Odd Question - freezer and microwave
 

This may seem like an odd question on this forum that's filled with interesting questions about sights, itineraries etc. I need to purchase a small freezer and microwave for my daughters hotel room. I am checkingbwith the hotel to make sure they are okay with this. She is on a school English trip in Rome for a month. She has severe food allergies so I am travelling to Rome in the beginning to cook food for her for the month which is why the freezer and microwave are needed. Does anyone have advice on where I can purchase this. And any other advices that might help would be extremely welcomed ie. grocery stores. I haven't been to Rome in over 20 years so this is all very overwhelming.

It seems to me staying in an apartment with a kitchen would be the sensible thing to do, infinitely easier and more comfortable.

That's not an option as its a trip with her school who are all staying at a hotel. I will be staying in an apartment so that I can make the food for the month.

I don't remember ever seeing a microwave in anyone's house when I lived there so that may be hard to come by. You will also want to call the hotel to make sure they have the space in a room for this and the electric wiring to support it. You may have the best luck just ordering them on Amazon and having them shipped to the hotel if they are willing. When I lived there 13 years ago there was a small appliance store in Trastevere, but I have no idea the name or if it is still there.

If the hotel has a restaurant they may also be willing to let you put stuff in their industrial freezer.

In above comment I mean Amazon.it (the Italian version) not regular US Amazon.

Also Coop is the name of the big grocery store where you are likely to find the best options. There will also be lots of markets for fresh fruits and vegetables and meats if those are an option.

I guess my thought would be- can your daughter even return to her hotel room for every meal? The one time I went on a trip like that, we spent very little time at the hotel. Basically left at 8 am and returned at 9.

And then the other issue is that you said it begins in Rome, so how are the appliances and food going to follow her around? I can't envision a school trip that puts the kids up in one hotel for a whole month. Neither can I imagine your kid being able to manage the food, the appliances, and her luggage without assistance. Did the chaperone in charge suggest this?

And then there's also the fact that every mini freezer I've had that would fit in a hotel room doesn't actually freeze stuff. And keeping food cold isn't the same thing as freezing. But maybe Rome has tiny very efficient freezers.

I don't know, I'd probably go on the trip as a chaperone and monitor what she eats. You're paying for trip package food already, I would assume.

Supplying appliances may not be at all feasible. Many hotel rooms are set up for part or all of the electricity to be off if you are not in the room. The hotel "key" must be inserted in a special slot to turn on the electricity.

Many hotel rooms have a small fridge though I never thought about what happens to it when the room key is removed. Perhaps it is plugged into an outlet that still has power without the key in place. . . I'm not sure. Electricity is very expensive in Italy and I would not be surprised if a hotel would not allow adding a freezer and microwave.

Are there fresh foods she can stock and eat (and shop for on her own since someday she will have to do so)?

This whole thing needs to be 're thought through'. There are huge issues -- whether the hotel's circuits would support a microwave and/or freezer. If you could even find a small freezer. And a small fridge would not have a usable freezer compartment (barely enough room for a couple of ice cube trays)

Are there any freeze dried things she can eat? Because an electric kettle/hot water would be much easier to arrange.

What all is she allergic to?

A rather obvious concern would be whether the hotel would even allow cooking in the room even if electrical circuits are available .

Or it also occurred to me that the hotels I stayed at in Italy didn't have very many outlets to start with. Bathroom, and then usually one by the bed. And that one wan't one that would work with an appliance, I don't think. No floor space really in either spot. But a student group may be staying at a large chain hotel in a more modern building, I suppose.

How old is your daughter? Assuming you can find a tiny freezer (which would be a long shot IMO) will she be able to cope if there is a power outage and the food gets spoiled?

Microwaves are easy to find, but the freezer may be a problem. Assuming you find one small enough for a hotel room, and the hotel allows it, would such a small freezer hold a month's worth of food?

There are lots of markets where she could buy things like fresh fruit, yogurt (dairy or nondairy), canned tuna, or various other things she can eat.

I think you need to work this out with the tour organizers, and maybe let your daughter assume some of the responsibility for managing her diet. She must be nearing adulthood and will eventually have to assume that responsibility.

The hotel should be able to help with both the appliances and groceries. They can also recommend a service or restaurant that will deliver meals. Italians are now very diet conscious: I was recently in Rome and we found vegan, gluten free, raw and nut-free options everywhere (check the app 'happy cow' for those possibilities - the recommended restaurants might also prepare and deliver individualized meals.)

If that doesn't work contact Fluvio at Imago Arts Travel. www.iatravel.com He is 'the' tour guide to the stars and can make anything happen in Rome. He provided concierge services for my group when I was there for work several years ago, and also helped some students we know more recently.

My son studied in Florence and I remember seeing a minifridge and microwave in his apartment (which was in an 18th century building), so I don't think they're that uncommon in Italy. If Fluvio can't help, try one of the large hotels or an independent concierge services for newcomers. Good luck!

They sell microwaves all over Italy. They are called "microonde".

This is the smallest type of mini-freezer they make in Italy, which you should be able to track down a version of somewhere in Rome at an appliance discount store. If that's too small, they have others, but they will be quite heavy.

https://www.amazon.it/Sirge-FREEZER3...zzetto+piccolo

I would try to make an arrangement with a neighborhood store to keep the food you cook in their freezer. She should be able to get a local bar to reheat it for her. Can the school help you with this?

That freezer is miniscule -- barely enough space for one day's meals let alone a month's worth.

That might fit one week of meals. MIGHT. And that's if you package them efficiently. I had a freezer like that in college. My roommates and I had an illegal mini "kitchen" because the cafeteria was that bad. If you wanted to store meat and ice cream, it worked. But not for any decent amount of ready made meals.

I also really, really would not be surprised if that's on the hotel banned list in Italy. It definitely is here.

According to previous threads- the daughter is 16. I hate to agree with janisj, but I think daughter may need to take some responsibility here. I just can't see a local store storing a month's worth of food for an individual anyway.


Maybe if you told us what the allergies were? There may be a chance that she won't encounter some of them there anyway. You don't mention celiac, so assuming it's not gluten, I would think she could at least get restaurants to cook pasta.

Although it did occur to me that it could be eggs, and I'd cry a lot if that were the case for me. Italy without fresh pasta:( and eggs can even be in gelato from what I've read. Italy without gelato may be even more tragic from a teens perspective.

I hope you work this out. I really think your best source would be the tour group company who could work it out with the hotel. Then there would be no misunderstanding with housekeeping, and the tour company could take the responsibility of transporting it carefully. If they are changing hotels; there's the chance the freezer will be off for long periods of time- I think it's fairly likely that on travel days they just store luggage and check into the next hotel at the end of the day.

I think a better idea would be to teach your daughter how to make salads and sandwiches, go shopping in a market, and read ingredient labels. Her diet might get monotonous but at least she won't have to worry about the logistics of keeping food frozen and thawing it out and heating it.

Well, I guess if you are checking with the hotel they will give you an answer, but often I've found it difficult to even charge my camera batteries when out of the room, because the electricity goes off when you remove the key card from the slot. If the room comes with it's own fridge it will be plugged into a circuit that stays on when the key card is removed.

I think you need to find an alternative solution. I just can't see this working.

Save your tears, marvelousmouse. Romans rarely eat fresh pasta, and it is not hard to find restaurants that will make pasta without eggs, or cook egg-free pasta that you bring to them. Italinas, generally speaking, are very kind to people with food intolerances and take them quite seriously. They want to be helpful, maybe especially to a young student traveling in their country, but just in general.

At the deli section of every supermarket, there is always a book that lists ingredients of food that are not otherwise labelled.

e.g. Bread has x, y & z.

Might be helpful.

Well, it's good to hear that they take them seriously, frencharmoire:) There are several food blogs that warn otherwise, but of course they may be repeating rumors.

There's also a lot of stuff out there about writing out an explanation of what she cannot have and why in Italian. I think that would be an excellent idea- it's the sort of thing she'll have to carry as an adult regardless. And another explanation of allergic reaction in case of emergency, but as she won't be travelling solo, that's probably not necessary.

The room card/light slot- actually found out from the front desk in Venice they can override that while you're out so you can charge electronic devices. So that is not a problem if the front desk approves.

Here' s a food delivery service in Rome (similar to seamless or grubhub here). They work with hundreds of restaurants, including dozens of 'healthy' ones, where you can customize menus.

https://deliveroo.it/en/

I agree with sparkchaser.

Is she able to eat at restaurants at home? If so, she'll be OK in Rome. She should do some research and/or make inquiries before she goes. There are takeaway delis that sell prepared foods, fresh markets, etc.

If she can't eat at restaurants, look into freeze-dried foods that only require hot/boiling water. Buy a small electric water kettle.

https://www.amazon.com/Gourmia-GK360...c+water+kettle

How old is this child? Old enough to go on a European trip--old enough to figure out what she can and can't eat by buying it herself at the supermarket or explaining to a server what she can have

I think I'm struck by the imagine of one kid eating alone in her room.

If people have never dealt with someone in the family with significant differences, maybe they should just refrain from their free-wheeling comments, which they may not realize are entirely insensitive and boorish. Supporting the full-life ambitions of people you love who have unique needs is something those who love them willing take on, and it sadly turns out one of the biggest, most tiring obstacles can be constantly needing to deal with the cluelessness of other people who have nothing better to do than keep repeating "I just don't get this! I can't imagine it! What's going on here? Why can't you do this like normally I would? I'd hate being like that!"

Original poster probably needs on the ground help in Rome to locate and provide the support her daughter needs to participate in an exciting program with her peers. If you haven't got something useful to say, go away.

Suggestion from to melaly is to go to Chowhound and brainstorm this. Possibly people might have suggestions for hiring a English-speaking Roman cook with a commitment to making this work -- payment for which would be cheaper than renting an apartment, buying appliances, etc.

>>If people have never dealt with someone in the family with significant differences, maybe they should just refrain from their free-wheeling comments, which they may not realize are entirely insensitive and boorish<<

I'm sorry - but that is totally ridiculous. What is "boorish" about discussing the roadblocks and problems involved with the OP's plan?

I live with a deadly food allergy and in rome. I think everyone is here trying to help and listing the possible obstacles - the freezer running in a hotel room and its limited capacity to hold meals are real problems. Sometimes when we are thinking a problem thru, we start asking for help at a certain point but maybe what took you there is wrong, you don't have to be at that point. If op tells us the allergy, we might be able to tell her that it will be possible to deal with it at normal restaurants, saving enormous cost and unpleasurable eating alone in the room episodes.
The op has a history of never returning to her own threads, but from what she wrote last year, the daughter must now be 17. There has been no mention of an allergy last year when the family came to rome....

Just realized op wrote she hasn't been to rome in 20 years - but last year she wrote this will be her first time to italy....

We actually didn't make it to Rome last year because of this illness. We had everything booked but had to cancel. Thank you for your suggestions.

melaly: WHAT are the allergies? And WHERE is she staying? Then maybe people can give you useful suggestions/alternatives and not just the roadblocks . . .

My father lived with very serious food allergies for decades, even had to have surgery, but traveled extensively into his 80s. I've seen first-hand how food allergies can affect one's daily life. I don't see the comments on this thread as insensitive and boorish, but our help might be more on point if further information was provided. We don't know how old the daughter is or what allergies she has, whether she's traveled, can generally eat in restaurants, whether the trip organizers are aware of her food restrictions and can assist her, etc.

Janis is right. The more information people have, the more helpful and specific their advice can be. Will your daughter be staying in Rome or moving from place to place? Is the school aware of her needs? Were you going to stay the whole month?

I did look up living with food allergies in Rome, private chefs and cooks in Rome and dealing with severe food allergies while traveling in Italy. There seems to be a lot of help and advice about this and much awareness of food allergies in Italy, especially in Rome. There are also food services that can make and deliver meals and many restaurants that accommodate needs of people with allergies.

Try googling those things and maybe you can find local help. That seems a better option than trying to buy a freezer and make enough food for a month. You can see from previous posts what difficulties you face trying to do it alone. While some places have mini-fridges, a freezer big enough for a month's supply of frozen food is totally impractical in a typical hotel or dorm style room. However, you could contact the hotel where she will be staying (if she is not moving around) and ask about the possibility.

Good luck

She will be at one hotel in Rome for the month studying. She is not moving around. She has celiac but unfortunately just eating a gluten free diet is not enough for her. She cannot eat at restaurants. She cannot eat any form of startch, sugar and only specific cooked fruits and vegetables and most proteins simply cooked. She can eat some homemade baked goods made with almond or coconut flour. And yes she is old enough to fend for herself but incredibly difficult without a kitchen. And an incredibly difficult situation period. This has changed her whole life. And not going is not an option as she has wanted to do this trip since arriving at the school 5 years ago. I appreciate all the input. I was hoping to get some advice on where to purchase a freeer. The school is aware of her situation. I will google some of the suggestions mentioned. Thanks

I think eating at a restaurant will be possible, esp if you find (or let us suggest you) one or two restaurants close to the hotel and the school (or whereever will be a fix point of her days). The situation can be explained to them, a list of fruits, vegetables and proteins she can eat, and a special arrangement made with these one or two restaurants.

My father also had severe celiac disease as well as allergies to other foods and most additives.

I agree with vinoroma.

I have a friend much the same situation and I can tell you it's very frustrating. There's opportunity she's missed out on based on the situation you described with your daughter. But I think what people are trying to say and some of it if so it more pleasantly than others is that buying even a small freezer may be a problem for the hotel. Not all hotels in Europe in fact many all the hotels we've experienced in Europe Would not have the capacity for even a coffee maker much less a freezer. And any freezer large enough to freeze a months worth of meals would need capacity that the hotels may not have.

So well from your perspective the only way this could absolutely work is for your daughter to have frozen meals that you cook yourself on special pots and pans, I don't know that in this situation it will be feasible. But my friend has done is to buy a set of pans that she brings to the Then she wants to attend and work it out with the restaurant or the kitchen to use only those pots and pans for her food.

The other alternative is possibly eating foods that can be kept in the small fridge not the freezer. I think finding a dorm size refrigerator might be an easier option.