Jeff Mills Coastal Vacations Club Blog

Rome is one of the world’s most important tourist destinations and also one of its most fascinating. The city is steeped in history; from Etruscan and Roman ruins to Renaissance buildings and Christian symbolism. The city also offers the visitor an amazing amount of famous sights and attractions, such as the Trevi Fountain, St. Peter’s Basilica, Coliseum and Pantheon.

The city attracts thousands of visitors on a weekly basis and to support this, the city’s tourist sector provides all types of accommodation and hotels in Rome, in order to cater for the wide range of travellers that visit the city; from the small ‘affiticamere’ (an Italian type of guest house) to the larger luxury chains.

When you book one of these smaller hotels it is worth noting that they may not offer all the same services that a larger hotel may offer. Therefore, below is a small list of 5 tips which has been compiled to provide you with some important information.

1) Shared Occupancy: Many of the hotels in Rome, especially in the centre, and more so the hotels in the Termini Station area do not occupy the whole building. It may be a semi-residential building or may be occupied by other hotels or businesses. Normally, this will mean that you will receive your own key to the front door, so you can come and go as you wish.

2) Payment In Cash Only: These days, when you book online through an online agency, such as HotelsChart, you can secure your booking using a credit card. But this does not necessarily mean that you can actually pay for your accommodation with a credit card. Some hotels only accept payment in the cash, this is becoming less and less common these days, but some establishments still do not have the facility for credit card payments, or simply prefer payment in cash, especially for special offers and reduced rate bookings.

3) Italian Breakfast: Although many of the larger hotels and higher category establishments will offer a standard continental breakfast (choice of cold meats, cereals, toast, hot beverages, etc), many of the smaller ones will offer what is called an ‘Italian breakfast’, which comprises of some type of croissant, coffee or cappuccino and perhaps a fruit juice. In fact, if there is no breakfast room, some places will just provide a breakfast basket for consuming in your guest room, or they might provide you with a token to use at the nearest café.

4) Check-In: It is important to remember that all adult guests must show formal identification (e.g. passport) on checking in, a credit card will not be sufficient! And usually the ID will also be photocopied. This is a standard procedure in Italy, as the local police ask for a list of occupants on a regular basis.

5) Checking In Late: If you expect to be arriving late at your accommodation, make sure that it provides a 24-hour reception or night porter. If it doesn’t, then you will normally have to inform the reception staff in advance of your estimated time of arrival and arrange a check-in time. Also check with them if there is an additional charge for a late check-in.

The best thing to do if you have any doubt about your accommodation, is to contact your hotel directly, who should gladly provide you with the information you need.

Finally, WRH Suites is a good example of a 3 star equivalent ‘affittacamere’/guest house located in the heart of Rome, just a short walk from Termini. The establishment offers excellent in-room amenities, including air conditioning, laptop with free internet access, etc and all at very affordable prices.

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Filed under: Travel Agency