The Hostelz.com Review
Casa Olmata is a six-story house near Santa Maria Maggiore church in Rome (about a five to ten minute walk from Termini). Though close to the station, it is on a safe street. From Casa Olmata it is only about a ten to fifteen minute walk to the colosseum and palatine hill. This is a social hostel full of mostly young travelers.
If you arrive during lockout hours, there is usually someone at reception who can check you in and store your bags until you can access your room. The hostel offers one half hour of free internet access per day (just sign up for a time on the sheet by the computer). There is a kitchen with a gas stove (bring matches) and sink, but no cups or cutlery. They sell one-liter beers for 1 euro (and it's actually good beer). The rooftop terrace is a fun gathering place, with tables, chairs, and a TV and VCR. They have movies (and books) for rent at the reception desk. From the rooftop terrace you can see much of Rome, including the Colosseum.
Every other night there are free pasta parties on the rooftop terrace, the only cost is 1 euro for paper plate, plastic cup and cutlery. They also offers a free "travel pack" breakfast that includes croissant, juice, fruit, and a candy treat. Just pick it up in the morning from the reception desk.
Linens are provided, though you will need your own towel. There are rooms with both private and shared baths. This hostel offers dorms that sleep up to six people, as well as private rooms. The shared rooms with private WCs have very nice bathrooms, with self-cleaning toilets, hot showers (usually), and marble accents. The building is old but in reasonably good condition. There is a lockout for a few hours in the afternoon for cleaning, but they offer free luggage storage in a secure room if you don't want to take your bags with you.
Be advised, there are a LOT of stairs in this place. There are six floors, with two flights of stairs to each floor. Everything of interest is on a different floor (internet, kitchen, terrace, reception).
Note: This hostel has a history of scamming backpackers by accepting far more reservations than they actually have beds for, and then when people arrive and find out they don't have a bed, the hostel has a van that they use to shuttle them to less appealing accommodations in other locations. The owners claim that this is no longer happening, but we don't know for sure. Comments are welcome.
If you arrive during lockout hours, there is usually someone at reception who can check you in and store your bags until you can access your room. The hostel offers one half hour of free internet access per day (just sign up for a time on the sheet by the computer). There is a kitchen with a gas stove (bring matches) and sink, but no cups or cutlery. They sell one-liter beers for 1 euro (and it's actually good beer). The rooftop terrace is a fun gathering place, with tables, chairs, and a TV and VCR. They have movies (and books) for rent at the reception desk. From the rooftop terrace you can see much of Rome, including the Colosseum.
Every other night there are free pasta parties on the rooftop terrace, the only cost is 1 euro for paper plate, plastic cup and cutlery. They also offers a free "travel pack" breakfast that includes croissant, juice, fruit, and a candy treat. Just pick it up in the morning from the reception desk.
Linens are provided, though you will need your own towel. There are rooms with both private and shared baths. This hostel offers dorms that sleep up to six people, as well as private rooms. The shared rooms with private WCs have very nice bathrooms, with self-cleaning toilets, hot showers (usually), and marble accents. The building is old but in reasonably good condition. There is a lockout for a few hours in the afternoon for cleaning, but they offer free luggage storage in a secure room if you don't want to take your bags with you.
Be advised, there are a LOT of stairs in this place. There are six floors, with two flights of stairs to each floor. Everything of interest is on a different floor (internet, kitchen, terrace, reception).
Note: This hostel has a history of scamming backpackers by accepting far more reservations than they actually have beds for, and then when people arrive and find out they don't have a bed, the hostel has a van that they use to shuttle them to less appealing accommodations in other locations. The owners claim that this is no longer happening, but we don't know for sure. Comments are welcome.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
November 2004
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Casa Olmata Youth hostel Details
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Absolutely dirty -- Don't stay there! I've never been to such a dirty and horrible hostel. Don't stay there!!!
It's no joke, but next to us slept "homeless persons" in a dirty shed on the terrace that was connected to our room. Accidentally we noticed that they used our bathroom. We talked to one of the two persons in the moment they were staying on their mattresses and find out that her name was Mariella and she came from Romania. The woman at the reception told us they were orthodox people a priest brought to the hostel and they will stay only for one night. We didn't believe a word of this. Later we got that these people were staff of this hostel! Also the hostel is absolutely dirty like it was never cleaned before. It's a health threat!!! All in all it's an impertinence to life in this hostel! — Anonymous , Germany (2010-10-05) Disgusting Don't stay there! The hostel is terrible, very old, the rooms are very bad -- very little for too much people, the beds are very uncomfortable, there are no lockers and also the showers outside the room are not clean. When you take a shower the water is too cold or too warm. If you go there you also should be prepared to walk till the sixth or seventh floor! The hostel really need a reform. The breakfast is disgusting, they give you a bag whit different "things" inside. Please eat only the apple or the banana, the rest can cause you bad diarrhea! The owners are also very strange people, they only speak italian and they are not very friendly. They shout at the people and don't explain you the things. To top it all, I wake up next morning with red points on my legs, an allergic reaction to the bedlinen, which probably haven't been changed or weren't clean! Don't stay there! — vendetta24 , Spain (2008-07-09) The worst hostel I've been to in Europe Upon arriving to the Casa Olmata, my friend and I were slightly taken aback by the renovations and the overall rundown appearance of the hostel -- wires were exposed, walls were covered with plastic sheeting, the kitchen didn't even have bare essentials, the shower had no curtain and six of us were packed like sardines into a room which was obviously only meant for four. Ok, these were things which we could deal with. What didn't impress me at all were the staff and the owner. I had emailed them a day in advance to extend our stay from three to four nights and while checking in we confirmed that this was the case. The lady at reception said it was Ok and wrote it on her booking sheet. On the fourth night I returned to the hostel to find both our packs moved and two people sleeping in our beds. Confused I went down to reception to ask the owner and he asked to see my receipt (apparently we had only paid for three nights) and I politely asked him if he was able to double check their booking sheet and if there was any availability that night.
At that point he snapped that we either had to have paid for the extra night or have checked out before 10 a.m. and demanded the room key back. He proceeded to go to the storage room, dragged both our packs and threw them down the stairs into the foyer. He kicked us out at 11 p.m. on a friday night with nowhere to go and no offer of assistance! My friend and I had to walk around Rome looking for a hostel, it wasn't until 12:30 a.m. where we were approached by a man at the station from the tourism office offering accommodation. Scary, frankly. If you can, definitely find another hostel. — Cindy , Australia (2007-10-16) Worst hostel I've been to in years, in Europe! The building is dirty, smelly, and falling apart, located on a dirty street, where the same shady characters who get drunk around the S. Maria church hang out. I found it hard to believe I got the right place, when I saw the tiny sign on the door. The guys next door working on cars whistle and leer at the young women travelers going by. in fact, I was followed coming to the ostello in the evening, and not only would the front desk guy not do anything about it, but he also accused me of making it up! It was the most unsafe experience of my trip, even if I traveled alone in Napoli! The owners are not Italian, and speak very poor English (or Italian!). they are also very rude. They put me in a very cramped, stuffy dorm, where I had to move the stuff of the other travelers to set my bed on top of a creaky, swaying metal bunk bed with a thin, hollowed mattress. I could feel a metal bar in my back. They tried charging me more than what I was quoted on the phone, and lied about the dorm being only female -- I awoke to a very drunk guy prancing in a mini-Speedo and smoking in the room, to which the owner would not do anything about, as he was in fact smoking himself in this "non-smoking" establishment. The shared washroom in the room was unspeakable -- no toilet paper, and one of those with no shower curtain or specific shower space, so the water splashes on everything and drains in the middle of the room, so you slip everywhere and walk in filth unless you shower in flip-flops! Terrasse on the roof? I just found a closed stuffy space, and the so-called "kitchen" was a counter with old, filthy, broken appliances. I could not sleep a wink in the drunk snoring and heat, and left early in the morning. I would say, the worst hostel I've been to in Europe -- and I can't believe someone would bring children there! — frenchie , canadian (2007-08-19) This place is decent, and provides a roof over your head (most of the time,) and is great if you are up to a challenge. However, I've brought a group there in '05 and had a terrible experience. We switched rooms four times in a week-long stay, avoiding police that were there (I still don't know why) or, the dilemma of overbooking and being moved into a makeshift bedroom on the roof. The only reason they didn't kick us out is because they wanted our money. Communication is very challenging, and often times things that have been agreed upon get changed. So, maybe ok as a last resort, but don't pick this place otherwise. — Beth , USA (2007-04-09) Worst hostel I have ever stayed at. Has exposed electrical wiring coming out of the walls and seems to still be under construction. The free breakfast consists of a coupon for a free coffee and pastry at the coffee shop several blocks away. The owner is the worst part though -- he will try to overcharge you and is very rude. Do not ever stay here! — Ryder , US (2007-04-03) Never stay here. My friend and I arrived from another hostel thinking this would be better. We enquired with the owner the day before and she seemed really nice. So, we dragged our luggage over there and, once there, my friend was told she wouldn't be able to stay only one night (contrary to the day before). We were both told that we would be staying at "the other Casa Olmata" which was "just down the road," and that we would be driven there soon. After a couple of drinks and some spaghetti on the terrace (which I admit was a great setup and a friendly atmosphere) we were escorted (by foot) to this apartment block ten blocks away, which was on Via Nazionale (a busy road!) and we couldn't sleep. After a bad night's sleep, we went back to see the owner, who told us there weren't any rooms left at the (proper) Casa Olmata -- the owner said, "you can check out if you like." I knew there were rooms available, but some tour group was coming and she wanted to look after them. We checked out and spent half the day finding another place. My mate went back the next night to catch up with mates who she'd met the night before, and the owner kicked her out just for being there (and buying their drinks!). Really dodgy owner, compulsive liar, bad crowd at "the other Casa Olmata," terrible breakfast (an apple and some nutella in a glad bag left on the bed). — John B (Australia) (2006-09-13) I lived there in September 2001 and it was great. well located, cheap, clean, friendly people particularly Mirela. i was thinking of going back again in a few months time and was so happy that i had found the place again because I had forgotten its name. — sharda u (2006-08-16) I was quite pleased with my stay at Casa Olmata. Mirela, one of the owners, was very nice and sweet to me and my friend. We made reservations on-line about five days before our arrival. I had a friend from Rome call and he was told they were full so I was a little worried, but I reconfirmed via email the day before and was given a confirmation number. I got there around ten a.m. and our room was not ready. We were told we could come back or take a different room that was less money so we did that. The room was a little small but it served it's purpose. There were two showers on our floor and the hot water went out one morning. But you can use the shower on any floor if you need to so it was no big deal. They give you a breakfast bag with lots of goodies in it or you can get a coupon for breakfast at a nearby cafe. Overall the staff was friendly and my stay was comfortable, clean and safe. I would stay there again. — Tarina, California (2006-06-17) I was there on the 1 of June and all i can say is don't go near it. We booked a day before then got there at noon and were told are room was being cleaned so to come back at four. That was fine with us cause we left are bag's there and saw a bit of the City. We got back at four and now they weren't as friendly as before and told us they were full. The woman wrote an address on some paper and told us to go there. So after losing the head for a bit and realising I was talking to a very stupid person and would have a better conversation to the wall, we went to the new hostel where they didn't have the number of night's we had booked with the other hostel. And, oh yeah, it was more expensive of course because we were male. So save yourselves a headache and find somewhere else. — D (2006-06-06) Marco and Mirela Roman (owners of the hostel) are the worst people I have ever meet and worked with. I am from Romania and I have worked there in 2002 (August and September) whit no legal paper, fourteen to sixteen hours/day, so I have seen enough to be able to put an opinion here. This hostel is a danger for the tourists and I have seen Marco (owner) at one step to kick an Australian tourist. I managed to disarm that fight and I also convinced Marco to return the money to that tourist (he kicked him out after that). They accept tourist only from foreign country for being difficult for a foreign tourist to make complaint at police or other authorities. Also, the building is in a very bad shape (at an earth-quake it will be a disaster) and sometime they have bedbugs. The happy customers are just lucky. The only good thing (at least in 2002) was the food. I know because I have cooked there. In conclusion they are bad, rude, and very big liars. — Lazar Nicolae (2006-04-25) DON'T STAY HERE!!! This was absolutely the worst hostel I have come across. We had booked the day before, on the phone, for three nights. We were asked what time we were arriving, we said 4 p.m., they said that was fine. We arrived around 2:30 and waited out the front, as they were closed. We were fine with that, as we had told them we'd be there at 4. At 4 we went back, lugged our bags up all the stairs and were told, "No, we don't have your name down." We were shocked, especially at how rude they were and nonchalant.
They said they don't really accept phone bookings. What??? Why take our reservation then? The lady seemed extremely dodgy and was outright lying to us. She then went on to say you need to be there before 2. She was obviously just making excuses because they had overbooked. So then we were in Rome, on a Friday night, with no accommodation. Everything was booked out. We had to catch two trains to a camping village.
These people do not know how to run a business and the lady is dodgy. I have also heard lots of other bad reviews about this hostel afterwards, so don't stay for your own good! — Holly (2005-10-05) I stayed at Casa Olmata for three nights in August of 2004. The place was booked full, but we got our rooms as promised with no problems, and the people were very friendly and helpful. Our room (6-bed coed) had a really nice en suite bathroom, the nicest of any hostel I stayed in. The 1-euro beers, pasta dinners, sack breakfasts, and rooftop deck were all great. I also appreciated the secure luggage storage. It was a very social place (especially for watching the Olympics together on the roof), but they close the rooftop deck at midnight for some weird reason, which was a bit annoying. — Katie (2005-08-14) A lovely hostel in a quiet street but within easy walking of the main attractions (about 15 minutes from the Coliseum) and Termini station (7 minutes). Breakfast is the best thing about this place. Included in the accommodation price you get fruit juice, croissant, cereal, fruit, yogurt, crackers, butter and Nutella, and a bottle of water all in an eco-friendly brown bag. (Which I used to carry what I couldn't eat out with me for the day). Plus there was unlimited iced tea, coffee, toast and cereal, all served on the roof terrace.
The pasta at the spaghetti party was not so good — basic catering for large amounts of people meant it lacked flavor, but for one euro it was certainly edible. The meals are a nice way of meeting people. It's a slightly shabby building but clean enough — the toilets got a little dirty after the morning rush but didn't stay that way for long, as cleaners were often around. A word of warning: We had booked this hostel for three nights but arrived later than we had originally said we would and found that our beds had been given away, although it was still early evening (around 6:30)! Staff were very apologetic (apparently they thought we weren't going to turn up, although since the reviewer mentions overbooking I begin to wonder...). They immediately phoned round other hostels to get us somewhere to stay for the night. This being the only problem I had with this hostel, I would highly recommend it as a great place to stay in Rome. — Anon, UK (2005-08-11) This hostel is definitely the worst place me and my friends have ever tried to stay in. It looks terrible and the people are the rudest people ever. To begin with, the hostel lost our booking and said they had no room and wouldn't let us sleep on the floor inside. They said that we would have to sleep in the park but that we could come for breakfast the following morning. After being robbed in the park, we went back and they wouldn't let us eat. The guy laughed at the fact that we had slept rough and called us a bunch of gypsies. When we got angry, he swore at us and eventually kicked us out. I seriously think those people have problems. This is definitely not a place to stay in. It is seriously horrible. The people are the worst people I have ever met and I would not recommend it to anyone. Worst place ever!!! — Anonymous (2005-07-28)