There are hosts, and then there is Desiree. We stayed a night at her lovely apartment in Rome, and fell in love with this mother-daughter duo and their meticulous gracious hosting.

The apartment is in one wing of four in a lovely complex, with a fountain with the cutest turtles in the courtyard. The house is cozy and gives you a sense of home. The room is tastefully done and very cheerful! The bed is super comfortable, and there is enough natural sunlight that streams in during the day. There were fresh towels laid out for us too. Added bonus: There is a mini fridge stocked with goodies in the room. The bathroom is super clean and pretty. The hot water shower felt fantastic. (To people travelling from Asia - the toilet has a water faucet too!)

If there is ever a gracious host, it's Desiree. Warm, friendly and a kind manner about her, it's like she was born to host! A week before we arrived, she sent us detailed directions, and a list of things to do that she had researched based on our earlier conversation. When we got in, she was waiting for us, and even helped me with my luggage despite her sprained ankle. The fact that she sanitized the wheels of my bags also instilled faith in me regarding the excellent hygiene standards she maintains in the house. She is incredibly organised too - giving us prints of all the things to do, details of public transport and places to eat at. Given our short stay, this was so so helpful, and we feel we made the most of it thanks to all her help with our planning. I loved her thoughtfulness - like chilling orange juice for us before our arrival, and leaving us a welcome note with chocolates.

We requested her to keep our luggage for a few hours after checkout, which she agreed to. When we returned to collect it, she gave us a little parting gift - desserts from her favorite bakery! That was so touching, I wanted to cry! Plus they tasted like a piece of heaven, they were that yum!

If you are traveling to Rome, look no further than Desiree's place. You'll be lucky to be hosted by her. :)