My recent trip to Italy was the first time I’ve ever stayed in a short-term apartment rental during my travels. I’ve Couchsurfed, GlobalFreeloaded, stayed in hostels, hotels, bed and breakfasts and pensions. But for vacation travel, I have a feeling that apartments stays are going to be my preferred accommodation from now on.
Jon joined me after my presentation at Travel Bloggers Unite in Assisi and we ventured onward to Venice, Florence and Rome. In the latter 2 cities, we stayed with HouseTrip in two very different but comfortable rentals. You can see the Florence apartment here.
HouseTrip provides accommodations for short stays by connecting travelers with homeowners or property managers. With properties available around the world, they have nearly 100,000 options to choose from.
And in case you have any doubt about the types of properties they have to offer, check out our apartment in Rome:
Above is the living room. Massive. And comfy. Though it was totally wired and had a TV, likely with satellite, we never took our eyes off the view (see above for the view from the bedroom!).
This is the dining room. It can easily accommodate a dinner party of 6 and comes equipped with wine glasses as well as all the tableware you’d need to entertain.
This property sleeps 8 (way more space than we needed but it was fantastic to have so much large living space. The property has a master bedroom and 3 other bedrooms, 2 full baths, a huge living room, dining room, kitchen and laundry.
If you’re interested in booking this property, check out the Colosseum Imperiali on HouseTrip.
In addition to this property, HouseTrip has many other Apartments in Rome and elsewhere in Italy.
Probably the biggest benefit to an apartment stay is that families of 3 or more or even 3 or more friends traveling together, can get a far better deal on an apartment than if they were to book a suite at a hotel or more than one hotel room. Factor in the ability to cook your own meals and prepare snacks in an apartment rental and you can save a bundle on a vacation.
Best advice for booking?
* The earlier you book, the wider range of choices you’ll have.
* Check out all the amenities listed and make sure it’s a good fit for you needs. Items to keep an eye for include WiFi, laundry, TV/cable, full kitchenware, etc.
* Detailed maps are included for each property so you can ensure it’s in a location that’s convenient for your needs.
* Communicate with the property manager to determine exactly where and when you will meet to receive the keys. If you’re arriving in a city for the first time and you won’t have a cell phone, this can be confusing.
Now that I’m clued in to apartment rentals, I’ve met a number of people who have been doing this for a long time and they all love it. The number one reason is the ability to save money, but there’s definitely something about feeling at home rather than that sterile feeling that can sometimes come from staying at a hotel.
Travel Well,
Beth
Related links:
Florence ~ Photo of the Day
Venice ~ Photo of the Day
Assisi ~ Photo of the Day
Life’s Short – Dessert in Italy
Leave a Reply