The Hostelz.com Review
Sandy Hostel is in the heart of Ancient Rome and gets a lot of traffic from young travelers. From the moment you walk in the door you can tell this hostel has been filled with worldly individuals from the pictures on the walls to the important phrases written in almost twenty languages. The atmosphere here is very welcoming as well.
The Location
This hostel is located about five minutes from the train station and a ten-minute walk from the metro station. The Coliseum and majority of ancient Rome is also only ten minutes by foot. Although this hostel is located on a very busy main road it is still hard to find if you do not know what you are looking for. There is no sign on the outside of this hostel, just a doorbell with the street address on it so make sure to pay attention as you are trying to find it. There are several restaurants, cafes, ice cream shops, tourist shops, and groceries located within very shot walking distance. There is no parking garage but there is some street parking available.
Rooms and Bathrooms
This hostel offer only dorm-style rooms with bunk beds. The sheets are provided free and the beds are really comfortable. There are also two large dressers in each room that can be locked if you bring your own lock with you. Each room has its own bathroom but neither towels nor soap are provided. You can rent a towel if you would like. The bathroom is very small but the water pressure is pretty strong and it keeps its heat after multiple people use it. The whole look and ambiance of the room is very dull and there are no decorations, which is different from the halls of this hostel.
Common Spaces
There is really no common area here. There is one very small room that has a computer that you may use free, but it is also where the luggage is stored -- making this room pretty uncomfortable to stay in for long periods of time. Also, since there is no common area it is fairly difficult to talk to fellow travelers. The hall is usually empty but it is filled with facts about Rome and useful information in every language imaginable. If you are looking to make friends and stay up all night with friends this is probably not the best option. There is no curfew or quiet hour but the hostel does get very quiet fairly early in the evening. The biggest trouble is that you have to climb four floors of stairs or pay a very small fee to ride the elevator to where the hostel is.
Summary
This is a great hostel that has a very friendly atmosphere. There are very few opportunities for making friends but the location is unbelievable. Also note that there is no breakfast.
The Location
This hostel is located about five minutes from the train station and a ten-minute walk from the metro station. The Coliseum and majority of ancient Rome is also only ten minutes by foot. Although this hostel is located on a very busy main road it is still hard to find if you do not know what you are looking for. There is no sign on the outside of this hostel, just a doorbell with the street address on it so make sure to pay attention as you are trying to find it. There are several restaurants, cafes, ice cream shops, tourist shops, and groceries located within very shot walking distance. There is no parking garage but there is some street parking available.
Rooms and Bathrooms
This hostel offer only dorm-style rooms with bunk beds. The sheets are provided free and the beds are really comfortable. There are also two large dressers in each room that can be locked if you bring your own lock with you. Each room has its own bathroom but neither towels nor soap are provided. You can rent a towel if you would like. The bathroom is very small but the water pressure is pretty strong and it keeps its heat after multiple people use it. The whole look and ambiance of the room is very dull and there are no decorations, which is different from the halls of this hostel.
Common Spaces
There is really no common area here. There is one very small room that has a computer that you may use free, but it is also where the luggage is stored -- making this room pretty uncomfortable to stay in for long periods of time. Also, since there is no common area it is fairly difficult to talk to fellow travelers. The hall is usually empty but it is filled with facts about Rome and useful information in every language imaginable. If you are looking to make friends and stay up all night with friends this is probably not the best option. There is no curfew or quiet hour but the hostel does get very quiet fairly early in the evening. The biggest trouble is that you have to climb four floors of stairs or pay a very small fee to ride the elevator to where the hostel is.
Summary
This is a great hostel that has a very friendly atmosphere. There are very few opportunities for making friends but the location is unbelievable. Also note that there is no breakfast.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
July 2009
Their Description
Sandy Hostel Details
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Sandy Hostel Reviews on Other WebsitesHostelz.com Guest Reviews
An ok place to crash for a night ... Not in summer What you need to know first: if you stay here during Roman summer, you will be staying in one hot hell hole. There is no Air Conditioning, and it feels. During the night, it gets slightly more fresh, but only a little. Second: Sandy Hostel is something like big apartment on the top floor, with narrow winding stairs. Do not drag your things upstairs. Leave them below, take from administration the key to elevator and two 5 cent coins to pay for the use (hostel's administrator will explain how to use it), and you can get them up easily. This elevator really comes in handy, I even used it to get downstairs. There is a lockout. Kitchen: there is no kitchen. To boil the water, I had to borrow the kettle from stuff, and they seemed surprised that I would even want one. There is coffee making machine for everyone and one refrigerator in the corridor. The Rooms: are very small. I stayed in tiny room with two bunk beds.
Beds: Aren't very good. These are bunk beds, which is fine by me, but and if you aren't careful, you'll be hitting your head when getting up or lying down. Beds are so small that you can't sit up on the bed. They were reasonably clean. Not awfully comfortable to lie in, but passable. Stuff: I've seen two guys. One seemed very bored to be there, and not very friendly, another one was more lively and I heard him talk loudly to other guests. They weren't rude, so no complaints. However, they just seem ill-suited for running hostel -- the whole thing had "stereotypical bachelor" feel to it. Some small and cheap improvements, like bracket in the shower, would make the hostel much more pleasant. Which brings us to below: Cleanliness: Bathrooms/rooms were cleaned daily by stuff, although there was certain dingy feel to everything, nevertheless. One time I had to use their "public" toilet and it was dirty, wet, and overall disgusting. I got an impression that owner uses this toilet themselves -- well, it about says it all. It was very noisy during the day. Well, hostels aren't mean to be slept in during the day, so I can't really complain. Internet: now, for internet connection, they have nice notebook. Fun: I don't think there is a common room at all, although I wasn't looking for it. You certainly won't be spending much time in your tiny room. Location: is very good. It is on Via Cavour, between Coliseum and Termini Station, very close to San Pietro in Vincoli, Santa Maria Maggiore, and you can get to Coliseum on foot. A lot of beautiful buildings in walking distance. Via Cavour is big touristy street, without special charm, but not bad. Metro Cavour is close to hostel. Overall: My impression was marked by the fact that right before that, I was staying in wonderful hostel in Venezia. Still, Sandy Hostel was the worst of the three hostels I've stayed in before, and lack of Air Conditioning together with small room made a LOT of difference in horrible heat of July. Great location. I don't have high standards and wasn't expecting a hotel, but I just … didn't like it there. Well, I wasn't robbed, there were no bedbugs and toilets worked. Conclusion: It is an ok place to crash for couple of nights, or better, for one night, during colder seasons. — Dallaska , Russia (2010-08-30) DIRTY! This place was dirty i was worried about sleeping in the beds. The bathrooms were disgusting. You get your own key and can keep it and there is no wifi but 1 computer you can use with internet. There was no curfew and they had a luggage room which was nice but my boyfriend and i traveled together and always stayed in our own bed but in the same room and this hostel made us sleep on different floors. IT WAS SO HOT I COULDNT SLEEP!! Be aware though it was the only hostel left with availability because i was there end of july and got off the train in rome and walked to hostels trying to find vacancy. Don't stay here if you can. — Adina , USA (2010-08-21) Worst hostel Ive ever stayed at Do not stay here. The location is the only thing this place has going for it. I think the staff are all potheads. One (dirty) bathroom for the whole place. When I arrived, no toilet paper and the toilet barely worked. Two days later, it broke late at night. The next day I went out to the beach and when I returned at 6 p.m., it still wasn't fixed! So the hallway smelled like sh!t for the remainder of my stay. I dont think it even occurred to them to fix it. They gave me the wrong key to my room so I got locked out. They have signs all over about keeping quiet at night, then they party and blast music until the early hours of the morning. I could go on and on and on about how bad this place is and come up with a great list of problems, but I dont have that kind of time. Just trust me -- avoid this place. I hope it gets shut down. No one should have to pay so much money for such filth. — Chris , Canada (2008-07-02) DIRTY-DIRTY-DIRTY!!
Do not stay at this hotel. Bathrooms are filthy, shower courtain looks as it has never been washed, they don't even have a little rack to place your shampoo or soap, so you have to put them on the mucus-like floor where you think something alive will arise from beneath.
Dorms are co-ed and smell like hell. Staff is careless and not so smart.
It was my worst experience ever in a hostel, after many years of backpacking. — Paulina Silva (2006-01-16) I spent a week in Rome in December 2005. I decided to try Sandy Hostel for 4
nights and their sister Bella Roma for 3 (see my other review).
I flew with Easyjet into Rome Ciampino, a small airport about 12km south of the
city centre. Sit on the right of the plane and you'll get great views of the
city and St Peter's as you approach to land. This airport's future was probably
in doubt before the advent of the low cost airlines and is now busy with Ryanair
and Easyjet flights. However, this means it does not have a direct rail link to
the city centre, the metro line A which runs north-west to south-east stops about
4km to the north-east of the airfield.
Don't be tempted to take Easyjet's coach transfer to the "Termini" central
railway station. You see a big sign for this as soon as you enter the arrivals
lounge. It costs €15 return or €8 single. All you need to do is step outside
the terminal and take an orange bus run by "Cotral" to the end of metro line A
and the stop called "Anagnina". These buses run every 40 minutes and cost just
€1. They alternate between a direct service (about 20 mins to Anagnina) and one
that goes via the adjacent town of Ciampino (about 30 mins to Anagnina). If you
happen to get a bus that goes via Ciampino, you could get off here and take the
overground train into Termini railway station instead. However, this means you
might just have to get back on the metro there, so don't bother. It is clear
when you have reached Anagnina, as it is a large bus station and you will see the
red "M" for the metro. Go down the steps and buy the €1 ticket which lasts for
75 minutes from the point of validation (stick it in the ticket machine as you go
through the barrier). So, total cost to anywhere in Rome, 2 Euros compared to
Easyjet's 8 Euros for the central station.
For Sandy Hostel, the metro from Anagnina to Termini will take about 25 mins, so
allow about 1.5 hours total from the Airport, allowing for waiting time for the
bus.
When you get off the Metro at "Termini" go upstairs and find the last platform
number 24. Now with the tracks behind you walk straight out and into the middle
of the adjacent bus station. You should now see Via Cavour (Cavour Street) on
your left. Walk down Via Cavour on the left side 7 blocks, about 500m. The
entrance to Sandy Hostel is unsignposted and is a set of black doors just after a
Hotel entrance and before a shop selling American Indian clothing ! The buzzer
is on the right. Press it and they will let you in. You walk up a stone
staircase all the way to the top. The hostel is on the 4th floor.
The staff were friendly when I arrived. One of two Greek girls took my money and
gave me a free map of the city and suggested some places to go. Inside the
Hostel is very small, essentially just about 7 rooms off a narrow corridor, a
flat conversion.
Although some rooms have a shower and toilet inside, most don't and there are
just 2 shower and toilet rooms. However, this didn't seem to be a problem in the
mornings and I rarely had to wait. The dorm rooms have 3 bunks in and adequate
lockers (bring your own padlock). The mattresses were quite thin but comfortable.
Clean sheets and a pillow case are provided and there are 3 blankets which you
can use. The windows are double glazed and fitted with shutters so the sound and
light insulation is good during the night.
However, the biggest issue is the lack of any heating in the room. As this was
December it got quite cold in the night, so don't forget your pyjamas! I would
have been very cold without mine. One of my days in Rome was non-stop rain and
so I was cold when I returned to the hostel. The only way to get warm was to
have a shower. Happily, the showers have gas combination boilers and provide
ample hot water any time of the day. The next biggest issue for some will be the
complete lack of any kitchen facility for cooking or drinking. The male cleaner
was actually living permanently in my room and cooked there from time to time on
his own portable electric stove.
What would really improve this hostel would be if they converted the first room
on the left as you enter (this is on its own) into a kitchen and lounge area.
This would enable you to get to know some people and have some refreshments. As
it was, a few sat in the corridor which barely wide enough for 2 chairs making
sandwiches on fold out tables. HOwever, one advantage of this was that it was
quite quiet at night because there was no real opportunity for people to speak to
one another (unlike Bella Roma - see my other review).
On the plus point, the hostel has many cafes and Internet cafes close by. I used
the one that is literaly right next door. Internet access starts at 50 Euro
cents for 15 mins. The location is typical for a city centre close to a station,
a little bit scummy and full of hotels and hostels, but I loved it and would
recommend it. The hostel is only 5 mins walk to the Station one way and 5 mins
to the Colosseum the other.
If you go to the Chinese restaurant next door or the Pizza Esquilino opposite, be
sure to agree the service charge before you go in. I got 5 Euros added onto an
18 Euro bill (28%) at the latter. Also, be careful in the many pizza and pastry
bars if they invite you to sit down - they will charge you extra. This happened
in "Big Bens" also just around the corner.
All in all, I liked this hostel and would recomment it. Especially, given the
price - I paid only 11 Euros a night (£7.50) by booking using hostels.com - if I
had booked direct with the hostel it would have been 14 euros. At this price and
in this location you can't complain. If travelling alone, I will return.
Rich D, England, UK
Email origin.sandyhostelreview@ NOSPAMPLEASE erudite.co.uk — Rich D (2005-12-24) My friend and I stayed at countless hostels on our trip, and this one was so nasty! I would never recommend it to anyone. They may SAY there's Internet and no lockout, but the guy laughed at us when we said we wanted to use the computer. The blankets were damp and dirty, and thrown in a ball on the floor. The lockers had half-eaten food and garbage in them. Not to mention the building itself looked abandoned. If we hadn't put a deposit down online, we would have left. — Jennelle (2005-03-28) We went there in March but at night it's still pretty cold. There weren't any heaters in the hostel so it's rather cold at night, though they provided us three nasty blankets, which were very heavy. The two public toilets/bathrooms were disgusting and at the time we arrived, one of those was out of order! That means there was only one left for all! Besides, the toilet was smelly and narrow. The shower was weak and only lukewarm. And be prepared for stairs that are four-stories high (you have to pay for the lift). And there is actually a lockout from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. — May (2005-03-21) It's not the best place maybe, but the best thing is that they get you discounts and get you to go on Homer's pub crawl — the best thing to do in Rome. They have the coolest staff. Take it easy, everyone. — Chantal (2005-03-20) This hostel was only excellent because I met somebody from England here. He was so unique, wonderful, and fascinating that I just couldn't forget him — and so I followed him to London! So it was my destiny. Thank you Hostel Sandy! :) — Sabine (2005-02-10) There is no sign outside this hostel and it is very difficult to find, even though it's close to the station. The people were nice but there are only two showers, two toilets and two basins for the whole hostel, which is not good when it's full (about 50 people crammed in!). That picture you can see if you scroll up on the Web site is of one of the two bathrooms in the hostel. The beds are uncomfortable and the climb to the fourth floor to reach the hostel is not great — especially if you're on a budget and don't want to use the elevator, which you have to pay for before it works. The people here were great and that made it better, but in terms of value for money it was a rip-off. — Harriet (2004-10-24) It's close to the Termini and the Colosseum, but it doesn't have much else going for it. Be prepared for 4 painful flights of stairs on arrival with rucksacks, and always have 5 cents with you for the lift afterward. There are only 2 bathrooms and not much hot water. Make sure you bring a padlock. It's not the most relaxing place to stay, and definitely not somewhere to go to feel clean. — Anonymous (2004-08-03) I really liked staying here. The staff were very helpful and they knew everything about Rome. The bathrooms and bedrooms were clean, and there were a lot of nice people. It was very near the train station and also close to the Colosseum. — Benjamin (Oregon) (2004-07-17) After a trip through Italy I came back to Rome, and this place had a bed available. It is very centrally located: you can walk to the Forum Romanum and the Colosseum. It's also very near the central train station, Termini. And for those who want to experience the best of Rome's pub crawl: go to the Sandy. They bring you to Homer's Pub Crawl at the Santa Maria Maggiore. I had a perfect time here! — Harry from Holland (2004-07-17) I have to say, when I first arrived at Sandy Hostel, I thought it was a bit dull and dingy. However, I met some of the greatest people staying there back in May 2003 and we had such good fun going on pub crawls and getting to know the staff who were very friendly. Brilliant atmosphere, 2 bathrooms which I only waited for ONCE, even when the hostel was full. A traveller has to expect living it a bit rough, it's part of the whole experience!! Anyway, I may stay there again at the end of this September as I'm going back to Rome so I look forward to meeting some more people! ciao x — Kimberley from North Devon, England (2004-06-21) The only benefit of Sandy Hostel is its central location. It is disgustingly dirty. The rooms weren't terribly dirty, but the bathrooms smelled like sewage and the showers were horrible. My bed (bottom bunk) broke while I was sleeping on it and apparently, "it does that all the time". The top bunk looked like it was going to cave in on me. I actually got a refund for the night my bed broke, but it wasn't worth all that hassle for a free night's accommodation. The staff wewre nice and helpful, but the manager seemed like a jerk. — Leila (2004-05-02)