Three generations of our family will be in Italy for two weeks in May. We will be staying five nights in Rome, taking guided tours of Rome and Pompei. We are looking for an apartment that will accommodate ten adults in Rome. We will be driving from Aviano to Pisa and taking the train to Rome. Are there any suggestions for websites to find safe, roomy apartments? Also, are there websites to pre-arrange a gondola or two in Venice? Thank you for any suggestions for a family of ten traveling to Europe for the first time.
Posted by
Phoenixville, PA, USA
7 posts
I've used VRBO (vacation rental by owner) to rent vacation homes and condos in the US - with excellent results
Posted by
Sacramento, California U.S.A.
10247 posts
I use vrbo.com and homeaway.com both in the U.S. and Europe. Are you going THIS May? You haven't left yourself much time to find something available that will work for your group. I would do this ASAP! I don't think you need to prearrange gondolas. When we were in Venice there were many just waiting for passengers. You can just go when you want when you get there, rather than have a schedule to follow.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
I sure hope you don't mean this May. Good luck finding an apartment if you do. You may have to settle for several rooms at a large hotel. The great thing about vrbo.com is that you plug in the dates you're looking for and it only shows you what's available. As for the gondola, you should just wait until you get there. You'll have to split into two or three groups, depending on whether you have children with you. Happy travels.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
1525 posts
Although I'm sure there is still something available for this May, people generally book very early for apartments (like 4-8 months ahead) because they want the best ones and they go first. We booked seven different apartment for our June/July trip this year and finalized all of them by November 1st.
Posted by
Cesena, Italy
791 posts
Jane, just wondering, are you driving to Pisa just to catch the train to Roma or will you be spending time in Pisa?
Posted by
Calgary
2297 posts
If you are indeed talking about May 2012 and have trouble finding an appartment for 10 you could also consider looking for 2 appartments in the same building. That does sometimes work out as well.