Apartments vs Hotels

Before you embark on the exciting journey of self  catering accommodation in an ancient city like Rome or Florence or Venice, take a moment to consider if you have realistic expectations from your Italian accommodation.  Although 99.5% of clients that choose to rent an apartment in Italy have done so after some research and with an clear understanding of what to expect, this page was inspired by that 0.5%  clients who have arrived at their rented accommodation expecting hotel services a fully stocked fridge and pantry and the sort of amenities that do not even exist in Italy.

Be informed of the realities of apartment rentals before you book,  as an unhappy client who had unrealistic expectations is not what we are aiming at and your holiday is very important and should be a joyful experience not one laced with regret. Read our own story, apartment vs. hotels to understand the positive aspects of apartment renting from a personal point of view.

The Positive

If you choose the self catering route, you will be rewarded with the enriching experience of living like a local in your own space, you'll be able to go to the markets and buy the local produce, if you're fortunate enough to have rented an apartment with a terrace, you can dine outdoors overlooking a magnificent skyline or maybe some characteristic ancient roof tops.  You'll certainly save money and have more space.

The Facts

The facts you need to be aware of when renting "Self Catering Accommodation" are that you are making the choice to be a more independent traveler, are you prepared for what goes with it?  Self Catering Accommodation has many positive benefits as mentioned above, however you need to be informed about self catering in Italy, it is not like renting an apart hotel, or an apartment at the embassy suites where you are renting an apartment with hotel services, rather you will be renting a true home which will have only weekly cleaning and linen changes, not daily, there will be no front desk and for any extra services you require you will need to think ahead of time and book them before you travel.

Apartments in Italy and other parts of Europe unlike rental apartments back home are in fact the real thing; real homes, not like the standard serviced apartments that you may be familiar with.  Life here in Italy is definitely beating to a different rhythm, make sure you tune in before you come...

Although our agency does offer many different services these do need to be booked in advance as you will not have a 24 hour front desk at your disposal, but rather a home away from home; your own kitchen - go out on the first day and do your shopping.  You should not expect to find a stocked fridge or pantry, although certain proprietors "may" provide some basics, you cannot expect this in Italy.

You should also consider that your arrival and departure need to be thought through, by choosing to arrive after 2pm and choosing a morning flight out, so you don't have to consider baggage storage.  It's a matter of being prepared and organizing your trip with these things in mind.

The above facts may swing you away from renting a self catering apartment, if so, we wish you a wonderful holiday and hope that your vacation is all that your hope it to be, but for those clients who choose to rent an apartment through our agency, we welcome you and look forward to assisting you in creating the most memorable experience possible, with many positive memories of your time in Italy and like so many of our clients who return yearly to discover the "real Italy"  we will be here with new properties and regions to offer you in our ever expanding listings.

Sincerely,

The Team at Italy-Accom