, clean, and modern.

That evening we went for a drink at the outdoor bar, which is located next to the pool. That was a really pleasant experience - so nice to sit outside on a warm, summer evening.

The hotel's location is probably its biggest downfall. It is in the suburbs of Rome - to tell you the truth I really don't know where we were in relation to "downtown" and all of the tourist attractions. There is a brand new shopping mall that just went up next door. We didn't visit it, but those who did said that it was very nice. It is certainly convenient, if nothing else!