This has been my worst Airbnb experience ever unfortunately.
The location of the apartment is without a doubt very great if you would like to be close to all attractions in Rome. This has been the only pro of staying at this place.
In the apartment there are two rooms used for Airbnb, and Ermanno also lives here. Every single thing has a note on it, instructing us how to use it exactly. There is no hot water in the kitchen (the handle has been removed), so basically whatever you cook, used you can only wash it with ice cold water.
The bed in the Savelli room was uncomfortable, too narrow for two people, the mattress was bumpy and very smooth. There’s another bed in the room, which Ermanno said we can only use if an additional 15 EUR is paid. There is no AC in the room, just a small ventilator, so we had to keep the window open during the night, which was quite noisy.
One morning all guests (2 of us from Savelli room, and another 2 ladies from the other room) were having breakfast in the kitchen, preparing for the day when Ermanno appeared with a laptop and a pack of cigarette, took the only one bathroom in the apartment. He was sitting in there for over 30 minutes watching something on the computer (we could hear through the door), while we - the 4 Airbnb guests who payed for staying - had to wait for him to finish, and couldn’t use the bathroom.
We had a late flight when we came, arrived to the apartment around 11.30 pm Ermanno wasn’t at home that night, so we had to pick up the keys from a pizzeria in the neighborhood. Ermanno asked us to pay 15 EUR for the late check in. When I asked what the reason of this was as he wasn’t even at home when we came (so we didn’t cause any inconvenience with this to him), he said he had to give 10 EUR to the pizzeria, and 5 EUR was for him (for what on the top of the rental what we paid through Airbnb?). He changed his mind at the end and only asked for the 10 EUR, and said we can keep his part of 5 EUR.
I understand, if more people use the same appliances, same rooms, some general rules need to be followed for everyone’s comfort, however I don’t think such control and micro management can be required from guests what we experienced at Ermanno’s. I also understand if you let unknown people stay at your home, must be uncomfortable and inconvenient, but that’s the deal if you’re an Airbnb host, that’s what you’re getting money for, and I don’t think you can expect guests to be invisible and to spend their vacation the way you want them to do so. I also don’t think it’s normal to ask additional money if you want to use a piece of furniture which is in the room that you’re renting!
With all these instructions and control around, we didn’t feel like being guests who paid for their stay, but rather like spending time at someplace for a favor, as tolerated but unwanted visitors.