Happy Monday, friends! This week I'm finally getting around to writing about my most recent trip to Rome. As I mentioned in my Top 10 Trips of 2016 post, Rome will forever be a page turner in the history of my life. 5 years ago I had never been to Europe (even though I always dreamed of going) and at long last my family planned a trip. I honestly can't think of a time in my entire life where I've been more excited than I was when those airplane wheels touched down that summer in 2012. My dad still recalls how my mouth hung open in wonder like a little kid at Disneyland. Going back for the third time this past October gave me all the same butterflies and warm-fuzzy-feelings that I experienced on my first trip. Because let's face it: Rome is simply magical.
Where is the best place to stay in Rome? Unlike many destinations that I've been to more than once, I've never stayed in a proper hotel while visiting the Eternal City. While there's certainly no shortage of options, I've always found apartment-style accommodations to be incredibly charming (not to mention, very Eat, Pray, Love). My experience with Italian hospitality is that they actually treat you like family (and this is true of all the apartment hosts I've had). So if there were ever a time to forego a traditional hotel for the apartment life, I'd encourage you to consider doing so in Rome.
YOUR SUITE ROME: GRAND SUITE RICCI
In the heart of the city just around the corner from Campo de Fiore (one of my favorite spots in Rome) is Grand Suite Ricci: a luxury apartment where my friends and I stayed on my most recent trip. This 2 bedroom 80 squared meter apartment is the perfect size for a group of 3 or 4 (we even had a spare room for all of our luggage!) The apartment was so beautiful and bursting with character (especially those rustic wooden-beam ceilings!) We could easily walk to so many great places (Vatican City, Campo de Fiore, the Pantheon, Piazza Novana... the list goes on).
Our hosts at Your Suite Rome provided us with everything we needed: wifi, assistance with airport transfers and most importantly: amazing food, drink + sightseeing recommendations (stay tuned for the posts later this week for those details!)
I spent a bit of time on my own in Rome after my friends flew back to the states and before I flew back to London, so I decided to try another apartment. For my last night, I stayed in the Banchi Vecci suite (which is also owned by Your Suite Rome and is just around the corner from the last, so all previous comments still apply!) This 65 square meter apartment came with all the same luxuries as the last, just with one bedroom instead of two (perfect for people traveling solo or as a couple). The living room was so spacious and had the same gorgeous wood-beam ceilings (I loved sitting in there, drinking wine and people watching out the window).
I had a fantastic stay in both of these units and I can say with confidence that staying here offers the best of both worlds. So whether you're traveling solo or with a group, you can experience Rome as a local without compromising modern, luxury amenities and a friendly, knowledgable host.
My other apartment experience in Rome was my very first visit. My family and I stayed at Di Rienzo: a family-run bed and breakfast that offers luxury accommodations, shopping and dining experiences.
Pantheon Palace is a historic building in style of the fourteenth century. All of their apartments are located on the same Piazza as the Pantheon, one of Rome's most iconic landmarks. My family and I spent every night at their restaurant (which I'll get to in my "Where to Eat" post later this week) drinking wine and marveling at this ancient masterpiece. While that memory alone is enough for me to recommend staying here, we truly couldn't have had a better experience with our hosts. Every time I've been back to Rome since, I've made a point to go to Di Rienzo to see my friends (who treated me like family).
While it's been a few years since I've stayed there, I still can't say enough wonderful things and I have no doubt that anyone would love it. If you're looking to stay right next to an iconic Roman landmark and experience the hospitality of a wonderful Italian family, look no further than Di Rienzo.
Again, there are tons of great places to stay in Rome (although I'd argue the ones above are hard to beat). Have any other questions about accommodations in the Eternal city? Let me know in the comments below!
Stay tuned for more Rome travel tips this week-- we still have a lot to cover about where to eat and what to do!
xx
Whitney
