VRBO/HomeAway great option for lodging

Hopefully you'll leave a review of the property directly on VRBO.com so everyone who reads about it will know...not just Rick Steves people.

Thank you for these recommendations. Currently I have a reservation at a hotel near Termini station in Rome. I have looked at the photos of the Rome VRBO apartment and it looks very nice. My questions are:
1. Is the area safe?
2. The apartment says it is on the first floor. My understanding is that in Europe, first floor is what we call the second floor. In other words it is one floor up from ground level. Is this correct?
3. Are there screens on the windows?
4. How long a walk to the Colosseum? How long a walk to Vatican City?

5. Were there good restaurants near the apartment?

6. Does the manager/owner Carla speak English?
7. Is there a regular shower? Or only the kind where one must kneel and hold the spray with one hand?
Thank you for this and any other information you can share.

We have always relied on Homeaway for rentals (they own VRBO too) all over the world, usually luxury homes and apartments and have always been very happy with them.

We felt very safe here, took a walk one evening, lots of families and couples out strolling. Yes, first floor is one flight up. No window screens. The only place we had those was Venice. apparently rare in Italy. Carla speaks some English. We spoke 5 words of Italian but we managed. We did not eat at any of the restaurants but there were many. Some rated 4 + stars on Trip advisor. (We at in at night and were out away during the day for our mid-day meal) Carla told us where the supermarket, a great bakery, the Laundromat (we did bring a few things to dry that we had washed in washer.) and many restaruants.. It would be quite a hike to Vatican City, but easy on the Metro. Line A Manzini station just a block and a half away. Total trip with walking to and from Metro about 25 minutes. We also did not walk to Colosseum as it was our first adventure from the train station. We had checked bags and took Metro. We arrived by train around 11:30 and check in was at 4. This was a perfect interlude. To walk from the apartment would be about 15-20 minutes at old-lady speed. we got a Roma Pass and used buses and Metro freely. Hope this helps.

Oops, forgot the shower. It was a stand-up shower, none of the places had the kind you described. Even the tub shower in Ageta could be either stand up or use in tub, but that apartment also had a second bathroom with shower stall.

I have posted on VRBO as well, just wanted Rick Steves to know as well.

Thank you for all that information deacongerri. I forgot to ask how you got from the train station to the apartment. The hotel I currently have booked is within walking distance, so trying to decide if it would be better to have an apartment further from the train station, or a hotel room around the corner. Was it difficult getting from the train station to the apartment?
Also, I tried to find the place you listed for Florence, but cannot find any VRBO with that #. Could you check to make sure that is the correct # please?

Thank you so much,

Oops, The VRBO Florence property is actually a HomeAway property and the number is 11939ha, I forgot the ha. HomeAway is the parent company, I just use VRBO since I started with them years ago before they were combined.

The Rome property is a little far to walk with bags though it would be possible. I think it is a little less than a mile. We took a cab for about 12 Euro with 3 people and one large heavy bag and 2 pretty full carry on sized bags plus two totes and a small backpack. Took about 5 minutes. We called cab for the return. It was worth it. Just be sure to take the official white cab from the taxi stand just outside the station. It would be a little cheaper with fewer bags. While our street was busy the shops were more neighborhood type, while the train station neighborhood seemed chaotic and a bit sleezy. Once you are in the apartment transportation is a breeze. We had the RomaPass so had three days of unlimited Metro and bus. One day transportation pass is 7 Euro and two day is 12. There is a tram that runs near the apartment we never did ride but it seems to go to lots of the sights. Many things, including the train station are walkable without bags. Colesseum is about 1/2 mile the Pantheon a little over 2 miles, The buses seem confusing at first, but if you read and study Rick Steves bus info ahead of time and I got the free phone app he mentions it works well. Good luck.

I have just tried to access the VRBO Florence rental I mentioned and was unable to do so even with the "ha" added to #11939. However the HomeAway web site works. We rented the unit 2, without the view but more room. It really does not have any view, but the room was great. For a couple or small family the smaller unit might work just fine.

Hey Deacongerri--

I believe you stayed in the same apartment in Florence as my wife & I did in March of this year, for five nights. Actually, we were in the smaller of the two apartments, still plenty of room. The Benvenuti's, Anna-Maria the mother. Wonderful location, right? We really enjoyed shopping at the nearby CONAD grocery and then the Mercato Centrale for the 'good stuff'! I had checked the old link this morning because I wanted to recommend it to a friend, and it didn't work. So I just EMailed Chiara (the daughter) and the family still owns it and here's the new VRBO link:

http://www.vrbo.com/1743377ha

All the old reviews are gone, so I may have to re-post mine. You should do the same. Staying there just made Florence so much more homey. Do you agree?

Ciao!

Oh how fun to hear from someone who stayed in the same place. Yes, so homey and convenient. I will check the VRBO link and post my review there. I think it is on HomeAway.