Pros:
I met some cool people here
Cons:
No internet, stove, hot water, or bar
TravelingRenate
saw things this way
Maintenance
(1)
Cleanliness
(2)
Facilities
(1)
Atmosphere
(2)
I really wanted to like this place, based on my guidebook's description and it being the only place in my book that had a spare room when I called the night before arrival. It is very close to the Termini, which is good in a way, but is also surrounded by the most overpriced, touristy restaurants and con people. It is a two- or three-story walk-up, which is not fun with a backpack or any luggage at all. The dorm is expensive, about 30 euro a night if I recall. I hadn't spent that much in Copenhagen, one of the most expensive cities in the world. The rooms are bare- metal framed beds in a coed room, but at least they weren't bunk beds. I was extremely disappointed, infuriated even, at the showers. I took three showers in my two days there and they were all FREEZING. I complained at the front desk (cute staff, by the way), and they insisted that the time of day was the main factor in my having a cold shower. Like if I had woken up at the crack of dawn, before everyone else in the hostel, I would have had warm water. So, I tried the shower at different times with the same result, and same explanation.They claim to have a bar, but they don't. They claim to have internet, but with "Italy's new homeland security requirements," they don't. They claim to have a kitchen, but there's no gas- the stove and oven do not work. We had to make pasta by microwaving it in water-filled coffee mugs. Breakfast is included, but it's in the 'bar' next door and includes a greasy croissant and smallest cup of espresso you've ever seen.I did meet cool people from the States, Japan, and Finland here. But that's the only plus. Sorry, guys! I'm just trying to save my fellow backpackers a fortune, and a headache.
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(Review ID: 3677)
Enjoyed every minute, September 14, 2004
Reviewer:
James4204
( james4204@blueyonder.co.uk)
from Essex, England
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Imported Review
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(4)
Atmosphere
(4)
Stayed here about 3 weeks ago.stayed in a four bed onsuite room. The other 3 people i shared with were friendly, polite and helpfull at all times.The room was clean, shower was cold at first, but left it running for a while, and worked fine! I spoke to other people that stayed there in 8/10 people dorms, they said there showers NEVER got warm. But they said they was used to that after traveling around europe. Apart from that, they was happy with there stay! NO mention of bed bugs!Staff wasnt as friendly as i would of hoped, Run into some trouble with getting back to the airport on the last day, they just wasnt intrested!Had a great bar crawl, but was made great by the guests.i enjoyed it so much im going again in a few weeks! ill let you know what a 10 room dorm is like!
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(Review ID: 3678)
amazing people, Best Hostel I have stayed at, May 3, 2004
Reviewer:
234alanc234
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Imported Review
saw things this way
Maintenance
(5)
Cleanliness
(5)
Facilities
(5)
Atmosphere
(5)
This place was great.I have met the most interesting people in my life here. From a Buddhist from Japan to a girl from America who has spent some time as a Buddhist nun in India. I can honestly say these have been some of the best days of my trip and my life. And if you want to party, this is the place to be. If you come to Rome, stay here
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(Review ID: 3679)
When In Rome... Stay at M & J, April 21, 2004
Reviewer:
briannabez
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Imported Review
saw things this way
Maintenance
(5)
Cleanliness
(5)
Facilities
(5)
Atmosphere
(5)
What a relief to find a hostel that doesn't kick you out until afternoon checkin!!The staff and M & J kindly directed my tired body to the lounge, where I could nap, what TV/movies, and check my e-mail. The sheets were fresh and white, and No Extra Charge:-)!The lounge area was a perfect way to meet no people and exchange extraordinary stories; I stayed till closing time having beer (the hostel sells it fairly cheap too) with a few people I've still kept in touch with.For the best hostel in Rome, I undoubtably recomment M & J.
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2 people found this review helpful
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(Review ID: 3680)
M&JPLACE is really nice hostel!!!, April 19, 2004
Reviewer:
Sarita
( saraluque@hotmail.com)
from Spain
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Imported Review
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(4)
Atmosphere
(4)
I'm a spanish girl and i stayed in this hostel. For me this place is really nice because the atmosphere is beautiful and friendly. All days, the personal cleaned the hostel, the rooms, the bathrooms, the kitchen,.... and this is great, because for me the cleaning is important, and M&J is Clean!!!. I think that i had a lot of lucky to found this perfect place!!.
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2 people found this review helpful
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(Review ID: 3681)
Horrible staff, facilities, too noisey to sleep in, February 3, 2004
Reviewer:
kath uk
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Imported Review
saw things this way
Maintenance
(1)
Cleanliness
(1)
Facilities
(1)
Atmosphere
(1)
The place has no security, cameras, jewellery and food reguarly stolen. The owners and their staff are offensive and discriminating against women. The hostel encourages constant noise till the early hours, preventing sleep. The staff refuse to stop couples sleeping together in mixed dorms or stop the noise. I was assaulted twice by a man and suffered offensive, aggressive behaviour from staff and the their friends.
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4 people found this review helpful
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(Review ID: 3682)
Very pleased with what I got for what I paid, December 13, 2003
Reviewer:
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Anonymous
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(4)
Atmosphere
(4)
I was very pleased with M & J. I just recentely spent 8 days and think my money was very well spent. I mean, it is not the Ritz Carlton by any means, but for less than 20 euro per night I was really happy. The beds were clean and no bedbugs at all (nor did any other people mention the b word). The shower was hot and I never had to wait. Yes, the breakfast was awful, but again, what do you expect for such a low price? The location right near Termini was exceptional. I would not hesitate to stay again. I wanted a cheap, clean place with a good location where I could basically just rest my head and shower at the end of the day, and that was what I got. I will stay again when I go back to Rome next time.
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3 people found this review helpful
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(Review ID: 3683)
Oh My God! I was Almost Peed on!, November 15, 2003
Reviewer:
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Anonymous
saw things this way
Maintenance
(1)
Cleanliness
(1)
Facilities
(1)
Atmosphere
(1)
Where do I start...I agree with the rest of the reviews that the bathrooms and bedrooms are filthy. The mattresses had plastic covers on them which I guess cured the bed bug problem. We walked in to our shared, mixed, room, to the most revolting smell ever...The hostel promoted a beer party the night we were there, which means all the beer you can drink in an hour, which means how many of our guests can we get to throw up tonight....We had it the worst....Our bunk mates came home one at a time and one of them decided to pee on the floor and on everything that was on the floor which happened to be someone's backpack....Then the other one came home and fell out of the top bunk at least three times and tried to pee on one of the other bunkmates, in the face. It is a much longer and horrible tale, but to sum up, the manager's response was "That must have been annoying for you " We thought he was kidding....Needless to say, I wouldn't stay there if they paid ME!!!
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2 people found this review helpful
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(Review ID: 3684)
health hazard, September 12, 2003
Reviewer:
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Anonymous
saw things this way
Maintenance
(1)
Cleanliness
(1)
Facilities
(1)
Atmosphere
(1)
We arrived at m&j tired and dirty after a 16 hour train ride but were not allowed into a bathroom or bedroom for 4 hours. Our bedroom door and window did not shut let alone lock, so it was noisy and unsafe. As a result of us being next to a bathroom people accidentally wandered in and out all night. I awoke in the night to find the walls and beds crawling with bed bugs (there were literally hundreds) and i am still suffereing from their numerous bites two weeks later. The staff were sarcastic and unhelpful when we voiced our concerns about these problems. Breakfast was horrible. The location was good, as was the kitchen and free internet, but the negatives here strongly outweighed the positives.
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3 people found this review helpful
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(Review ID: 3685)
DIRTY DIRTY DIRTY!!!, July 29, 2003
Reviewer:
PHANIEtheGREAT
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Imported Review
saw things this way
Maintenance
(1)
Cleanliness
(1)
Facilities
(1)
Atmosphere
(1)
During my first trip to Rome I was lucky enough to spend it at Gulliver's House (which is where you should go). During my return I was saddened to find out that there wasn't room for my 6 friends and myself at GH so we ended up at MJ's. With all the beauty and history of Rome it would be hard to believe that anything could turn you sour on it. This place will. First off I had something stolen (my guide book) and when I informed them of it they could care less. Second and Third the cleanliness of this place is appalling. The beds are something you'd see bums passing over in the streets because they're too uncomfortable and dirty. And the bathrooms. I have never missed my clean bathroom soooo much. Let me give you a run down. The showers are positioned side by side on a slant. So water from the stalls in front of you run into yours. The dirt and grime and hair from others actually go past your feet. You don't need flip flops here. You need rain boots. The toilets have shit all over them and are in closet sized stalls. AVOID at all costs.
