When we decided to spend the year in Europe we knew that Rome would be our first stop, and that we would stay six weeks. That was the easy part. The hard part was deciding where to stay.
There are a few sites for short term rentals, but many of them, including on Airbnb, had extra fees for long stays, such as extra fees for electricity or AC. We finally found The Unique Home Pantheon and it checked most of our boxes.
The host arranged our car service from the airport and it was so nice to have someone waiting for us when we arrived. The driver was right outside of baggage claim and knew exactly where to go. It was only €55, which is about the same as a taxi to the city center, but a taxi charges extra for luggage.
The apartment is located in one of the oldest neighborhoods in Rome, in a beautiful old building. It’s on the third floor, but had a small elevator big enough for me and one suitcase as a time. I was just thankful that we didn’t have to carry our giant bags up all the stairs.
Check in was super easy. The host sent the instructions plenty of time in advance, including a picture of the door, so we knew exactly where to go and how to get in.
The apartment was exactly as pictured. It’s beautifully renovated while still maintaining the old Italian charm. There is a large living area with a comfortable couch, table and chairs, and large screen smart TV. There is also a small but fully equipped kitchen, large refrigerator, and plenty of storage.
The bathroom is small but mostly functional. It has everything you need but I hated the shower. It was a typical European shower but it was impossible to comfortably shower. The hot water heater made me nervous, the shower door was only half the shower, so it was impossible to keep the bathroom dry, and the shower head was placed so that washing my hair was basically a workout. There was also a washing machine, but we had to hang dry our clothes. Luckily there was a rack and we got used to it pretty quick.
The bedroom was large and had a harder bed than I’m used to. One of the reasons we booked this one was because many of the reviews said the bed was super comfortable. I know I’m spoiled by my Purple 3 at home but I had a hard time sleeping in this bed. I even brought my own pillow and still had difficulties. Apparently as I get older I get more opinionated about my mattress firmness. But after a few weeks we got used to it and it was much more comfortable. There is also the most perfect writing desk in the bedroom. One of the main reasons we came to Europe so I could focus on writing my novel, and it was the perfect spot for inspiration.
There is also a little courtyard out back.
Everything aside, the good and bad, the location could not be better. It is in the most perfect location to walk everywhere in central Rome. It’s just a few blocks from the Pantheon, making it easy to find your way back. There are tons of restaurants, a mini mart, a pharmacy, basically everything you need right downstairs. Yet it’s still mostly quiet at night. Of course there is some noise, as it’s in the city, but it’s way quieter than expected. If you wake easily, bring some earplugs or use a sleep app. I use BetterSleep and it drowns out most of the noise. There also seems to be a good amount of Italians living in this area.
After six weeks, I’m a little sad to be leaving but excited for our next stop in Lake Como!
If I was coming back to Rome for a short visit, I would not hesitate to book this same Airbnb. Despite the shower (which is common for here) and the firmer bed, you can’t beat the space and location.