Rome apartment near Termini?
Sep 1st, 2008, 04:54 PM
#21
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jdan, just a few words about taxi rates. The meters look similar to those you see in NYC but they have two different rates: Tariffa 1 and Tariffa 2. Within Rome it should be on Tariffa 1 so your taxi(s) from Termini to the hotel should be on that - and make sure it is! Tariffa 2 are for fares outside of the city and the meter ticks faster. My second cab in Rome pulled this scam on me and the fare was E2.90 higher then the same ride the day before.
Sep 2nd, 2008, 10:19 AM
#22
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Good information in the Taxi's.
Last fall in Romania, we got into a taxi, and he had a meter which he started when we left.
At the destination it was higher than I wanted, but how do you argue with a meter?
On the return trip back to the airport, the Hotel called a taxi for us, and the final fare was about 1/3 as much. The driver explained that they have 4 fare modes, and apparently the first driver was charging us the night-time special itinerary rate, rather than the regular day-time rate.
But unless someone has been there before, AND has some knowledge of the tariff farerates, then how would you know?
So thanks for the information.
Last fall in Romania, we got into a taxi, and he had a meter which he started when we left.
At the destination it was higher than I wanted, but how do you argue with a meter?
On the return trip back to the airport, the Hotel called a taxi for us, and the final fare was about 1/3 as much. The driver explained that they have 4 fare modes, and apparently the first driver was charging us the night-time special itinerary rate, rather than the regular day-time rate.
But unless someone has been there before, AND has some knowledge of the tariff farerates, then how would you know?
So thanks for the information.
Sep 3rd, 2008, 06:02 PM
#24
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Thanks to all the good ideas you have given us, we've reserved an apartment through sleepinitaly.com. It sleeps up to 8, and for the 6 of us it will be 150 euro per night. There is a 3 night minimum, but we'll only be there 2 nights, but even paying for the 3rd night is still 20% less than a cheap hotel with a bad reputation, and it has more living space.
It is near Termini. Not the most glamorous part of town I hear, but I think the benefits of an apartment will compensate.
sleepinitaly.com did not have an online calendar of free times for the apartments, but they had a "provisional booking" link for each apratment that would send them a message to check for availability.
We submitted this form for 5 or 6 apartments in the Termini/Colosseo area, and we received a response for each one within 24 hours.
We tried vrbo.com for an apartment in the Colosseo area. They had an online calendar so you could check availability right then. We tried one that indicated that it was available and sent in a request, but after 4 days, we still have not received a response yet.
So we are all set. We'll be there in about 2 weeks.
When we return, I will report on how it worked out.
It is near Termini. Not the most glamorous part of town I hear, but I think the benefits of an apartment will compensate.
sleepinitaly.com did not have an online calendar of free times for the apartments, but they had a "provisional booking" link for each apratment that would send them a message to check for availability.
We submitted this form for 5 or 6 apartments in the Termini/Colosseo area, and we received a response for each one within 24 hours.
We tried vrbo.com for an apartment in the Colosseo area. They had an online calendar so you could check availability right then. We tried one that indicated that it was available and sent in a request, but after 4 days, we still have not received a response yet.
So we are all set. We'll be there in about 2 weeks.
When we return, I will report on how it worked out.
Sep 3rd, 2008, 07:41 PM
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Oct 11th, 2008, 04:15 PM
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We've returned, and I highly recommend this apartment. It was clean, roomy, nice, and quiet, despite being just across the street form Termini.
And best of all, it was less expensive than a hotel. We were only there 2 nights, and they have a 3 night minimum, so we paid for 3 nights, and left after 2 - but it was still cheaper that the 3 star hotels in the area, which have received poor reviews.
And best of all, it was less expensive than a hotel. We were only there 2 nights, and they have a 3 night minimum, so we paid for 3 nights, and left after 2 - but it was still cheaper that the 3 star hotels in the area, which have received poor reviews.
Oct 18th, 2008, 04:54 PM
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They were excellent to deal with.
They did not have a calendar for each unit on line, but once you send in an availability check, they responded within 24 hours. I sent in requests for about 5 units, and for those that were not available when we needed them, they suggested an alternate unit that was available.
Once we confirmed the unit we wanted, then they responded promptly, and we were able to pay the deposit (10% I believe) using a credit card. The remainder we had to take in cash.
They provided the name and phone number of their agent, who met us at the unit.
When we arrived, we pushed the buzzer for the apartment unit (#16), and he answered and came down to let us in.
He was very helpful and polite, and explained in detail how everything worked, etc, including where the fuse box is, and which is for the unit.
They also provided the owner's name and phone number that we could use for emergency contact in case of problems with the unit once we were there.
The photos at sleepinitaly.com exactly match the unit.
I believe that I mentioned that we check hotel listings in the same area (3 star hotels), and for the 6 of us, the cost would have been 720 E for 2 days. The apartment was 495 E for 3 days, which included a 45 E cleaning fee.
And the reviews on the hotels were not very favorable.
We are so pleased with the experience that we will try this every time we go someplace.
They did not have a calendar for each unit on line, but once you send in an availability check, they responded within 24 hours. I sent in requests for about 5 units, and for those that were not available when we needed them, they suggested an alternate unit that was available.
Once we confirmed the unit we wanted, then they responded promptly, and we were able to pay the deposit (10% I believe) using a credit card. The remainder we had to take in cash.
They provided the name and phone number of their agent, who met us at the unit.
When we arrived, we pushed the buzzer for the apartment unit (#16), and he answered and came down to let us in.
He was very helpful and polite, and explained in detail how everything worked, etc, including where the fuse box is, and which is for the unit.
They also provided the owner's name and phone number that we could use for emergency contact in case of problems with the unit once we were there.
The photos at sleepinitaly.com exactly match the unit.
I believe that I mentioned that we check hotel listings in the same area (3 star hotels), and for the 6 of us, the cost would have been 720 E for 2 days. The apartment was 495 E for 3 days, which included a 45 E cleaning fee.
And the reviews on the hotels were not very favorable.
We are so pleased with the experience that we will try this every time we go someplace.
Oct 18th, 2008, 05:21 PM
#30
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I forgot to mention...
We had heard high recommendations for vrbo.com. They did have calendars of availability for each unit, but they never responded to our queries on several different units that their calendars showed as available. Even now, 7 weeks later, and 2 weeks after our return, they have still not responded.
When sleepinitaly.com always responded within 24 hours, on available and non-available units alike, we went with them and their units.
We had heard high recommendations for vrbo.com. They did have calendars of availability for each unit, but they never responded to our queries on several different units that their calendars showed as available. Even now, 7 weeks later, and 2 weeks after our return, they have still not responded.
When sleepinitaly.com always responded within 24 hours, on available and non-available units alike, we went with them and their units.
Oct 18th, 2008, 05:49 PM
#31
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Hi Jdan
Thanks for the feedback about Sleepinitaly. I have booked an apartment through them for 5 nights while we are in Rome this December so it is reassuring to hear from you that your rental with them went so smoothly.
I must say that I have also found them very easy to deal with - they responded promptly to my availability requests, answered all my questions, sent me the rental agreement when they promised to, and contacted me as soon as they had charged my credit card for the deposit.
Thanks for the feedback about Sleepinitaly. I have booked an apartment through them for 5 nights while we are in Rome this December so it is reassuring to hear from you that your rental with them went so smoothly.
I must say that I have also found them very easy to deal with - they responded promptly to my availability requests, answered all my questions, sent me the rental agreement when they promised to, and contacted me as soon as they had charged my credit card for the deposit.
Nov 8th, 2008, 06:06 AM
#32
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Hi jdan, if you need again a place to stay in Rome try this service :
http://www.allhome.eu/searchmap.php?...Roma&cat=0 they give you a cool visual search
http://www.allhome.eu/searchmap.php?...Roma&cat=0 they give you a cool visual search
Dec 4th, 2008, 07:15 AM
#33
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There seems to be hundreds of hotels, b&bs, apartments and hostels there. I opted for a place close to the station was a hostel called wwww.hostelsalessandro.com price was good and seemed to have all types of rooms even doubles, got a bed in a dorm of 4 for 18euros which was good, ensuite, and free pizza in the evening in the bar. So now seems the time to go given the current crisis and low prices.
