Sandy Hostel

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.

— Avis exclusif de Hostelz.com
July 2009