Finding Sara’s place was a hidden gem! I appreciated her communication style, she is responsive and attentive. There was an additional city tax €3.50 person/night, paid in cash at check-in. It seems Roma constantly attempts to extract from tourism.
The apt. is a small unit inside an older building, situated on the second floor, the building is very safe, with quiet neighbors, the walls are thin, but not an issue. The windows face a main street, which can be busy during commute hours, sometimes you can hear cheerful people walk by at night, there are several clubs near Monte dei Cocci. The AC is nice when it’s hot and humid. Being super picky, I was more comfortable using my travel linen towels and sleeping cocoon. The unit is comfortable, with lots of personality, it has a personal touch. It’s a 7 minutes walk to Piramide-Ostiense station.
Everything is walking distance or a hop away using public transportation. We got lost in Trastevere walking to the Jewish Ghetto, bumped into Knights of Malta Keyhole, visited many churches and museums when it was raining... mostly, we took it really slow wandering on foot.
Testaccio is an under rated neighborhood. There aren’t many tourists. If bus load of tourists make you cringe, this neighborhood is perfect. If Jack Kerouac or Henry Miller were still alive, this neighborhood is where they would hang in Roma. The area has many hidden gems. Art, music, diversity, 24 hrs cannabis vending machine, legal since 2017. There are many restaurants and authentic foods.
IMO, the best foods are at the markets! The markets had plenty of seasonal and amazing ingredients to cook. Sara has several Italian stainless steel cookware, perfect for whipping up a great meal. Most hosts stock up on cheap IKEA non-stick cookware. The gas stove was a little tricky, yet works nicely. Affordable wine is plenty at the corner supermarket, great wine everywhere really, wine on tap at Eataly are all delicious!
Although there are several restaurants that are vegan-vegetarian conscious, it was more enjoyable for my SO and I to experience local foods the old fashioned way. Mercato Testaccio and Eataly are walking distance. I could go on and on about fava beans in early May, freshly made pastas, all kinds of mushrooms, delicious tomatoes... We had a blast exploring, not speaking a lick of Italian, the people were so good to us. All smiles and loving!
Some memorable moments were drinking a few canapa beers watching the sun rise on the rooftop, Moka express coffee in the morning, and making ourselves feel at home when the rain came down. We had a wonderful experience staying at Sara’s apt. The experience was just what we wanted.