We booked this hotel through a very affordable travel package -- so we expected a bare bones hotel off the beaten path. But we didn't expect some of the little problems that would make this hotel simply an uncomfortable place to stay. I did enjoy the neighborhood. It was quiet and away from the frenetic, major streets of Rome. The breakfast was fine. But I would not stay here again unless it was absolutely the best deal I could get in the city. The staff was not particularly welcoming or rude -- but didn't really provide much help. When my boyfriend asked for an extra towel, he was told simply "no." They made us feel like we were imposing on them. The room was small -- and we expected that. But the walls were flithy and one wall even had mildew or mold growing on it. My allergies went wild. The shower was also covered in mildew, and because it was so small, it was hard to shower without touching it. I didn't like that at all. But the bedspread and drapes matched -- although the drapes were torn. It was a little depressing to wake up there and try to relax there. But we were only in the room a total of about two waking hours each day. So, if you are just looking for a cheap place to crash -- Galeno is fine. Just double check to make sure you can't get a little better place for the same price.

I thought Hotel Galeno was pretty good. The staff was nice to us, and they all knew English, which was great. They also were extremely helpful in recommending places to go and eat at, as well as what train lines to take. They seemed genuinely happy that we were there. The only complaint could be that the rooms were a bit cozy, and that they did not have cable tv. It got somewhat boring in the small room with no TV at night to watch when we got in from sightseeing. Other than that it was decent. The breakfast was good, and who can complain about anything when your in Rome anyways. I would give it a B- for a grade.

We had a wonderful chance to see Rome this past year and the cost was quite reasonable. We knew that Rome could be an expensive city to stay in, especially within the older parts of the wall. So we had an idea that this inexpensive hotel would not be the ritz! In spite that it was inexpensive, it was a wonderful European experience!

The Hotel Galeno is off a busy street and is in a fairly quiet working class neighborhood. We were within four blocks of the old city wall, in the northern part of Rome. There are several cafes and good Chinese restaurant close by. (Hey, their menu was also in English!) There is also a farmers market and a couple of grocery stores within a three block walk, so it was able to meet our needs of fresh fruits, soft drinks, bottled water, and other important "away-from-home" items.

Our room was small but cozy. There wasn't much room between the bed and the wall. Storage was sufficient and the room had a refrig. The bathroom was modern, though I would have preferred a tub/shower combination. The towels were linen, which is more european. We would have preferred terry cloth, but hey, we're in Rome! I sense this is a cultural thing. (PS, If it matters, bring your own terry cloth towels!)

The staff was quite friendly. We enjoyed people watching and trying to understand what was happening, since we didn't know Italian. The household staff provided a prompt continental breakfast in the morning, which was quite sufficient, though lacking in fruit. Several times we watched as the fresh bread arrived in the morning, since we started our days early as tourists. The latte was quite good and after several cups we were ready to see Rome. The hot chocolate was quite good, too.

It took 3,000 years to build Rome, so it is impossible to see it in 7 days. I would love to return to Rome, spend more time in the Vatican and see more of the other sites. If I won the lottery, I would stay at the Ritz, though for location, cost, and comfort; I would return to the Hotel Galeno!

The Hotel Galeno has comically small rooms. So small in fact, if you have even a mild case of claustrophobia, do not stay here. The layout of the room was well designed. There were plenty of high shelves to store luggage out of sight in our room and a long shelf above the bed to store everyday items. The bed was comfortable and surprisingly large given the proportion of the room.

The continental breakfast was traditionally European. It consisisted of fresh hot bread (if you arrived early enough), packaged crossant and melba toast, along with fresh espresso and juice. It was quite good and the packaged items served well as snacks later in the day.

The towels at the hotel are paper thin so American travelers used to thick terry cloth should bring their own. Also, bring your own toiletries because the hotel does not supply anything other than toilet paper. The desk staff was cordial enough (some more than others). The maids are very polite. However, the building the hotel occupies serves as an apartment complex as well and the residents are not very kind to tourists. Fellow hotel guests were very nice and enjoyed chatting about their trip so far.

The neighborhood around the hotel is very quiet and the hotel is not close to the more tourist populated areas of Rome. If you are into people watching, this hotel is perfect. Cafe's and gelato shops are close by and have tables outdoors. However, the staff at stores and restaurants in this area do not know how to ease the language barrier. Know your Italian, or bring a great phrasebook. The Chinese restaurant three blocks from the hotel is surprisingly good and there are plenty of street vendors that can offer a deal. This area of Rome closes down early so if you want to enjoy the nightlife or a cybercafe, you better call a cab.