By Cacinda Maloney
Rome, Italy
Rome, the eternal city. Who doesn’t love Rome? I fell in love the moment I landed there and have continued to go back there year after year. It is a fabulous city! There are so many things to see and do in Rome. But one thing that makes Rome so much better is if you rent an apartment. You will get an authentic feel of being here that you don’t in a hotel. This doesn’t necessarily have to be for long term either, you can rent an apartment almost like you would stay in a hotel. There are many apartment rentals, but one I have used over and over again is GoWithOh. They have a fabulous selection of apartments in many European cities, but in Rome, they have numerous choices.
The Coliseum, Rome, Italy
Rome, Italy
When I was last there, I wanted to stay over by the Colosseum. Since I wanted to explore the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill in this area, so that is the area in which I searched for using the website.
Apartment in Rome, Italy
There are many benefits in staying in an apartment versus a hotel.
- Most apartments come with a fully equipped kitchen and at the very least, a washer. These were the things I was looking for on my stop-over between cities. I had been on the road for quite some time (my 32 day odyssey) and needed a place that I could buy a few groceries , eat at home, get some work done and do laundry. Even if you are not on a long trip like I was, this enables you to bring less in your luggage or carry-on and therefore spend less on airline fees.
- Apartments are usually bigger than hotel rooms. This way, you can spread yourself out and have some room to see what you brought, instead of leaving it crammed pack in your luggage.
- Apartments are usually in real local neighborhoods that allow you explore areas you might have missed if you stayed in a hotel in the main area of town. Many are tucked away in really cool residential neighborhoods where hotels would not be. Usually there are local stores, markets, restaurants and churches where you can see more locals than tourist. Here is the local church in my neighborhood: Basilica di San Clemente.
Basilica di San Clemente, Rome, Italy
Basilica di San Clemente, Rome, Italy
- Also apartment living makes you feel like a local. For instance, the apartment I stayed at in Rome, had this giant entry door into the apartment building, with a tiny entry door inside of that, where I would insert my old fashioned metal key and it would only open the tiny door, which I had to squeeze thru. It’s funny how the whole thing worked and made me think about how ancient the door was!
Post center in Rome, Italy
Once inside, it had an antique wooden post box for the tenants and an old lift (elevator), with wrought iron doors, where you and your luggage also barely fit. Once inside the apartment, which was a newly modern apartment, you could still feel the families before you that had lived here. If only these walls could talk! Also, on my first night, I came around the corner and peeked out the window, only to see a very old woman climbing to the top of the building. I don’t know what she was doing up there, but she had to have been at least 70 years old!
- For families, renting an apartment is just more “value” for the money. Since my family has grown and gotten older, we prefer suites in hotels, villas at resorts or apartments, so that we can have plenty of room and yet not have to pay for two rooms at a hotel. Apartments meet this criteria.
Rome, Italy
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Disclosure: GoWithOh generously offered me an apartment in Rome, Italy while I was there, and I took it! The opinions here are my own though!
so glad to find a company with apts for my extended stays in Italy.
traveling solo prevents me from staying in great locations because the prices are too high for one traveler.
you did not mention how payment is made (to be secure), any extra charges for cleaning, wifi, or heat…
i have sent the company an email for more info……. too bad all the properties in London are higher than hotels!
Lee – For extended stays in Italy, you can find some good deals and I have done it as a single, but of course, the best deals are when there is a family or group involved. Payment is done online, secured thru a credit card and no extra charge for cleaning, wifi or heat, as they they have a flat rate. You are right, London is expensive on the properties I looked at.
Great tips. Especially if you travel for longer periods of time, renting a place is more considerate and less costly!
Agreed.