Sleep in the Shadow of the Colosseum.

Our first time in Rome we rented what was essentially a room in a three-bedroom apartment billed as a bed and breakfast. The room was a hot mess at best, and breakfast was non-existent. For the life of me I can’t remember the name, but I’m sure it is not the only Rome apartment being pimped out on the internet as a something it is not.

It was 2010 and our first jaunt to Europe. We had no idea about the joys of vacation apartments. Fast forward to this spring. We were heading back to Rome for two nights with Beth’s cousin, and, knowing the benefits of having an apartment compared to a hotel or hostel, especially with multiple people, we decided to book a place through GowithOh.

Via Della Polveriera runs right past the front door and smack dab into a panoramic view of the ancient Colosseum.

Since that initial trip to Rome, we’ve stayed in half a dozen apartments. In that time, I’ve gotten pretty good at being able to tell the good from the bad when searching online. So, when I came across this Rome apartment near the Colosseum, I got excited–all signs pointed to a winner.  See one thing I learned early on is that the combination of pictures and your imagination can be a dangerous thing. I remember this apartment Beth and I thought about renting on the coast of Tijuana years ago. On Craigslist (and in our mind) it looked ideal. That all changed, however, when we went to check it out. The apartment was so far from what we had imagined, it was scary–literally.

Related: 30 photos from Rome that will make your mouth water.

Well, I’m happy to report that this Rome apartment did not disappoint. Not only did it live up to its online profile, but this first floor apartment (that’s the second floor in Europe; there is no elevator) was even better in the flesh, partly because of its long wraparound terrace that leads out to a patio. Inside, the décor is modern and accented with period pieces, like the sofa in the lounge, as well as high ceilings and windows throughout the space. The design works well to create a nice place to come home to after a long day of touring the city. The one bedroom rental features a double bed as well as a double sofa bed in the living room. One thing the apartment doesn’t have is a TV; however, there are  a couple of desks in the living room where you could set up your laptop. The kitchen also has a table–perfect for morning and late night espresso conversations.

We really enjoyed the two nights we had in the apartment. The place felt authentic and made for a great base to explore the city from. Overall, it’s a really easy place to recommend for your stay in Rome, especially if you plan to tour the Colosseum or Palatine Hill.  In fact, the Colosseum is only about a 5 minute walk away and the photo of the Colosseum (above) was taken from right down the street – maybe a 30 second walk. The location of this apartment is fantastic because you are so close to the major sites!

The apartment requires a minimum two night stay and starts at $47/pp in the low season. If you are traveling with a small pet, they can stay for no additional charge (love that!). For more details or to book this vacation rental, you can see the listing here.

What is your favorite thing about staying in vacation rentals when you travel?

*Please remember all photos on this website, unless otherwise noted, are copyrighted and property of Beers and Beans Travel Website & Bethany Salvon. Please do not use them without my permission. If you do want to use one of them please contact me first. Thanks!
*Disclosure: While we were hosted by the great folks at GowithOh, our thoughts and opinions are entirely our own.