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Back to Rome Terrace Apartment
Dear Julie,
I would like to let everyone know that I couldn't have had a better stay while I was in Italy without In Italy Online. I was alittle afraid at first booking all my hotel reservations over the internet with one company, but after reading all the comments I felt positive about In Italy. It honestly was the best choice I made. Our trip was simply amazing. We were in Italy for 3 wks. We did fly into Nice, France and stayed in the city of Menton. Loved Menton, it is beautiful. I highly recommend starting your Italian trip with the French Riviera and then come into Italy. After we left Menton we took a train to Sanremo and picked up our rental car and drove to Lago Garda and stayed at Garda Lakeside Residence. They were so friendly and the room was fantastic, what a view of the lake. It is located on the west side of the lake, so you do have to do an enjoyable drive of about 30 min to get to the train station (easiest way to get to Venice). For those of you who are worried about driving in Italy - I loved driving there. The first roundabout was a little tricky, but after that, you learn to drive as the Italians do and make your way in where you want to go.
Medieval Monestary of Arezzo was fabulous. It had a wonderful view and rooms plus the breakfast and the dinners they served were spectacular. The location made it easier to see more villages/cities without a lot of driving. Volterra is my favorite medieval village in Tuscany. It is a must to see.
We ended our trip in Rome at the Rome Terrace Apartment. The apt looks just like the pictures for the most part. The manager Gabriele is very nice. The hot water is really the only downfall of this apt, my daughter took more than one cold shower and wasn't happy. The benefits totally outweigh the negative. What a wonderful location! With this apt it is ALL about location. It only takes10 minutes to walk to the Vatican. Which is amazing - I highly recommend a private tour of the Vatican simply due to the fact that there is so much to see and without the guide you have no clue on what marvels you are looking at. I want to thank In Italy for doing an excellent job in researching all the places they recommend to stay. I will definitely be using In Italy again. My next trip will include more days in Venice, one just wasn't enough for this amazing city. For those of you who don't know how many days to stay in Rome, well, I found 4 was perfect. I was there 6 nights and that was too much. With our extra days we took the train to Sorrento for the day and also to Ostia Antica, both wonderful to see and experience.
Thank you again In Italy,
Paula H.
Ciao Kristin,
Thank you for your website. Having never been to Italy or, for that matter out of the country, my family had their doubts about me planning our trip to Italy. In Italy made it easy. Our accommodations were excellent. We stayed at Villa Empoli and the Rome Terrace Apartment. Villa Empoli was beautiful. Being centrally located in the Tuscan countryside allowed us the freedom to get to know Tuscany in a way that may not have been possible staying at a hotel. Thanks to our very gracious hosts, Claudia, Varo, Francesco and Simone, going out of their way to get us tickets, we were able to attend the Empoli vs Parma soccer match, a highlight of our trip! We took several day trips to Pisa, Lucca, Florence, Siena and San Gimignano, San Gimignano perhaps being my favorite, and wineries. We found a couple of local restaurants that were fantastic, La Lanterna, an In Italy recommendation, was excellent, try the wild boar and I Palmenti was good food but the owner's attitude left a little to be desired. When we go back to Italy, we will return to Villa Empoli.
You couldn't ask for a more convenient location in Rome than the Rome Terrace Apartment, a 5-minute walk and we were in Piazza San Pietro. Whether you wanted a full course meal or just a quick bite there are several excellent choices just around the corner, or just a short walk away is the grocery store. Our host was very nice and the apartment with its balcony was great. Our only complaint was the lack of sufficient hot water, 1 1/2-2 showers at most and we couldn't use a hair dryer and iron at the same time without blowing a fuse, but I think this is typical for a Rome apartment.
All in all we had a fantastic time and can't wait to go back and when we do we will return to "In Italy". Thanks again for all your help.
Art N.
Hi Jessica,
Just a short report back on our recent stay in Rome. The apartment was well furnished, with all the equipment one needs. It has the appearance of more than just a holiday flat, with good furniture, paintings etc. We considered the Vatican to be the major draw-card in Rome. With the apartment only 5 minutes from the Vatican, we felt the position could not be bettered. Furthermore: the neighbourhood streets where we went to do our shopping were not as touristy as the centre of Rome. That meant a more relaxing stay. The apartment was better value than we had in another major Italian city a year ago. We must also commend Gabriele. He really went out of his way to assist us. We could not have wished for a better safety net (and neighbour!) in Rome.
Willie K.
Hello Everyone at In Italy Online:
We had a fabulous three weeks in Italy - one week in Tuscany, one week on the Amalfi Coast, and the final week in Rome. There was absolutely nothing negative to say about the whole vacation; we loved every minute and can't wait to visit other parts of this wonderful country.
In Rome we went to the Borghese Gallery - a highlight of our vacation. We would encourage everyone to include this gallery on a trip to Rome. In my opinion, Bernini's David and Apollo & Daphne alone were worth the entrance price. The Rome Terrace Apartment was in a great part of the city, near the Vatican and within easy walking distance to the Vatican, the subway, bus tours; city buses stopped just at the end of the street. We also did a Rome city tour and stopped to tour most of the historic sites along the way - Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Forum, Colliseum, Duomo Santa Maria di Maggiore, etc. We did a guided tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Basilica - 3.5 hr., awesome, we would like to do it all over again and then spend time on our own. One could spend days here to see everything. We had 4 days in Rome, not counting our travel days, clearly just enough to do the highlights. We would recommend a week minimum, and preferably longer. Again, a wonderful city with incomparable art and architecture.
The food throughout Italy was delicious - so fresh and well prepared. I loved all the nutritious food, even in the Autogrilles - the Italian version of fast food is a Panino - why can't we find more healthy foods on our major highways?? We learned to drink Espresso and since we returned home have not been able to drink our usual drip-style coffee. We now have cafe latte every morning. One restaurant that we visited on our last night in Rome offered excellent food, the host and waiters were a lot of fun and the price was very reasonable - I Quattro Mori, Via S. Maria alle Fornaci. 8/a (Porta Cavalleggeri), Tel. 06.6.390195, within walking distance of the Rome Terrace Apartment, frequented by the Cardinals and there is a picture of Pope John Paul eating at the restaurant (perhaps when he was a Cardinal). It is a Hostaria style with no menu, guests choose either fish or meat and are served an array of antipasto, salad, pasta, vegetables, meat/fish, dessert, accompanied by prosecco, local red & white wines, beverage, grappa & mirto. Reservations are required. Plan to spend an evening of dining!!
I would like to add that we found your website very helpful in planning our vacation and both Il Borghetto and Rome Terrace Apartment that we found on your website surpassed our expectations. We shall certainly try other facilities you recommend on future vacations. We will certainly go back to Italy; the Italian people are very friendly. We had no problems, even though we did not speak Italian. It was our very best vacation ever!!! Were we glad to return home? Only because we still have to work and we do love living in Canada but we could easily live in Italy.
Cheers,
Stephen & Andrea S.
Jessica,
We did have a great time in Italy! We watch a lot of travel shows, but there is nothing like being there. I would say to everyone if at all possible, get there! The apartment: the hill was not so bad, of course we were there in early March, my opinion might be different in July. The location can't be beat, you're just minutes away from the Vatican and it is in a wonderful neighborhood surrounded by locals. The apartment and the manager of it were both very nice. We liked the place a lot and the only criticism I would have is that the beds are HARD. I have to say that we felt that way about every place we stayed. I think it is just a European preference, something to bear in mind for those with bad backs. Other than that, great place, great neighborhood and of course it's Rome so what more can you say.
Tom G.
Hello David,
Our stay at the Rome Terrace Apartment was great. We really loved the apartment. It was convenient and clean. The best part was being in a "neighborhood" instead of a tourist area. We had wonderful local markets, cafes and restaurants. One recommendation I have is La Vittoria just down the hill on the street perpendicular to the main bus line (I can't remember the name). The food was great. It is really close. And, there's even a really gorgeous Italian waiter!
Overall, we just loved the place and we would consider staying there again. You may want to let people know in your description that it is on a rather steep incline. That could be hard on some people. I will say, my very out of shape sister was walking upright up the hill by the last day without heaving. So, maybe people could see that as an opportunity.
Thanks so much. And, please know, we will happily use your service again as well as recommend you to others visiting Italy.
Tessa J.
Dear Julie,
Actually I only returned home 3 days ago as my holiday was quite long (2months). We were very pleased with the apartment and the area was wonderful. The only negative comment I have is that for an apartment that sleeps 4 people there were only 2 armchairs so nowhere really for all of us to sit.
Cheers
Leeonie D.
Dear David,
We drove to Rome, stopping in Orvieto which is on a hilltop overlooking the best white wine region in Italy. It, like every Italian town, has a magnificent Duomo, interesting shops and cafes, and friendly people. In Rome we stayed at Rome Terrace Apartment, essentially a privately owned apartment in a neighborhood two blocks from the Vatican. Our host was helpful and friendly, and even went out of his way to help us return our rental car. Again, the accommodations were clean, roomy and comfortable. Easy walking distance from local shops and restaurants, and we were able to buy food and drink to reduce the overall cost of eating. We got to know some of the local merchants and restaurateurs and were treated like regulars.
Rome is, well, Rome. No need to suggest points of interest. I highly recommend getting a personal guide for the Vatican. The young man we retained through you was terrific. Extremely knowledgeable, helpful and friendly, and we avoided the mass tours with forty people. Well worth the very reasonable price. Otherwise, get some good guidebooks and plan your days by general location. I also recommend pre-booking for the Vatican and the Borghese Gallery. Don't drive in Rome. Use the very good public transportation system. We were there the third week of May and the crowds were already starting to get large. I can't imagine what July and August are like. Also, Italians rarely wear shorts. If you want to look like a tourist, wear them.
Finally, eating out. Meals are leisurely, and you cannot rush even if you wanted to because of the way they are served. Dinners last 2-3 hours, and your table is yours for the night. Portions are generally huge, but we all actually lost weight on the trip. Not sure if it was the Italian diet, pace of eating, or all the walking we did. Tipping is very confusing. Our first day in Florence I tried to tip the waitress and she stormed away and refused to speak to me when I tried to apologize. Some wait staff view this as their career and are paid as such by their employer. Others expect tips, and others include it on the bill. I'm not sure if there is a good rule of thumb to remember.
David, I cannot say enough good things about In Italy and your staff, particularly Jessica. The guidance and advice were invaluable and the service and responsiveness impeccable. Thank you for helping us enjoy a wonderful vacation.
Best regards,
Steve J.
Dear Jessica,
Thank you for your message. We did have a wonderful trip. Rome Terrace Apartment was very perfectly located near the bus line, wonderfully quiet and peaceful, with a lovely view of the gardens and fragrances from honeysuckle and a beautiful purple-flowered vine that spilled over the walls. The beautifully decorated apartment lived up to your web presentation very well, even exceeding it. Gabriele was very helpful.
In many respects it was due to the comfort and conveniences of Rome Terrace Apartment that our four-day Rome visit got us off on an excellent start for the rest of our trip. We had made our car rental from a location just along Via Gregorio VII which we were able to walk to. We purchased multiple-day bus passes and used them for all our transportation (we even used the regional trains to get to Rome Terrace Apartment from the airport - changing at Trastevere to the train for Stazione San Pietro - no problem). We were very happy with our whole trip and hope we can do it again very soon. Your information with respect to the apartment was very complete, as was your advice, and your web site, in general, is very helpful.
Grazie mille,
Sara B.
Hi,
We have recently returned from a 4-week trip to Italy. You helped us with several parts of it, so I thought I would take a moment to comment.
The Rome Terrace Apartment was just fine. Gabriele, our host, was helpful and pleasant. Traffic pattern changes and construction, however, made the apartment very difficult to reach by car. Our driver from the airport had trouble and our guide for the Vatican museum tour gave up, parked, and walked up the street. Not a real problem, but probably worth knowing.
Our tour of the Vatican Museum with Roberto was very professionally done and very much appreciated.
Our arrangements for the Borghese Museum were in order and, again, appreciated.
Thank you for all your help.
Byron R. B.
Greetings Jessica!!!!
We had a fantastic time in Italy!!!! The food was great, the wine was great, the people were wonderful!!! I want to go back.
Rome Terrace Apartment was near perfect. It was just the right size for five people (women). I was already aware of the need to be conservative with the electricity. So, we made sure to turn off lights when not in use. We also made sure not to run too many appliances at one time. We never blew a fuse. The location was very quiet. We were able to hear the bells of St. Peter's every 15 minutes, which was music to our ears. We could also hear the birds singing right outside our window each morning. Some suggestions: a phone, definitely need a phone. At least one available in the building for calling card use (to call home, if necessary).
This probably cannot be helped, but the hot water did not stay hot through one person showering (3-5 minute shower). We decided to keep the hot water button turned on overnight to keep water hot longer for those showering in the morning. Our electricity for five people, for four days only cost 13Euro. Gabriele said that this was very good. Gabriele was there when we needed him.
Thank you again,
I plan to refer people to the In Italy Online site for lodging and information.
Denine M.
Jessica:
Thanks. The Rome Terrace Apartment worked out very well. This was our third trip to Rome and the first two times we stayed in hotels. Although the hotels offered more services, it was very nice to have the added space the apartment gave us, at a much lower price. We ate in restaurants for lunch and dinner, but we visited the nearby "supermercato" on our first day to pick up some coffee, breakfast foods and snacks. There is a coffee machine in the apartment. We bought some bottled water because the tap water has a high calcium content. There is also a small washing machine for clothes. Our host was very accommodating and spoke perfect English. Unlike the hotels, the TV did not have the English CNN channel so all the programs were in Italian, but we did not go to Rome to watch television. The neighborhood is relatively quiet for Rome. The Aurelian Wall is on the other side of the street and there are college campuses on the other side of the wall, so other than the occasional "motorino" there was no noise. In fact, the largest disturbance came from a group of Americans who were boarding buses on Sunday morning to head back to the airport. Thanks again.
Howard C.
Jessica,
Yes, we did have a marvelous trip. The three properties we stayed at all worked out wonderfully for us. When we planned our trip, we did not want to move from place to place every few days. Instead, we wanted to have a home base that we could tour the region from, even if it meant a little more driving/traveling to get to our destinations. This was our first trip to Italy and our stay was 15 nights in duration, arriving in Rome on September 18 and departing on October 3. We selected Rome, Southern Tuscany and Northcentral Italy as the three regions to visit.
We decided to rent a car for the four of us for the last two segments of our trip as it provided the most flexibility in touring Tuscany and Northern Italy. A car is not recommended in Rome.
Our first stay was in the Rome Terrace Apartment. There were four of us, two couples, and we reserved the apartment for five nights. We arrived in Rome at Leonardo Da Vinci Airport and then took the direct metro train to Termini. From Termini, we took a cab to the apartment. Our first impression was wondering if we made the right choice. After getting a tour of the apartment, we were not sure what to think about the electricity situation. Seems if you have two many appliances going at the same time, the power will go out and then you have to go down to the basement and flip the breaker. Fortunately, we managed not to use too many appliances at once so the power was on the entire time. You do have to plan your showers though, as the water heater must be turned on for about an hour before the water is hot. This resulted in a couple of lukewarm showers at best for our group. Most of the time we just kept the hot water heater on. That is probably why our electricity bill was so high by the end of our stay. Gabriele thought that we would use about 5 euros of electricity for our stay. As it turned out, we used about 20 euros.
The apartment itself was comfortable with a little patio that we could use in the evenings to finish off our day with a glass of wine. We also enjoyed the location. It was fairly quiet except for the apartment below us would have their TV on in the evening. It is a little on the outskirts of city center action, but we did not suffer from the mobs of tourist in those areas either. There is a pedestrian tunnel under the main road to get to St. Peter's Square. There, it is an easy walk across the Tiber River to the historical center and there are always taxis available for locations that are a bit further such as the Coliseum and Termini. For the four of us, we found that taxis were the fastest, easiest and most flexible way to get around the City. If you are a walker, it is really the most enjoyable way to move about the City. Be sure to get a good map of Rome. We used the City Pack for Rome. Maps in guidebooks, which we also had, are just not detailed enough. Be sure to walk the City after the sun goes down as Rome takes on a whole different look. There are many people out and we felt totally safe.
Down at the bottom of the street, there is a nice trattoria and a nice wine, beer, and gelato café. Down the road is "GS", their version of a supermarket. We picked up wine and food here for our stay. The local Frascati white wines are very nice. Also, the yogurt is very good. There is also a bakery up the street where you can pick up cheese, wine, bread and pastries.
Another area that is very nice and close is the Borgo Pio district. The area is on the opposite side of St. Peter's Square from the apartment; lots of restaurants and shops. Just don't handle any fashion merchandise; the Italian merchants don't like it at all, though us American consumers take it for granted.
On Sunday, it seems the church bells never stop ringing, at least in the morning. Later that Sunday, we took the train to Pompei. Once we figured out the train system, we found it very easy to use and very efficient. It was about 1 hour and 45 minutes to Naples, and then another 30 minutes to Pompei by the local metro train. Pompei is fascinating and if you are interested in ancient Roman civilization, much more educational than Rome itself. There are tour guides out front, one of which we hired. He was very good and definitely worth the money.
The apartment location is off the tourist path so most people speak little English. Nevertheless, we found everyone very nice. Somehow, with our limited Italian and their limited English, we always found a way to communicate. Surprisingly, the few tourists in the area were mostly from Germany.
Everyday, as we learned how to navigate Rome and get our bearings, we enjoyed the apartment more. The apartment and its location just grows on you. I would definitely consider staying here again, except maybe in the heat of summer (no air conditioning).
Ron D.
Hi Jessica,
Our trip was awesome. The Tuscan countryside was fantastic as well as the seaport towns in Cinque Terre and, of course, Venice/Florence/Rome. The apartments were all special in their own way, here are a few notes on Rome Terrace Apartment:
Giuseppe was a terrific host to us. Very helpful in getting us settled as well as helping us with a taxi when we left. This was the nicest of the three apartments...great for the 4 of us. The only thing I would mention about this apartment was the long hill to get to it from the main street. We managed ok, but anyone with trouble walking up a hill would find it a bit difficult. While we were there, there was a major ceremony at St. Peters...over 300,000 people attending for 3-4 days as they were honoring a priest from Spain. Lots of traffic around St. Peters and the Vatican Museum area...but also kind of exciting.
Jessica...thank you very much for all your work and suggestions...this was one of our best vacations...we are now going through the 27 rolls of film!
Kent
Jessica,
We had a great time in Italy, as always, and Rome exceeded all our expectations. Without reservation, we all agreed to return for another visit (even without tossing our coins in the Trevi fountain!).
The Rome Terrace Apartment was a great success. The location was perfect, the description we had was spot on and it served our purpose perfectly. If anything, we had not fully appreciated just how stylish it would be.
Our only slight disappointment was that we felt the final cleaning bill was a little excessive. However, we would have no hesitation in recommending the apartment.
Just around the corner were a cafe for breakfast, pastry and coffee, and almost next door to that an excellent little restaurant for pizzas and pasta. In both cases, the people were very friendly and, over the week, we got to know each other a little.
With the Vatican just around the corner, a visit is a must. We had booked a tour, online, before the holiday and I would recommend this to anyone planning a trip as it saved all that queuing.
Many thanks for all your help.
Best wishes
Michael R.
Jessica,
Our stay in Rome was just perfect. I can't imagine accommodations that would be more enjoyable. Gabriele was a most gracious and helpful host. Since I forgot to call ahead to advise that we were coming by car and get special directions, we had a little trouble finding the apartment. We did however find our way to within two blocks of the place. We telephoned Gabriele and he walked out to find us. He also located a secure parking place for our car behind the apartment.
Since we've been home I re-read the In Italy information sheet on Rome Terrace Apartment and the description of the apartment is very accurate. Very simply, the accommodations were large, clean, comfortable, beautiful and very convenient to everything that we wished to see. It's still hard to believe that it was such a short walk to the Vatican. There were grocery stores nearby that satisfied our needs and several nice restaurants.
Joe B.
Dear Kristin,
The Rome Terrace Apartment was very nice. The location was right next to the Vatican but suffered from being at the top of a long steep hill, which made you think twice about running to the local store. We also found that the lack of a phone at the apartment was a big shortcoming, especially since the closest public phone meant navigating that big hill.
This was our first experience at making such involved arrangements over the internet and it turned out very well. Your contact, Giorgio, in Rome was also helpful in arranging other private car transport to the airport for us. Rino, in Naples, was also helpful when there was a bit of a glitch with the car meeting us at Naples train station. Thanks for your help.
Bob K.
Dear Jessica,
Rome Terrace Apartment was great! Terrific neighborhood-soooo close to the Vatican & St Peters. We especially loved the neighborhood coffee bars and restaurants. We just had to learn not to use a lot of electricity-power would go out. If we're in Rome again, we would definitely stay again in this same apartment. Giuseppe and his son Gabriele were really nice and helpful. In fact, because of the problems with the electricity, Giuseppe did not charge us for the electric at the end of our 10 day stay there. Thank you for all of your help in planning this trip.
Karen L.
Dear Kirill,
All I can say is Rome Terrace Apartment made our trip. It was in a great location. Directly across from Vatican City. Perfect for seeing the Pope each Wednesday when he arrives at At. Peters Church. Just a 5 minute walk from the apartment. Many other fascinating and enjoyable sites just a short distance. We made several trips to Campo De Fiori - just 15 minutes by bus. And we walked to st angelo castle numerous times. There happened to be a festival during the month of our stay. We never tired of the activity or of its beauty. The apartment itself was very comfortable with wonderful ambiance. And the landlord greeted us on our day of arrival to help us get settled and personally escorted us around the neighborhood to show us the local shops. We especially enjoyed shopping at the local markets. Everyone spoke enough english and were very generous. Thanks so much for the great referral. It certainly will not be our last stay at Rome Terrace Apartment. A piu tardi.
Ciao.
Bene R.
Dear Kristin,
We had a lovely time staying at Giuseppi's apartment near the Vatican. Rome is truly a wonderful place to visit and we enjoyed ourselves with all the wonderful sites and having a nice apartment to come home to in the evenings.
We did suggest to Guiseppe that he leave instructions on how to operate the cooktop. We Americans are incapacitated when trying to operate European stoves, cooktops and ovens.
Take care and if we return to Rome, we will call/email you for accommodations.
Thanks Again.
Nancy & Cynthia C.
Dear Ghia,
We just returned from a wonderful trip.. and our 4 day stay at the Rome Terrace Apartment was delightful. great location a few minutes from St. Peters square.. Giuseppe the owner could not have been nicer!!! . took us to the train station.when we left. Very clean just like the web site showed. One suggestion .. there is no phone..I would make note of that in your information..maybe you did and I missed it.. but you can rent cell phones we did not as we were only there for 4 nites..but I would recommend it. It is a great exerience and we loved Rome hope to return...
Sally D.
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