Cineroma Guesthouse

Housed in a six-story building, Next Door Guesthouse is a hostel with a stylish and energetic vibe. The interiors feature materials that have been recycled and refurbished by the hostel's owners during their travels. The lobby living room table is a collection of old pinball machines that have been cleaned up and put in a glass case. The living room coffee table is an old bathtub filled with artifacts and collectibles and covered with a glass plate. Done in light grey and off white, the space also features hanging green lamps, metal chairs, a bright yellow piano, hot pink wall art, and a brown leather sofa in front of a wall full of letters written by guests to thank the hostel's owners. Guests can also pull down the acoustic guitar hanging on the wall if the mood strikes as well. A small covered outdoor terrace has astroturf floors, a trellis, Asian artifacts, tables and chairs, and a smoking area. The communal kitchen features a yellow refrigerator, lime green toaster, and multicolored towels. The atmosphere is lively and communal, and the hotel primarily draws budget-conscious friends, solo travelers, and couples.

Next Door Guesthouse is east of central Rome in the multi-cultural Nomentana neighborhood. The vibrant Viale Libia street is about a 10-minute walk, and features vendors, shops, ethnic restaurants, bakeries, and supermarkets -- the area is home to a a large portion of Rome's African community. The hostel is well away from Rome's top tourist sights, but transport options are abundant (pending there are no strikes) -- there's a bus stop right across the street, Nomentana Train Station is a five-minute walk from the hostel, and the Libia Metro station is a 12 minutes away on foot. Most of central Rome's top attractions -- the Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Colosseum, Roman Forum, Pantheon, Campo de' Fiori, and Church of Santa Maria Maggiore -- are within 20 to 35 minutes away by some combination of bus and metro. Vatican City will take about one hour to reach. Termini Station is a 10-minute drive from the hostel, or 20-minute bus ride, for connections throughout Italy. It's 35 minutes by car from Next Door to Leonardo da Vinci Airport, a trip that takes about an hour by FL1 train from Nomentana Station.

The six rooms at Next Door Guesthouse are all several steps above most hostel offerings in terms of style. They are universally bright, cheerful, and sharp. Rooms come in Yellow, Red, Violet, Blue, Turquoise, and Shared room categories with a variety of bedding and occupancy configurations. The Shared Room is a dorm that's outfitted with bunk beds, padlocked trunks and lockers, and a shared bathroom. Rooms start at 150 square feet, so some rooms are small. The look throughout is simple and minimalist, with largely white walls and laminate hardwood floors, but they're enlivened with bright colors according to the names of the rooms. There are playful details like a white bedspread with red Ben-Day dots in the Red Room, or a black-and-white bedspread with the alphabet on it in the Violet Room. The Turquoise Room is awash in vibrant colors like lime green, aqua, and hot pink, and features sculptural art on the walls including empty picture frames and chairs cut in half, some hanging upside down. Some rooms feature additional recycled touches like old refrigerators used as closets. All rooms come with air-conditioning, desks, free Wi-Fi, and 32-inch flat-screen TVs with satellite and English channels. Most rooms lack safes. The Violet Room has a 65-square-foot private balcony with table and chairs. Bathrooms have a monochromatic look, and are clean and well lighted. They have limited counter space around the sinks, and have showers only with no bathtubs.

As a hostel, Next Door Guesthouse has few property facilities, with no swimming pool, fitness center, or sauna. Guests can read, relax, sip free coffee, and mingle in the lobby living room. A computer with free internet is available to surf the web, and check e-mail and Facebook. The wall-mounted 40-inch flat-screen TV has satellite and English channels. The hostel also has an outdoor terrace with a smoking area, but there is no breakfast buffet or restaurant. Guests have access to a full communal kitchen with refrigerator, stove, and other appliances. For guests who don't wish to cook, there are also several restaurants within walking distance of the hostel. The Next Door also offers a safe deposit box, laundry room, tourist assistance, and limited front desk service (but 24-hour staff availability). There is no on-site parking, but a public parking garage (use for a fee) is about 150 meters from the hostel.