Apartment Rental in Rome?
Dec 1st, 2003, 09:20 AM
#21
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BLN, thanks for reporting back. There have been many discussions about Sleepinitaly. Could you tell us which apartment you stayed in and what you liked about it, or what the drawbacks (if any) there were? That way in the future when someone does a search, there will be even more specific information on that specific apartment.
Dec 1st, 2003, 10:15 AM
#22
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Good point, Patrick. The very selfish part of me wants to keep the apartment a secret, so I'm sure it's available next time I go (ha ha!) but.... For the good of others, here goes! 
We stayed in the "Pastini" apartment. (www.sleepinitaly.com/files/apt_pastini.html) We found it on several other rental agencies' sites, but sleepinitaly offered the best price.
Pluses:
-great location (maybe 10 doors down from the Pantheon)
-2 streets with many bus options each 5 minutes walk away (Via del Corso to the east and Rinascimento to the west), VERY useful, we used the bus almost daily
-lots of space for 2 of us
-clean and nicely furnished/equipped
-the bedroom is NOT in the front room as it says in the description - it's in the center of the apt, so away from the street noise
- big windows over the street in the front room, great for listening to the street music and activity/voices below
-on the "1st" floor (one flight of stairs)
-always felt very safe because it's a well-travelled area and the apartment itself was behind 3 locked doors (main door to the building, an interior iron gate, then the door to the apartment)
-pedestrian only street
-comfortable bed, couch, plus table and chairs for more formal sitting!
-good kitchen - working gas range, oven, fridge, sink, drying rack, plates, coffee maker, pots, pans, some staples like olive oil, salt, pepper, and tea
-price was very fair
Minuses:
-the heat was unpredictable. Even when we had it off, it occasionally got very hot in the middle of the night. (there were ample blankets had it been too cold, by the way)
-no A/C (not a problem for us obviously, but in the summer... if you had to keep the windows open the street noise probably WOULD be an issue)
-morning noise was notable, street cleaners, garbage collectors, people opening up their businesses in the street below, other people who live in the apartment getting up and out, etc. (We got up early every morning, so this was no issue for us.)
-the bathroom was TINY (but you'll find that most places!) and the shower head had a leak that sprayed water out the side, over the toilet area. Once we figured it out, we just had to have the shower head turned a certain way so the whole bathroom wouldn't get showered too!
-the woman who greeted us when we arrived was very nice, but didn't speak English. no big deal, but if we'd had questions or problems (we didn't) I'm not sure what we would have done. (this is OUR fault, of course, not knowing Italian, but worth a mention, perhaps)
-there was no maid service. (some rentals come with this every couple days or so, this one did not and we knew it.)
-the apartment had 2 rolls of toilet paper when we arrived. I don't want to get too personal, but for 8 nights that is NOT enough!! Similarly, the kitchen had no paper towels. We went to the supermarket around the corner and got some.
-they only gave us 2 body towels and 2 hand towels. I would have been nice to have a few extras, but... whatever.
-we only got 2 pillowcases for 4 pillows.
Also worth mentioning because it's come up in other apartment rental discussions is the payment circumstances. We did have to pay a non-refundable deposit of about E120 to hold the reservation. I didn't like that idea, but did it anyway - obviously worked out fine for us. Also, we had to pay the balance upon arrival, in "cash." I asked if traveler's checks were okay and the woman at sleepinitaly.com said yes. I reconfirmed that before we left and she still said yes. I was worried because I've read other accounts of the owner refusing them upon arrival. Well, the woman who gave us the keys and showed us the apartment was a little surprised by it (she said, "ah!" or something non-horrified, but notable), but she took them with no comments, questions, or glares. (That was a relief.) I just didn't feel comfortable carrying all that cash.
So, bottom line, we were happy with our sleepinitaly experience and would definitely use them again (and stay in the same apartment).
We stayed in the "Pastini" apartment. (www.sleepinitaly.com/files/apt_pastini.html) We found it on several other rental agencies' sites, but sleepinitaly offered the best price.
Pluses:
-great location (maybe 10 doors down from the Pantheon)
-2 streets with many bus options each 5 minutes walk away (Via del Corso to the east and Rinascimento to the west), VERY useful, we used the bus almost daily
-lots of space for 2 of us
-clean and nicely furnished/equipped
-the bedroom is NOT in the front room as it says in the description - it's in the center of the apt, so away from the street noise
- big windows over the street in the front room, great for listening to the street music and activity/voices below
-on the "1st" floor (one flight of stairs)
-always felt very safe because it's a well-travelled area and the apartment itself was behind 3 locked doors (main door to the building, an interior iron gate, then the door to the apartment)
-pedestrian only street
-comfortable bed, couch, plus table and chairs for more formal sitting!
-good kitchen - working gas range, oven, fridge, sink, drying rack, plates, coffee maker, pots, pans, some staples like olive oil, salt, pepper, and tea
-price was very fair
Minuses:
-the heat was unpredictable. Even when we had it off, it occasionally got very hot in the middle of the night. (there were ample blankets had it been too cold, by the way)
-no A/C (not a problem for us obviously, but in the summer... if you had to keep the windows open the street noise probably WOULD be an issue)
-morning noise was notable, street cleaners, garbage collectors, people opening up their businesses in the street below, other people who live in the apartment getting up and out, etc. (We got up early every morning, so this was no issue for us.)
-the bathroom was TINY (but you'll find that most places!) and the shower head had a leak that sprayed water out the side, over the toilet area. Once we figured it out, we just had to have the shower head turned a certain way so the whole bathroom wouldn't get showered too!
-the woman who greeted us when we arrived was very nice, but didn't speak English. no big deal, but if we'd had questions or problems (we didn't) I'm not sure what we would have done. (this is OUR fault, of course, not knowing Italian, but worth a mention, perhaps)
-there was no maid service. (some rentals come with this every couple days or so, this one did not and we knew it.)
-the apartment had 2 rolls of toilet paper when we arrived. I don't want to get too personal, but for 8 nights that is NOT enough!! Similarly, the kitchen had no paper towels. We went to the supermarket around the corner and got some.
-they only gave us 2 body towels and 2 hand towels. I would have been nice to have a few extras, but... whatever.
-we only got 2 pillowcases for 4 pillows.
Also worth mentioning because it's come up in other apartment rental discussions is the payment circumstances. We did have to pay a non-refundable deposit of about E120 to hold the reservation. I didn't like that idea, but did it anyway - obviously worked out fine for us. Also, we had to pay the balance upon arrival, in "cash." I asked if traveler's checks were okay and the woman at sleepinitaly.com said yes. I reconfirmed that before we left and she still said yes. I was worried because I've read other accounts of the owner refusing them upon arrival. Well, the woman who gave us the keys and showed us the apartment was a little surprised by it (she said, "ah!" or something non-horrified, but notable), but she took them with no comments, questions, or glares. (That was a relief.) I just didn't feel comfortable carrying all that cash.
So, bottom line, we were happy with our sleepinitaly experience and would definitely use them again (and stay in the same apartment).
Jan 2nd, 2004, 10:05 AM
#24
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hi,
We rented a flat in Rome for 4 nights last year in April and had the time of our lives! It's the best rental option I feel because you feel like a local living amidst locals - we rented this flat in Campo di Fiori and went via venere.com. We were 4 of us so it was cheaper and it was a few seconds from the celebrated Campo di Fiori square and restaurants and from Piazza Navona, Pantheon etc.
Cons: hot water is not always available - for the 4 of us we quickly discovered we had better take 5 mt showers instead of longers ones...
the beds were a little saggy - actually very and a little uncomfortable.
We rented a flat in Rome for 4 nights last year in April and had the time of our lives! It's the best rental option I feel because you feel like a local living amidst locals - we rented this flat in Campo di Fiori and went via venere.com. We were 4 of us so it was cheaper and it was a few seconds from the celebrated Campo di Fiori square and restaurants and from Piazza Navona, Pantheon etc.
Cons: hot water is not always available - for the 4 of us we quickly discovered we had better take 5 mt showers instead of longers ones...
the beds were a little saggy - actually very and a little uncomfortable.
Jan 22nd, 2004, 01:08 PM
#26
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Was referred to this thread by ecat.
Suppose there IS a problem in your apt. Noisy neighbors, clogged sink, something broken. Is there a person to talk to? A hotel staff is at least there. What about Apts.?
Suppose there IS a problem in your apt. Noisy neighbors, clogged sink, something broken. Is there a person to talk to? A hotel staff is at least there. What about Apts.?
Jan 22nd, 2004, 03:19 PM
#27
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Hi Screen,
Luckily in my experience with renting apartments I have not run into any of the situations you have mentioned, but I have always had contact numbers for both the owner and rental agency "In Case Of".
I consider myself a fairly hardy & low maintenance traveler, I choose to rent apartments because this works best for me. I also think apartment rentals are not for everyone.
Seems like your reviewing the experiences from others which is a good thing to do when trying to switch from hotel to apartment living.
Hope this helps!
E
Luckily in my experience with renting apartments I have not run into any of the situations you have mentioned, but I have always had contact numbers for both the owner and rental agency "In Case Of".
I consider myself a fairly hardy & low maintenance traveler, I choose to rent apartments because this works best for me. I also think apartment rentals are not for everyone.
Seems like your reviewing the experiences from others which is a good thing to do when trying to switch from hotel to apartment living.
Hope this helps!
E
Aug 2nd, 2004, 10:23 AM
#29
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BLN: If you're still around I have one more question about the "Pastini" apartment. Does one have to go thru the bedroom to get to the bath or water closet? We are two ladies...I get up much earlier than my friend. So I would sleep on the sofabed and try not to wake her in the morning. But that won't work if I have to go thru the bedroom.
Aug 18th, 2004, 09:36 AM
#30
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Sorry, I've been incommunicado for a while.
We rented from sleepinitaly.com.
The woman who gave us the key lived upstairs, so we figured if something came up we'd go knocking. But the rental agency says to contact them (instead or as well?). Off hours in a pinch we figured they'd be helpful upstairs.
Jeanne, yes you DO have to go through the bedroom to get to the WC.
We rented from sleepinitaly.com.
The woman who gave us the key lived upstairs, so we figured if something came up we'd go knocking. But the rental agency says to contact them (instead or as well?). Off hours in a pinch we figured they'd be helpful upstairs.
Jeanne, yes you DO have to go through the bedroom to get to the WC.
Aug 18th, 2004, 10:09 AM
#31
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We're considering an apt rental for our last 3 days in Rome. If we do this, what is the best way to arrange a cab to the airport very early on New YEars Day if you don't have a front-desk to assist you?
