Apartment and Hotel help in Rome
 

We have booked a cruise out ouf Rome for June 2008. We would like to spend one week in Rome prior to the cruise. Both sets of in-laws will be joining us. I would like to find a location where my family of four could get an apartment and both in-laws could stay in a nearby hotel.

This is what I have come up with so far:
Apartments:

http://tinyurl.com/yvjsfu

http://tinyurl.com/yt5kzj

http://tinyurl.com/28tyvl

Hotels:

www.albergosantachiara.com


www.hotelabruzzi.it

How does this look location wise for being close to each other but moderately priced? Any other suggestions?
Thank You

Your plan sounds like a good way to go.

Right below the Barbarini Palace, near the top of the Spanish Steps are the Domus Julia and the Hotel Julia. They are side-by-side sister properties. Domus Julia has apartment arrangements, where we stayed in a twin room last May. It was very nice for the low price (about 170EUR, I think, with a nice breakfast buffet served at the hotel). Our room was not fancy, but was nicely decorated, new tile bath, and very clean. I found out about it from other Fodorites last winter.

Here are my notes about it:
"I arrived at Rome’s FCO airport around noon, having flown in from the States. I took the hotel shuttle to the Domus Julia, a nice little B&B type hotel, just below the Barberini Palace and very near the Spanish Steps, at via Rasella 32.

Domus Julia is a great value and nice little hotel. It’s the apartment annex to the Hotel Julia, so you check in and have breakfast buffet at the hotel. It is a fine little place, in a great location, at a very reasonable price. We had a double/twin room, which was large enough by European standards (and is pictured on their website quite accurately). It was 170EUR, with a private bath, and including the breakfast buffet. We entered our room via a nice dining room/kitchen common area. There were two other units which shared that space, and I think they are larger apartments and might suit our family of four. They offer a 13EUR shuttle from the airport, which is a big cost-savings."

Here's my complete trip report from Rome:
Rome-- http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34813272

Have fun planning your trip.
:)>-

Thanks Maureen, I checked those out. Is there one area in Rome that would be preferable to stay for first timers?

Try www.sleepinitaly.com. We rented an apartment from them 2 years ago. They have apartment s all over.
Good Luck and have fun.
GB

Happy, you ask a question that many ask on this forum. It was my first visit to Rome, meeting my daughter who had studied in Florence. We were very happy with our location. Many people recommend the Piazza Navonna area for a first-timer, though. We liked staying better a bit away from the crowds.

We walked nearly everywhere from the hotel, including Trevi Fountain (probably 15 minutes from the hotel walking), Piazza Navonna, the Pantheon, via Condotti, etc. Except to the Vatican and the Colosseum we took the subway one way, walked all the way back in the afternoons. But, we like to walk. The hotels I mention are on a small one-way side street that is not busy or loud.

There are so many great choices for lodging in Rome, especially looking as early as you are. Finding an apartment near a hotel is a bit of a twist, but doesn't sound too hard to do.

Search this forum for apartments in Rome, and hotels in Rome. Have fun planning.
:)>-

Does anyone have a preference over Rental in Rome to Sleep in Italy? I think I read here that some have had a problem with Sleep in Italy using bait and switch. One of the apartments I would like is available on both sites, but is much less on the Sleep in Italy.

Also any comments about the hotels I listed?

Thanks Again

ttt

Your choices look nice. We used ItalyPerfect and can't recommend them highly enough. Lisa Byrne was great to work with and our apartment was exactly as it was represented on the website.

happytotravel, we are renting the second apartment you show above -- the one to the side of the Pantheon on Minerva. But we are renting it from SleepinItaly for 980 euro per week (plus 35 for cleaning), instead of the 1264 quoted on your site.
Here's their listing for it, along with some updated pictures:
www.sleepinitaly.com/files/apt_minerva.html

I think am learning that it is the individual owner that makes the difference in the apartment rental more than the agency (I have seen pro's and cons for both agencies).

imag: Thank you, I looked at Italy Perfect but I didn't see any right near the Pantheon. I think that I want to stay right in that area because of the nearby hotels (less chance of our large group getting lost and we could always have the front of the Pantheon as a meeting point.)

Neopatrick, I can't wait to hear back from your stay. That was my first choice. The pictures on sleepinitaly are much better, and the price difference is huge. Please report back.

One interesting thing is that on the site you gave, there is no mention of AC, but on the sleepinitaly site there is. Yet in the video on your site, I don't see any sign of any AC units. I've emailed Guilia to ask about that. I'm also disappointed that it appears there is no shower, nor curtain or divider -- just a hand held device in the tub. In the sleepinitaly pictures I was still hoping for a wall mounted hook to place the shower control on at least.

I rented through SleepinItaly last summer and they were great. The apartment we rented was the Rondanini one, which other than an oder problem in the shower (sewer gas escapes due to the lack of a trap, apparently), it was fine.

We've recently returned from Italy, where we stayed in two apartments from Sleep In Italy. I found dealing with Giulia and the others to be very professional and courteous. All emails were answered promptly, and the apartments were as shown on their website.

I wrote reviews here on Fodors of the places we stayed. One was even the Rondanini which NeoPatrick mentioned above. Don't know if it would help you in your situation, happytotravel, since you probably want an extra bedroom.

(I can't get the link to work but if you're interested, just click on my name and you'll find the reviews of the 4 apartments throughout Italy.)
Happy travels!

NeoPatrick,
I can so relate to your comment about the shower not having a place to hang the shower head.

On the same trip I described above, we also stayed for a week in an apartment in Chamonix. Same as you're describing. The shower had a nice big tub and one of those removable shower heads with the long attachment to move it around. But the only hook was next to the faucet where the water comes out in the tub area.

What we ended up doing was filling up the bathtub, bathed, then stood up and rinsed off while holding the head the whole time.

Kind of a pain but we managed.

Have a good day.

happytotravel,

All of the apts. and both of the hotels look you came up with look fine and I think you won't go wrong with any of them. Unless you really want to split hairs, then I suggest simply picking one from column A and one from columb B. Great research!

On the other hand, I am one who likes those hand held showers, even if the hook is by the faucet. When I first started traveling to Europe that is how most of the faucets were. I think of it as another reminder that I am in Europe and also that it is better in my opinion than those tiny showers with the wet plastic curtain spanking me.

Have fun whichever you choose.

SeaUrchin, I thought I was the only one who felt that way. So much so, in fact, that when we remodelled our house, I insisted on having one of those hand-held showers in our new bathroom. I love those puppies, and I agree: having them in hotels when we travel is another welcome reminder that I'm not in my own stomping ground.

We have done the same thing with our showers here at home, installed those hand-held shower heads with the long hose. I love the kind that comes down like rainwater.

I especially like to be able to get into those "hard to reach" places, lol!

But I still prefer there to be a hook to hold it when taking a shower!

LOL, yes, I have one too, in the package still waiting for someone to install it. It is the kind with the hook and the hand held wand in a really nice gold.

Just thinking about those bathtubs in Europe makes me want to return!

Sea, have you considered installing it yourself? 'Tain't no biggie.
http://tinyurl.com/2degzt

Thanks for the info.! I'll take a look.

Lest people misunderstand me, I agree that the hand held showers are WONDERFUL. I only want there to be a hook on the wall so I can actually stand under it and have both hands free to scrub my hair, and manage soap and washcloth (oops, now I've done it -- started the wash cloth argument again!).

Has anyone rented from Windows on Italy (I think they are also called Windows on Tuscany)? What was your experience?

Sally,
You will probably get more responses to your inquiry if you start a separate thread.

Here's another idea. We stayed last year at an apartment that had two other apartments in the same building. Same owner & about two or three blocks from the Spanish Steps. They were puting in an elevator while we were there, but two of the apartments shared stairs which were about one flight up. Loved the location & the apartment. Here's the owner's website: http://relaisrome.com/ & it is also on sleepinitaly.com. Roos look larger than they are but we would book them again if we were to return.

NeoPatrick,
If you are renting the Minerva Apt.which if i am reading correctly you are, there is indeed a seperate shower in that same bathroom as you see the tub. Also, not that we used it but there is an AC unit in the apt. The owner who let us in would have been charging extra to use it, at least last year she was. You may want to clarify that with Sleep In Italy.

I loved the Residenza Canali and highly recommend it.

Michelle110, thanks The Residenza Canali looks nice, do you know if they have quad rooms?

Right now Guilia at sleep in Italy is looking into 2 apartments near the Pantheon for me, both are available and she said a 5 minute walk from each other. The rates are so reasonable I was thinking of booking them both, one for us and one for 1 set of inlaws, and then have the other set of parents get a hotel. Any comments:

http://www.sleepinitaly.com/files/apt_rotonda.html
and
http://www.sleepinitaly.com/files/apt_minerva.html

There is a thread that discusses the second apt at this link:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34865877

We stayed at a different Sleep in Italy apt on Via dei Pastini, you couldn't ask for a better location. It's incredible to stay so close to the Pantheon.

lvitaly, thanks for the comments. This is really bizare, because when I saw that other website's pictures I contacted Giulia at SleepinItaly to ask about AC since it isn't listed on the other site. I also mentioned that I saw in the pictures that there is only a hand-held device in the tub -- no "real" shower. He answered back to say that YES there is AC, but we shouldn't use it as it is bad for your health and the environement. I thought that comment was kind of funny. On the other hand, he never mentioned if there was an additional charge to use the AC.

But he also went into a whole thing about how that kind of device is standard in Italy -- only a hand held shower and no curtain or partition. Never did he mention that there is actually an entire separate enclosed shower in the bathroom! Maybe he didn't remember that? But we're sure glad to hear there is. I hate those open tubs that don't even have a hook on the wall to attach the shower so you can have both hands free.

hi, happy,

when i first saw your post, I was a bit confused as two out of the three apartments hadn't got enoough beds; I jsut read it again, and now I understand, I think.

still not sure though, what the exact compostion of your party is - assuming you and spouse plus your parents and his? which set of in laws get sent to the hotel - yours or his? is this politic [only you know?]

You might like to think about how the cruise is going to go if one set has their noses out of joint from the start!

I would try to treat them both the same - all in or all out. so your first apartment would work well, and for 6 adults looks a good deal, and great location.

but reading it again, is it you, spouse and kids plus two sets of inlaws?, in which case any of the apartments plus two hotel rooms could be good.

one consideration for the apartment is that it needs a very large dining table!

I'd try to be as central as possible - it will make it easier to co-ordinate dining arrangements if some of te hparty want to go and do their own thing.

THere are loads of apartment agencies - we booked through "italy accom" who were very good and helpful. they have a number of adjoining apartments in their listings under large groups, including some on the piazza navona, which is very central.

good luck with your searches,

regards, ann

Patrick, I think Giulia is female.

darn. I can't seem to get that right. I know that I've been corrected on Giulia's sex before, but then I can never remember which way I stated it and which way it was corrected. It seems that I would have assumed it was a female name and had been corrected that it was a male. Guess not.

I know it means Julia in English and her phrasings are female but I can't bet my firstborn on it or anything.

Annhig: I am confused too as what to do with the parents, I do want us to all get along before, because we will have 12 days together after that. But I don't really want to stay in the apartment with either set, that is a little too much togetherness. I was thinking my husbands parents in the 2nd apartment because she has food allergies and would have access to a kitchen, and my parents who need more pampering, in a hotel. Both sets are all right with me planning it, but you are right I don't want to start the trip off on the wrong foot.

That is a great tip about finding ajoining apartments, I am going to look into it

I am not sure if Giulia is male/female, but wichever, he/she has been very quick to respond.

Speaking of adjoining apartments, you might go back and look at Palazzo Olivia. There are two apartments per floor and some of them are arranged to make it one huge apartment.

hi, happy,

like kids, the wrinklies will probably be happier of you let them think that they have been fully consulted, whilst you retain control!

noses out of joint to be avoided at all costs. will your spouse be supporting you fully in this? how old are your kids?

regards, ann

NeoPatrick,
FYI about the apt. which we failed to notify Sleep In Italy over.My husband in that shower recieved a pretty good "jolt" when his wet hand reached for the bath towel( his hand did touch the hook) on the metal towel hook ajacent to the shower. Something is not grounded properly but like i said, we never did report this to the owner which we did talk to when we vacated the apt. She does not speak very good english so i meant to email Sleep In Italy when we got home but i never did.
Be careful !! Otherwise it is one of the best kept secrets around and even better than Palazzo Olivio IMO and i thought i'd never say that :)
If you speak Italian Patrick i have the owners cell phone number if you want to ask her about the air conditioning.She discouraged us from using it ( cost to much and we have to pay like 10E a day but it is there.

Ok, thanks, lvitaly. Today I got another email from Giulia. I had emailed after reading your post that there was definitely a separate shower, and she responded that perhaps one had been added or a curtain had been hung at the tub. I get the impression that she really is NOT familiar with this apartment. I also mentioned that you had said there was AC, but the owner charged for its use, and she replied that AC would be included if used in June or July. We're going to be there almost the exact same week as last year, and we never once turned on the AC in the apartment we rented.

I'll try not to get myself electrocuted in the shower.

the Relais Pierret- (go onto google to find #) residence in rome right next to the spanish steps- above the Furla store-had apartments and looked very nice-and was very reasonable. we were going to stay there on our recent trip in april-but they could not accomodate oall of our party.we stayed a few blocks away at the Grand Hotel Plaza [email protected] was also very nice-and a great location

NeoPatrick, maybe its a good thing she has never been, for the size of the place and location the price cannot be beat. I do see they raised the prices a bit but still worth every penney.
When are you going so i can make sure i read about your trip when you guys get back.I will be very curious to know how you like the place.
The shower has no curtain it is glass and roomy ( by italian standards) as my husband is no lean, mean fighting machine but rather "x" football player body that turns to mush and blubber throughout the years :))))