Having never used Airbnb before I was a little nervous to suggest this idea to my friends and family who were coming on the trip. After this experience, I doubt I will stay in hotels again!
About the apartment:
Every picture is accurate, in fact it was bigger than I was expecting! The lounge/dining room area is massive, with plenty of places for people to sit and chat/eat/drink. This was the only air conditioned area of the apartment during our stay, but we were notified of this months before our arrival by the lovely Giulia (I will come back to her later!), and had no problem with this. All the bedrooms were spacious and well equipped with ceiling fans, comfy beds and pillows - something you don't always expect to get. Having three bathrooms was great, especially with 10 people needing to shower and get ready in a short space of time. The kitchen was well equipped - we would have liked some slightly bigger glasses but having traveled a lot, I have discovered that's quite a British thing to want!
The location:
It is situated in a lovely, quiet street with a few small shops and bars along it - nothing too lively at night. It really is that close to the Colosseum!! And the walk through the park to get there was so picturesque. A short walk in the opposite direction gets you to the main Metro and bus links.
The host:
This apartment is hosted by Silvia, but managed by Giulia. She is brilliant! She answered all our questions, sorted all our minor issues and was so easy to get hold of. There was a wealth of advice on the desk when we arrived, from restaurant recommendations to handy tips about pickpockets! It was a shame as she was on holiday when we arrived so didn't get to meet her, but another Giulia greeted us and was equally as welcoming and helpful. She even called and booked our dinner for the evening; I couldn't remember what '10' was in Italian let alone how to ask to book a table!
Overall, I was nervous to take my 9 friends and family away from our usual weekend hotel break, but we left as 10 very satisfied customers. Thank you Silvia/Giulia/Giulia!!! :)