Rome Apartment Rentals - pros and cons

Looking for Rome apartment rentals? Find out the pros and cons, and the best places to book now!

Rome Apartment Rentals - Everything you need to know

Things to research before you book

First of all, do you know which Rome neighborhood you want to stay in?

This is a question I get a lot, often after someone has booked, asking me if so and so neighborhood is good...and sometimes it's really far from the center. Research before you book!

Next, know your budget. When booking furnished apartments in Rome, take into account any cleaning fees, and what breakfast will cost you (breakfast is usually included in a hotel or B&B.)

Best websites for Booking an apartment in Rome

There are plenty of websites for you can use to book Rome Italy vacation rentals.

The best will give you lots of photos, a good map showing you where the apartment is, and show you reviews from previous guests.

Here are the best sites:

• VRBO (Vacation Rental by Owner)
  
• Booking.com (they have a fantastic list of apartments here!)
• Tripadvisor (yes this is an excellent source for apartment rentals in Rome!)
  

I love VRBO (Vacation Rental by Owner).

Every apartment on the site is listed directly by the owner.

The site takes a one-time fee from the people who list with them, so the owner’s rates are very fair and usually low/competitive.

(Yes I do know about AirBnB and you can use them too. I just prefer the ones above.)

The pros and cons of staying in an apartment in Rome

It’s a great way to stay in the Eternal City when you are travelling with a family or large group.

You can often get a good deal and lots more space than if you book in a hotel or even a Bed and Breakfast.

In Rome, apartments for rent are widely available, including in the city centre.

There are a lot of Rome apartments for rent by their owners, who are eager to make some extra money.

Because there is such a vast choice of apartment rentals in Rome, you can find excellent rates, even in high season (although they book early and the best ones are harder to come by then.)

When you opt for a Rome apartment rental, you will not have the services you find in hotels or bed and breakfasts, such as daily cleaning, breakfast, and concierge services. 

Breakfast

Even in the historic city center of Rome, it’s easy to find small supermarkets, where you can lay in supplies for your stay.

Also, you can usually find a café/bar within a Euros’ throw from your Rome apartment, and pop there for the typical Italian breakfast: cappuccino (or caffe/espresso), and croissant (called a cornetto here.) 

This should cost under 2 Euros, as long as you have it at the bar, standing up.

Help with your Rome stay

If you stay in an apartment when you visit Rome, you won’t find much help with your stay, as you would when staying in a hotel or other accommodation with concierge services.

Some owners who rent their Rome apartments out do provide a little write-up of things to do and restaurants nearby, but overall, you’re on your own.

For some people, this is fine.

They will rely on guidebooks, smartphone apps and online guides (like Romewise!) for help.

However, if you want the independence (and often lower cost) of an apartment rental in Rome, but also do want more hands-on concierge services, we can help"

Just fill in this form and we will get back to you with more details about our rates and services.

Medical assistance

In nearly 20 years running a B&B in Rome, we had to assist many of our guests with medical emergencies. Sometimes this involved getting a doctor to come on site. Sometimes it involved sending or even taking people to the emergency room.

Regardless, one thing you should consider is that with Rome apartment rentals, you will not anyone to assist you in the event of an emergency. 

At the very least, you should know where and how to grab a taxi, and how to call emergency services (dial 118. With a foreign phone, dial +39 118.)

You may want to be aware of these two English-speaking medical practices in Rome:

• Aventino Medical Group
• Med in Action

Safekeeping your valuables

Another thing we learned over the years running a B&B in Rome is how important it is for guests to have a safe where they can store valuables.

We had them in every room, and another one at the front desk.

The chances of someone breaking into your Rome apartment rental are very low but you never know.

One thing you can do is travel with your own portable safe.

I would also suggest purchasing travel insurance, whether you rent an apartment in Rome or not!