Hospitia A Hospitium was a type of Roman hotel. They used to rent rooms in private houses, thus their name, which stems from the notion of hospitia, or the hospitality owed by a Roman host to his visitors. These were usually small rooms with a bed, a table, and some chairs. Guests would eat with their hosts and sometimes other guests as well. Hotels in Rome could be found anywhere, even in people's homes, like in a dormer room or under a roof. But they were mostly found in public spaces, such as near the Circus Maximus or the Colosseum. Some survived into modern times but most were destroyed during bombings in World War II. They were expensive compared to today's standards (about $150 per night in average prices), but they were very popular among travelers at that time. There are reports that Augustus had one built for himself after he became emperor. It had 24 rooms and was probably located near his palace on Palatine Hill. The word "hotel" comes from the Latin hospes, which means "guest." Thus, a hotel is an establishment where guests can stay while visiting a city or town. In conclusion, yes, ancient Rome did have hotels!