We had the pleasure of staying at Adriano’s Ex-Studio Roma for two weeks in mid-March, 2019. The apartment was clean and accommodating. The apartment is located on a side-street just off from the Piazza Vittoria Emanuele and within close proximity to the Metro, a number of coffee and pastry shops, restaurants and one Metro stop from the rail system. I would highly recommend this location, especially for those who are planning to spend more than a week in Rome.
As far as the apartment accommodation itself, I will rate my experience on the good, the bad, and notable mentions.
The Good:
Location. I feel the location was just right. The apartment was away from the heavy downtown traffic and there were many amenities and shops within easy walking distance.
Amenities. The apartment was clean and the furniture was suitable for our needs. Although we didn’t cook, a full stove, microwave oven, refrigerator and a dishwasher were at our disposal. The apartment had an efficiency washer, which was essential. There was no dryer or clothesline, so I’d recommend packing a length of line to create a DIY clothesline.
Communication. I had some questions during our stay and we were easily able to communicate with our host.
Size. The apartment was spacious and full-length mirrors along the living room and foyer walls made it feel larger than the apartment actually was. The living room with a sectional sofa was a good place to relax at the end of the day.
Clean. The apartment was clean and there were no unattractive blemishes or odors.
Security. The apartment is secured by two security doors and a solid apartment door. Overall, we felt secure, but there were no secure lockers within the apartment itself to secure valuables.
The Bad:
Hidden Fees. This is not a major issue, but future guests should be aware there are some additional fees associated with the apartment. Each guest is required to pay a €35 occupancy tax. The host asked for this to be paid in cash and he did provide a receipt. The other fees included €30 for weekly housekeeping. Each week, the host asked us to leave the apartment for a few hours so the housekeeper could clean.
Second Bedroom. Since there were only two of us staying in the apartment, the host locked the second bedroom and denied us access. After spending 20-plus hours in transit, this didn’t seem to be a major issue at first. However, after trying to cope with travel fatigue, it would have been good to have access to the second room until our sleep schedules synchronized. Although we paid full price for full assess I felt we did not get what we paid for. In the host’s defense, we did not communicate our displeasure with the second bedroom issue, but I don’t feel it should have been immediately excluded from our access even though we did pay for the entire apartment.
Linens. The apartment has just enough linens and towels to get by. There were two towel sets and a single sheet set available. We did ask for a second blanket, which the host provided, but I feel a couple more towels and some extra pillows would have been a good touch. Again, this issue may have been resolved if we had access to the second bedroom.
The property listing mentions a hot tub. As far as I can tell, the hot tub is non-existent. There was a modular shower with body sprayers, but, it was small and the sprayers were not something worth addressing. I didn’t ask further about the hot tub, but I'd have to say this item should be removed from the description.
Notable Mentions:
Elevator. There is an elevator on the property, but it does not service the second floor.
Internet. There is internet available within the apartment, but it dropped out a few times. I let the host know when this happened and the wireless access point returned shortly afterward; I’m not certain if the host corrected the problem or the problem corrected itself.
Laundry. As mentioned earlier, the apartment has a washer
Overall, we had a pleasant vacation. The host was polite and fairly responsive. The second bedroom was an issue, as well as the hidden costs. Accessibility to public transportation and the proximity to many of the major attractions make this property well worth the stay.