Would you care to share a link to the apartment, Sassy? I've used both those websites and had no major problems. I'd appreciate a warning about the apartment you experienced.

I think that the best thing to do is always pack a few of the things that you know you will need to get you through the first few days at least.
We have rented many times in Europe and what you find in the apartments varies widely. Our third time renting the same apartment in Rome the owner just about fully stocked the fridge for us...cheese, wine, juices, milk and coffee. Other rentals have been strictly "bare bones".

As I do not want to buy those big olive oil bottles, vinegar, salt and pepper, dishwashing liquid I pack small plastic bottles with these items which do not take up much room. Fold paper towels up in the bottom of your suitcase, take a few assorted sizes of baggies for the leftover cheeses, a few big pieces of aluminum foil, a dishcleaning dobie or "scrubber", some concentrated dishwashing liquid, and a roll of TP and you are in good shape no matter what is provided...and it saves running around to find a shop open in your area.

Here is the link to the one on Homelidays http://tinyurl.com/8yu333

I have a roll of TP left over that I once had to purchase overseas.

Also once rented an apt. in Venice for a week and they provided only one bath towel.

They said it would be like 20 Euro more for an extra towel or something. Only place I could find with towels was a dept. store and those prices were even higher.