Rome /roʊm/ | Roma [ro:ma]

The fourth-most populous city in the European Union and the capital of Italy, Rome is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. If you’re planning a trip to Rome and looking for a cute and comfortable place to stay that is centrally located, this flat may be perfect for you!

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The Loft + Amenities

The Colosseum Loft is a very cozy apartment full of old-world charm. It is located on the highest floor of a beautiful historic building in a quiet but centrally located neighbourhood in Rome. The building itself is also very quiet, providing for a relaxing return to the flat after long days of exploring. I spent 3 days in the loft and had quite a comfortable stay.

This apartment has a beautifully decorated dining room with an equally beautiful and fully equipped kitchen, a bedroom with a seating area and a bathroom. Upon entering the loft, there is a spacious foyer. This leads to the dining room and kitchen, followed by the bedroom, seating area and bathroom at the back. The loft is a fully furnished, bright and elegant space. It is available for rent as an entire home, meaning that the whole flat is at the guests’ disposal. It also has a small laptop-friendly workspace (work desk + chair). Who would do work while in Rome, right? Well, I almost did. So, when I booked the loft, this was a huge plus for me!

The side of the loft that faces the inner courtyard has large windows, making the space very bright and open. I found the whole loft to be very clean, well-equipped, quite spacious and very charming. The high ceilings definitely contribute to the spaciousness and openness of the apartment, giving it a really airy feel.

Elevators in old European buildings are almost unheard of, right? Well, this building has a really pretty old-fashioned elevator. Rome was the second-last stop in my seven-city Eurotrip. By the time I arrived there, I had already walked up and down probably thousands of steps to reach my accommodations alone! So, when I found out the loft was accessible by elevator, I sighed with relief, especially given that the loft is on the top level of the building. I think I did walk up (or down) the steps at least once while staying here so I could count how many there were. Needless to say, I lost count! Hah! All in all, the elevator was very much welcomed!

Other amenities include (good, strong) WiFi, a hair dryer, basic toiletries, central heating (if you’re there in the colder months), a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit. Hopefully, you won’t ever need the last two. Whatever you can’t find in the loft, you can find near by, but more on location a little later.

It’s worth noting that the bed is actually a loft bed and is only accessible by a narrow staircase (pictured above). This was totally fine for me and it was 100% safe. I actually thought it was a really fun and unique feature! Although there is only one bed, it can comfortably accommodate two people. I also think that the larger couch (there is both a three-seat and one-seat couch) in the seating area could even serve as a second sleeping space if needed.

I stayed here in the summer. Specifically, in August, when it feels like 12 suns are shining directly over Italy at all times of the day. Although there was no air conditioning in the apartment, fans were provided. Opening the window at night also helped, so I was always very comfortable.

Overall, I thought the whole space was just really cute! The decor in the kitchen/dining area versus that in the bedroom/sitting area is different, with different vibes altogether. The kitchen/dining area is very rustic and elegant and the bedroom/sitting area is really quirky, comfortable and fun.

The Kitchen

For me, the highlight of this entire space is the dining area and kitchen. The pictures of it were actually what made me want to book the loft in the first place! One of the reasons I love staying in Airbnbs in general is because they come with a kitchen. Don’t get me wrong – I’m no cook. But, the first thing I do after I settle in somewhere is eat. In an Airbnb, I can head straight to the grocery store, bring back food and snacks for the trip (usually for the same cost as a single dinner) and store them in my kitchen! Of course I eat out when I travel. But I prefer not to eat all of my meals outside, quite simply because it gets so expensive really quickly…and I’d rather spend that money elsewhere.

Anyway, I was flat out charmed by this kitchen when I saw it. High ceilings, frescoed walls, old-world decor and a classic style fridge – it’s just so pretty! Sure enough, I spent most of my time here – sipping wine, eating, chatting, e-mailing, texting, snapping, instagramming and just hanging out.

Location, location, location!

The loft is situated in a very quiet, safe and urban neighbourhood. It is just a 15-minute walk from the Colosseum, a 15-minute walk from the Roma Termini train station and a 5-minute walk to the nearest metro stops (Vittorio Emanuele or Manzoni). Although the loft is very close to the Colosseum, it’s far enough away from the main tourist areas. My experience was very authentic and gave me an idea of what it’s like to live in Rome as a local.

There are grocery stores nearby for when you want to cook and lots of bars, restos and cafes in the area for when you don’t. I visited la Pasticceria Panificio Panella Roma on multiple occasions (particularly for breakfast and on the walk home for a snack). There is also an ATM and laundromat very close by.  Just around the corner, there’s an Internet cafe if you need one for whatever reason – I had to pay a visit to print my boarding pass to Barcelona.

I’m not kidding when I say that the loft is centrally located. I basically walked everywhere both day and night without a problem. In addition to the Colosseum, il Foro Romano (the Roman Forum), la Piazza di Santa Maria Maggiore, la Basilica Papale di Santa Maria Maggiore, la Fontana di Trevi (Trevi Fountain), Trastevere and the Jewish Quarter are all also very close by. I walked to all of these places, but you can certainly take the metro as well.

I’ve included maps of the general area below to illustrate how well situated the loft is. Note that I’ve used the same maps as those used on Airbnb to maintain the owner’s privacy. If you want to take a closer look at the nearby restaurants and attractions, you can search the Vittorio Emanuele or Manzoni metro station on Google Maps and browse the area.

Service + Value

I stayed in the Colosseum Loft for 3 days and had a great experience. I firmly believe that a huge contribution to any travel experience is the people that you come across. This applies to Airbnb hosts too! I stayed in a beautiful, modern and spacious apartment in La Spezia. Unfortunately, I would never stay there again due to poor hosting.

Ana, the owner of the apartment, and her son were always very hospitable and prompt with communication both before, during and even after my stay. Although Ana was not in Rome at the time, she arranged for one of her friends (Ehsan) to help with check-in, check-out and everything in between. He was also available to answer questions throughout and was my main contact (although Ana and her son would check in periodically).

Check-in went very smoothly. Upon arrival, Ehsan gave me a guidebook and a map of the city. He made a number of great suggestions for restaurants and sights to see, and even marked them on the map. At check-out he offered a ride to the airport at a cheaper rate than a taxi. On the way there, I mentioned that I hadn’t been able to get a view of Rome from above. So, he kindly offered to take a slight detour to il Giardino degli Aranci. The view of Rome was amazing and it was a nice and unexpected end to my time there! It’s a shame I didn’t get to meet Ana, as she is so pleasant to deal with! Fortunately, she made sure that we were well taken care of.

There was a small misunderstanding regarding check-out. I had been under the impression that check-out was at 12:00/12:30. On the day of, I was notified that check-out was actually at 10:30. Not a huge deal and Ana’s sister graciously let us keep our luggage at the apartment while cleaning for the next guests. This allowed us to spend a couple more hours roaming Rome (pun intended) before leaving. This just goes to show how accommodating Ana and those who help manage her loft are, which I was so grateful for!

One final word about the loft is that it offers great value. At the time (August 2016), I paid a little under $250 CAD for 3 nights after fees and taxes. This worked out to approximately $83 CAD per night. I was traveling with someone, so this cost was cut in half. Of course, the price may vary based on season and availability. But the central location, space, personal comfort, amenities, support and overall experience of staying here make the loft more than worth the cost. Especially when you consider the cost of hotels in Europe in high season.

Cancellation Policy + House Rules

The owner enforces a strict cancellation policy. You can cancel up to 30 days before your trip and get a full refund. Cancel within 30 days of the trip and get a 50% refund of the nightly rate, and a full refund of fees.