Apartment advice

[chachalaca]

Hello!

We are taking our 18 year old nephew to Italy this summer to, in his words, "see old Roman things"!! I have found this apartment and am looking for feedback on the location as well as the apartment itself. Thank you in advance!

http://www.homeaway.it/affitto-vaca...propid_text_o_lprop&utm_campaign=HAUS_replied

Laura

 

[Pauline]

It looks like a good location to me. You are on the edge of Monti, a neighborhood that people love. We walked around there a few years ago and liked that area. Plus you are very close to the Forum, Coliseum, etc. Your nephew might like the idea of staying right where the ancient Romans lived.

It looks like it might be a dark apartment. No windows in the kitchen, small windows in the bedrooms, view is to the courtyard instead of out over the city. But making up for this, the price is very good and the apartment looks comfortable.

If you are still considering other options, I have a list of resources for vacation rentals in Rome on the site.

 

[artnbarb]

It's a great location, but it's just one BR, right? We rented a very simple 2 BR apt on the other side of Corso Cavour thru Cross-Pollinate. They were very helpful in finding us the perfect apartment, and we had several email exchanges before deciding on one with a huge terrace on via Giovanno Lanza. Best of luck, and enjoy Rome!

 

[jonathan]

The area is nice - we stayed in the next door street (via Tor de Conti) quite a few years ago, and enjoyed it. I'd agree with Pauline about the darkness - and also what about the sleeping arrangements? If your nephew is sleeping on the sofa bed in the living room, that's going to take up nearly all of the (small) floor space when extended. And, knowing how hard it can be to get teenagers out of bed in the mornings, I think I'd seriously consider paying a bit more for a place with a 2nd bedroom.

 

[ItalophileNJ]

Agreeing that the neighborhood is great; I stayed in that area May 2013. But also agreeing that the apartment seems rather dark; that's the tradeoff for facing a back "courtyard" (always a euphemism in Rome...) that's quiet. And it is small if there are indeed going to be three adults staying there.
One more caveat: I've learned the hard way not to rent an apartment until I've determined that there's a responsible person right in the city to turn to if there are any problems. A keyholder is not of much assistance if you have problems with a hotwater heater, or any other necessary system.

 

[Heidi]

What a lucky nephew!

Jonathan, Barb & Pauline all make good points about lack of natural light and just how crowded that little apartment could get with a teenager in your front room. The neighborhood of Monti is much like a village in Roma - and that particular pedestrian street - via degli Ibernesi - is sweet BUT I too would look for a two bedroom, though it will be more expensive.

Also agree with italophileNJ, who must have been posting as I was typing. Yes, having an on-sight or at least very accessible owner or concierge is a must! I too have been left hanging in the past...with a key that was stuck in the door

 

[chachalaca]

Wow! These are important points I hadn't thought of. I see now the darkness, and how "dorm-like" this could be. While we do not need luxury accommodations, we will certainly need a little light and some personal space.

Thank you! I'm off to check out artandbarb's link and some others…Don't be surprised if I'm back with more questions. I appreciate your thoughtful answers and your time!
Laura

 

[Heidi]

I appreciate your thoughtful answers and your time!

Hope it wasn't too disappointing to hear our comments. I know how frustrating it is to search for an apartment in a city you are not familiar with (I must have got that ideas from another thread). Or even just to get a clear idea of any rental - space, configuration, light, details, etc. It's crazy making!

Don't be surprised if I'm back with more questions.

Please let us know how the search is going. Your neighborhood choice of Monti was great - so many wonderful caffe's and restaurants. Slow Europe's Sandrac lives there. Here's her blog post about living in Monti.
My favorite foodie, Katie Parla, lives there and writes about this neighborhood. As does Elizabeth Minchilli, another foodie and blogger from Roma.

Good luck, Laura

Oops, I meant to send you this page from Katie Parla's blog with many Monti posts...

 

[chachalaca]

Thanks, Heidi. No, I'm not disappointed just swimming in the sea of rentals!! Also, during the work week it's hard to log quality time filtering available rentals and inquiries.

I chose Monti because Sandrac lives there and have been in touch with her since the beginning of the planning stages. I put a lot of faith in the "Slow" community. I've hand wonderful experiences that I don't think would have been possible without all of the wonderful posters who give such thoughtful and time consuming help.

Thank you for checking on, though! I will most definitely be busy this weekend as will be reflected here as well.


Laura

 

[Heidi]

Oh, if you've been in touch with Sandra, you are in good hands...

 

[Pauline]

There has been some good response to this same question on the ST forums - Apartment Advice. But, we can keep it going here too

 

[chachalaca]

Thanks! I appreciate the advice from both sources, and know many are members of both sites. I would like to find a permanent home here, however, as I'm not happy with the new "update" IB gave ST. In the mean time, I'm fishing both ponds!

 

[chachalaca]

Finally, we've arrived at a decision and made the booking! One little check mark on a long list, but it's a start!

This is the apartment we chose: http://www.fromhometorome.com/roma/2_bedrooms_in_amazing_pantheon_area___rosetta_house.php

Thank you all for your help here!
I may need more as we progress…

Laura

 

[Heidi]

Perfetto! Great choice! So much better and you'll love this very central location! You are sooo close to my favorite haunts

Please ask questions...

 

[chachalaca]

Whew! I was hoping for approval! Please share your favorite haunts! Nearby eateries, street markets, cool shops, favorite piazza, (favorite pizza), places to avoid, anything!

Also, for the sake of convenience/efficiency and hitting nephew's highlights we are considering (spoiler alert - some of you may wish to quit reading at this point because I'm going to say "tour package" which is not in the sloweurope dictionary) an overnight tour to Pompeii. It is run by Viator and the night is in Sorrento. Does anyone have any experience with this, or another, company?

Maybe I should move this question to a new thread? Honestly, I'm embarrassed to a ask it.

Laura

 

[Pauline]

The apartment looks lovely and I love the area. We stayed near the Pantheon once and I made sure to go into it every day - such an amazing building. Great caffes and restaurants. I remember a good deli nearby - someone else will remember the name (it is very well known).

Don't be embarrassed about taking a tour! (A cruise maybe, but it is just me who will tut-tut. ) This is more like a day tour - completely different from 20 nights seeing all of Europe on a bus.

The short tour may be the easiest way to see Pompeii. Otherwise you would take the fast train from Rome to Naples, then change to the local train to Pompeii. If you were doing it yourself, you could overnight in Naples which is closer. We spent a couple of weeks in Sorrento years ago and liked it, but you aren't going to see much of it. If there was an option to overnight in Naples, I would take that instead, because then you could visit the archaeological museum which has a lot of stuff from Pompeii.

I wonder if you could do a massive day out and take an early train, have the day in Pompeii, then take an evening train back to Rome?

And, I am sure this has been suggested to you, you could go to Ostia Antica which is west of Rome and can be reached easily, instead of Pompeii. Not as interesting, but still pretty interesting. We were there last year and I am writing up a "Day Trip" for it now.

 

[Heidi]

Please share your favorite haunts!

Heidi's Roma Haunts coming soon! Computer glitches this morning and big meeting all day

As a start, here's a Slow Europe thread about the ruins, Stadio di Domiziano, under Piazza Navona - very close to your apartment.

 

[Heidi]

So emotionally drained today, as our meeting was concerning the decommission of one our rural libraries in Placer County sooo sad...

Here's another great Slow Europe thread loaded with information about the ruins of Ostia Antica, which Pauline mentioned above. From the the Roma Piramide Metro stop on Metro B to Ostia takes about 30 - 40 minutes.

Laura said:

Please share your favorite haunts! Nearby eateries, street markets, cool shops, favorite piazza, (favorite pizza), places to avoid, anything!

Coming soon...

 

[chachalaca]

I'm sorry, Heidi, about the library decommission. That is something I don't understand…money for athletic stadiums, NASCAR tracks, empty strip malls, but never enough money to support literacy. I teach in a public school district that has decided to eliminate librarians (!) and staff the libraries with classified employees - all nice people I'm certain, but not trained in literacy, library science or perhaps even interested in books.

Take your time on THE LIST. I'll start with your links! In the mean time have a better day tomorrow.

 

[Pauline]

Same here in the UK. Our Painswick library was shut down and the historic building sold off (being turned into apartments) a few years ago. Now we have a library run by volunteers. After that we lost our Post Office.