Tuesday, October 06, 2015

Terrazzo Dei Sogni: Our Accommodations in Rome

I have discovered Airbnb, and I am never going back.

I don’t remember where I first heard about it, but we decided to give it a try for our Italy trip. It’s a site where people all over the world can offer places to stay—options range from ordinary people renting out a spare room in their apartment, to traditional bed-and-breakfasts, to rental of an entire house with the owner not on site. (If you check it out, please contact me for a referral link--unfortunately I cannot post one here, but I can send you one personally that will give us both $20 credit toward a stay! ...here's a referral link I think will work! If it doesn't, still feel free to contact me for a link for $20 credit.)

The accommodations we found through Airbnb were, at least on screen, way nicer *and* way cheaper than the hotels our travel agent offered. We couldn’t really see a downside, so we booked and hoped for the best. And in Rome, did we ever get the best. Oh my goodness. We pretty much have nowhere to go but down from here!

Our expectations were high based on reviews and photos, and our hosts, Gianni and Maurina, were every bit as wonderful as we hoped! They are a retired couple, with kids just a bit older than us, and staying with them was a total delight.

I loved the way she threw her arms around him when I asked for a photo! How precious is that?!
As soon as we arrived, Gianni made us espresso and served us slices of cake, then sat down with a map to share information and recommendations. When we finished our cake, we continued chatting for a while and then he gave us a second snack, some sort of savory frittata.

Gianni and Maurina were so warm and friendly. One morning we sat and talked about their home in Sardinia, and they got out all kinds of photos and magazines to show us. Maurina is an English student, so she doesn’t speak a whole lot, but Gianni is fluent—we only had trouble understanding each other a couple of times—and Maurina so sweetly kept saying “Brava!” to my Italian :) We truly enjoyed getting to know them. It was so fun feeling like we were getting an authentic experience, staying in an Italian home.

The breakfasts. I still dream about them. Completely over the top and every bite was delicious.
Each day we'd have three different kinds of little panini, elaborate fruit pastries, fresh squeezed juice, and the best espresso and cappuccino we had in Italy.

 

 
It would have been a pleasure to eat them anywhere, but we got to enjoy them on a seventh-floor terrace overlooking a park!


Their listing on Airbnb is called “Terrazzo Dei Sogni,” which means “Terrace of Dreams”—not an overstatement.


As if all this were not enough, the location could not have been more convenient—half a block from a metro station, and within walking distance from Termini (the main train station, where we arrived via shuttle from the airport and where we caught a train to Naples) and the Colosseum.

It was wonderful to experience Gianni and Maurina’s hospitality; we would stay with them again without question. Definitely book this place if you are going to Rome! You will not find better accommodations for a more reasonable price.

[And again--if you decide to sign up for Airbnb, please use this referral link or leave your email address so I can send you an invitation! I signed up without one and wish I wouldn't have missed out on the free $20!]

2 comments:

faith ann raider said...

I love the picture of the two of you on the terrace- so beautiful!!!

Danielle said...

How delightful! I'm bookmarking this place so if/when we go to Italy we can stay there!

We did something similar for our honeymoon at PEI. We didn't stay with a family, but we did vacation rentals by owner and they came and checked on us, gave us a gift basket, and even showed us how to harvest mussels and cook them!

Your trip sounds amazing!