L'Isola

Room worn out 15 years ago. Bed uncomfortable. Room space small. Very noisy inside and outside. Breakfast a joke. Packaged bread and packaged roll. Stale cornflakes. Told we had to be out of the room at 10:30 AM.

Thoroughly recommended. Really enjoyed our stay and could not fault any aspect. Excellent value for money and close to the airport. No noise experienced from passing planes. Comfy beds, delicious breakfast and great ambience.

I tried and wanted to book this place through Trip Advisor but it would not go through. As it was in conjunction with Agoda I did so there instead based on the good reviews on Trip Advisor. The other reviewers must have been in another building because our experience was rather different. The place seems to be run by Piero, a nice man who is very busy with other things. The photos are misleading. A cramped anteroom had metal chairs and a table scattered with old magazines. The large entrance room was untidy with Piero's office and messy kitchen on opposite sides. There were 3 small cluttered bistro tables in front of it which seemed to be the "breakfast area." He pointed out the kitchen was private. Our room was directly off that area, clean but sparse-- a metal chair, a small skinny table, no ice, wash cloths, cups, clock. Breakfast was juice, coffee, packaged sweet croissants, iced chocolate cake, and such. I had a small packet of 2 dry Melba toast. We ate on one of the small tables that had crumpled paper towels to serve as placemats. What really got me was that it was advertised close to the airport but wasn't. They owner very genially had said he'd pick us up at the airport and take us back. He never answered my inquiry about added costs. When I did call from the airport, he said he'd pick us up in 15 minutes and said he could not come in a half hour which I wanted because he had another appointment. I wondered what we would have done if we had called later, as no one else was there. As it was, after waiting more than 20 minutes, we called again. He must have parked nearby waiting for another call (we didn't have a European phone and someone had to call for us). When we got in the car he sprung on us that the cost would be 10 euros. I said okay, thinking that the morning trip to the airport had been included. But it wasn't. My mistake. I think another 20 euros added to this room's cost would have gotten us better, closer accommodations and transfer. Also he had a man there in the morning who wasn't introduced. They were speaking Italian the whole time and he was in Alitalia uniform. He came along in the car and was also dropped off at the airport, so he was going there anyway and I didn't see that he was charged for the ride. The area itself was interesting to see in the short time there.

I try not to stay at or near the airport in Rome as it is a) ridiculously expensive at the actual airport and b) Fiumicino is not an attractive city. However, on the advice of a friend and to have a relaxed departure, I decided to book one night at L'Isola. The emails from Piero were clear, concise and prompt when I booked a few weeks before my trip. For an extra 10 euro he said he would pick me up after dropping my rental car and then take me to the airport for my flight the next day. When I finished returning the rental car and called him, Piero, who had already given me clear instructions about where to meet him at the terminal, promptly answered my call. What a nice surprise to meet this happy, smiling, relaxed man who greeted me like an old friend. His English was far better than my Italian so we spoke English. The B & B is located about 10 minutes from the airport and less than 2 blocks from the beach which I had never been to in that city. He also told me about a fantastic seafood restaurant, Almalinda, just 2 blocks away (which I will review later). The single room was of moderate size, on the second floor, had it's own air-conditioning unit and really necessary as there was a heat wave. It was clean, sparse, small bathroom with shower, no tub. Two single beds, a table/chair and a wardrobe. The bed was comfortable and the noise level delightfully low. It was on a quiet street and the buildings were all in very nice condition which I could not say about a lot of the houses in some of the neighborhoods. The beach was lovely, well kept, too. I felt safe in walking around and the house had a locked, small gated yard with lounges on the lawn. Piero and I agreed upon a time to meet for breakfast in the morning so I could get to the airport in plenty of time. That all worked out well. My one complaint, which is always the same for me in many budget B & B's is that "breakfast" is coffee and a stale pastry wrapped in plastic. But for the price (45 euro) and the lovely host (a retired AlItalia flight attendant) it was worth it…..I just got some yogurt at the airport!

Piero is a very nice man and he picked us up at the airport at 11pm for a very good and reasonable price. The house is clean and comfortable, the room has AC, cable TV and there is very good wifi. The breakfast is basic but good. Piero gave us good information on how to get to Rome and he took us back to the airport the next morning, that is where you have to take the bus into Rome. You should take the TerraVision buses into Rome, the ticket costs 8Euro and you have to buy the tickets in a stand they have before you get into the bus. We would stay here again if we need to.