M & J Place Hostel Rome — Hotel in Rome

Very nice staff and good location but BED BUGS and a manager that doesn't seem to want to do anything about it. There is many hostels next to this one so do yourself a favor and book one of those even if it's 2-3 euro more because anyway they charge 3 euro for linen. FYI, the kitchen is on the balcony (no jokes). Back to the BED BUGS. I was in Rome only for 3 days and was coming from home, so I didnt bring the bed bugs. On the first night I didnt slept well because of the bed (but all the other beds in the room were very comfortable). In the morning, since a girl had left I ask the front desk if I could take her bed and just change the sheets with mine. When I changed the sheets I notice on the bed sheets of the girl some spots of blood. I didnt think about bugs and though maybe her period started during the night. The second night I slept in this new bed and woke un with bites that I thought were mosquito's. I came back later for a nap. After the nap, I had new bites so I lifted the cover and I saw a blood stain and a dead bed bug on the sheet (picture). I travelled a lot and even worked in hostels. I know that bed bugs can happen. I know how bed bugs are hard to manage for hostels. I didnt tell anyone else and discretly told the front desk. The guy was very nice and offert me to change room. I was placed in a 6 beds with no one else. I put my stuff on one bed and went to eat. When I came back, I switched on the lights and saw a bed bug walking on the bed in the other side of the room. Impossible that it came from my bag. I decided not to stay for the last night. It was late 22h30. I asked to be refund but the front desk «didnt have that power» and the manager was unreachable. I made it clear that I was checking out. I found a hostel close by but the reception was closing at 23h00 and it was 10h50. The front desk said that the manager was still not reachable and I couldnt stay longer . So I said I had to go and that I was gonna come back later or tomorrow to make sure I get the refund. I left and forgot to give back the keys but the front desk didnt say anything also about keys. The next morning I come back to bring back the keys, get my deposit back and make sure they won't charge me on my credit card (which I lost anyway the day before). I was happy to see the manager there so I asked him what will happen with the situation. Basically, he said that bed bugs were happening because of travelers and he couldnt do anything about it. He also said that he could give me a refund for the sheets but he had to charge me for the room because I forgot to give the keys. He was clearly looking for any reason to charge me. He even said that he didnt hear anyone complain this week about bed bugs and that I brought the bugs with me. I though he was being very wrong. The way he was putting the blame on everyone else. Not taking this bed bugs matter seriously is also very disrespectful for other hostel owners. I gave up and told him to give me the key deposit back of 10 euro. He made a mistake and put a 20 euro on the counter. I took it and he ask to give it back so he could give me 10 euro. I said : «No, I will keep it for the night I didnt spend here, thank you very much.» As I was leaving, he said that I was being very rude and that he would charge me 3 times the amount of the room on my credit card. At the end, when I called my bank about the lost credit card, they said that there was a transaction of 13 euro made that morning. So he charged me for a night that I didnt spend there after I got about 10 bites all over my body from bed bugs on the previous night. This manager seems to care only about money. I would never go back there again. I've been in hostels a lot in my life and it's the first time that I have a bad experience and the first time I leave a...

Worst hostel I've ever been in. This place is DISGUSTING, nothing looks like it has ever been cleaned. Staff was extremely condescending. In the dormitory style rooms, they don't even trust you with a toilet seat on the toilet - that's how gross it is. Wifi was terrible - I generally had to sit on the floor near the door of my room to make it work. Also only some of the room doors have proper locks - I got one where the key was super old fashioned and looked like a child could pick the lock. Security is nonexistent at this place.

The website is SUPER MISLEADING. They only show the private rooms in their photographs - I think there is ONE proper hostel picture and no pictures of the hostel bathrooms (because they're gross). Ads say there are lockers and a luggage room but the lockers aren't in your room - they're behind the front desk and they're so small you could maybe fit your passport and wallet in them. The luggage room is a nook behind the front desk where the staff will 'watch your stuff' but I have definitely seen that room empty before. Security is NON EXISTENT at this place.

The Bar and restaurant isn't really aimed at college kids either, so if you're looking for a proper bar you'll have to go elsewhere. However, food there was good and the people who ran the restaurant were super nice. Still, you can get to the restaurant without going through the hostel.

Getting moved to a private room upped the quality of the hostel from 'absolutely appalling' to just 'mediocre'. Still dirty, but not disgusting like the other rooms. Bathroom was much nicer (photos you see on the website and on hostelworld are of the private bathrooms) but taking a shower there is going to soak the floor of the WHOLE bathroom - the divider does nothing. So don't bring your outfit into the bathroom with you unless you leave it on the toilet or a counter. Wi-fi still sucks. Security is better (at least you get a keycard instead of a lock from the 30s). Beds are made of super flimsy material so be careful.

All in all, it's a gross, disgusting cheap hostel. Look elsewhere. Location is great but there was a place called Alessandro a couple blocks away with super nice staff, a proper bar, and proper security for less than $10 more in total. I wish I'd gone...

POSITIVES: I had a great experience with the day-time receptionist. She was very welcoming and friendly. And she was only doing her job when I point out my disatisfaction with pricing below. The individual who cleaned our rooms each morning was very nice and quick. In response to peoples negative feedback about bed begs. I was there for 3 nights and I did not experience that nor did any of the individuals that I stayed with.

ISSUES: Don't say a room to rent is $7/night and then charge: A. more a night for additional days staying in the same room B. 3 for linen (just include it in the overall price!) C. 3.50/night for taxes (just include it in the overall price!) D. This was my first experience in a hostel, so all hostels might be set up like this. But that's just dumb. No one likes to compare quality and prices and other features to decide on something that they probably wouldnt have picked once they learn that you actually need to pay more. Transparancy is highly valued as opposed to feeling like you've been dooped. This reason alone, I would never come back.

On my last night, an individual was trying to solicit his services for an EXTENDED period of time. In addition, he was gesturing inappropriately and wearing inappropriate clothing (or rather lack there of). When the night staff/receptionist was approached regarding the situation, he said that he had observed some odd behavior on the security feed but indicated that he couldn't deal with the situation at that time because 'the restaurant' was busy. REALLY?!? The hostel had several young women that could have been in danger and their well-being should have been your #1 priority. In addition, the receptionist had to be reminded AGAIN to do something when the situation escalated and the individual came down and was not wearing any pants. Only THEN did the night receptionist come up to the common area to attempt to resolve the issue. I have no idea if the situation was addressed because I was not informed of any resolution, despite that his room was right...