I much prefer VRBO or local villa specialists than AirBnb. Not enough information on many AirBnB properties and lots of time very misleading or outright false info. Chicago is absolutely terrible with this on AirBnB.
Heading to Spain this weekend and have rented 3 separate apartments all found on VRBO that are managed by local rental agencies. Everything has been very easy and professional. Have also done this in France and Italy the Caribbean, Hawaii and many places in the continental U.S. Never had an issue.
Luckily we have not had the same experience as you apparently have had with Airbnb. Found the descriptions to be accurate. If I need more information or photographs I ask for them. Some owners have “verified” photos posted. Those are taken by a professional photographer hired by Airbnb. I suspect there are some markets or some owners that cause problems. I always check out the neighborhoods as thoroughly as I can too. I also like that I am prepaying Airbnb for all charges upfront and I do not have to argue with an owner who has decided to change the terms. I had a brief issue in Aix-en-Provence when the owner wanted to charge a cleaning fee upon arrival. Airbnb requires that the cleaning fee be in the listing and they collect it. Airbnb took care of the issue for us and we did not have to pay the fee. The owner learned something too.
On the other hand, the only bad experiences I have ever had were with VRBO. An apartment in NYC was nothing like the photos. It was managed by an agent on behalf of an owner. It was not legal to have short-term visitors in the condo. The condition of the apartment was appalling. The advertised AC had been removed and it was 104 degrees one of the days we were there. Furniture was broken and junk stacked in the corners of the room. The refrigerator didn’t cool sufficiently. We had to put up a significant deposit. The posting said it would be returned upon joint inspection when we checked out. The manager was unprepared to return the deposit and didn’t do so. I posted a review on VRBO giving the property an extremely generous 3 stars (should have been more then 2). I received 14 texts and 8 phone calls from the manager saying I was ruining their business and refusing to return my substantial deposit until I removed the review. They complained to VRBO about the review as well. VRBO send me an email saying they were going to remove the review. I lost all faith in VRBO because of that experience.
I guess it just gets down to your own personal experience but none of what happened to me with the VRBO listing is likely to happen with an AirBnb listing without me having some recourse. In fairness, I had used VRBO several times prior to that experience. AirBnb didn’t exist at the time but it only took one horrible experience to teach me a lesson. Always have recourse.
I did Ron. But VRBO was hand’s off all the way. That’s when I decided to never use them again. It takes a long time to get a response from VRBO or at least it did at that time. Airbnb response was rapid (same day) and the issue was resolved.
Many VRBO apartment rentals are not managed by the owners or there are no real owners. I am sitting in a rental apartment in San Sebastian as I type this that I found on VRBO. The rental payment and all communication has gone through a separate local rental agency. Feel Free Rentals. It is important to check out these rental agencies. If they are large there are always plenty of reviews at multiple sites outside of VRBO. If renting directly from an owner - which I have done many times also I also ask lots of questions that only an owner would know. Someone in Barbados tried to scam me once and when I asked very specific questions like where is the nearest grocery store or restaurant or where is the best place to snorkel near the apartment they only respond with very general answers. Also I ALWAYS go by the rule if it looks too good to be true it most definitely is. I haven’t been burned yet but I do a ton of research.
Great advice George. Research is necessary. It the case of the Brooklyn apartment that caused me to forever quit using VRBO, I knew the location was what I wanted. I knew the building was fine but there was no way to see inside the condo itself. The photos posted didn’t show the broken furniture, a refrigerator that wasn’t cooling properly, or the air conditioner that had been removed. Sometimes you just can’t research enough. VRBO was unconcerned that I was being blackmailed to remove my 3 star rating if I wanted my $650 deposit back even though the property description clearly stated that it would be given back upon the exit inspection being done jointly by the property manager and us. When things go bad, you need a backup. VRBO did not back us up.
I am visiting Rome now, and wanted to respond to your comment in the original post about Uber. In Rome, you can only get Uber Black, the more expensive version that uses professional liveried drivers. The cheaper Uber typically used in the US is not allowed because of a court decision. (Lyft does not operate here.) Everyone I have talked to here says that Uber is more expensive than a taxi. The only reason I can see to use Uber is that it’s more transparent, giving you some protection against taxi drivers ripping you off. That said, I have been using taxis and don’t think I’ve had a problem. My most expensive cab ride was from the Roma Termini train station to my hotel. I checked the Uber cost for the return trip and it was more expensive that what I paid. Typically taxi rides are reasonably priced.
If you could bear with one more restaurant recommendation that I don’t remember seeing on the boards, I’d like to suggest trying Pianostrada Laboratorio, Vicolo Del Cedro 26, in the Trastevere area for amazing sandwiches which you will find nowhere else in Rome. My order was the Pane Mare which was one of the best sandwiches I’d ever had, probably the best seafood sandwich. This restaurant is very casual, and very very small. I came before they opened at 1 pm and waited. If you come much later, I’m told there’s a good chance you’ll find a line.
Thank you Lester. All valuable information. I was wondering about Uber in Rome. But I was also wondering what to do about having phone service while we are in Italy. What do you do for that? I have done some research but it all leaves me even more confused. Skyroam seems like a good solution but I don’t know anyone with any experience with it. Solis WiFi Hotspot | Stay Connected – soliswifi
I am concerned too about just getting a SIM card which would be in a language I don’t understand and putting it in my phone. Several years ago, we did that in China only to learn later that the SIM cards were local in nature and not country wide. Had to have one in Shanhai, another in Xian, another in Beijing. Maybe that has changed now. I don’t know if Italy is country wide or local. More research to do or better yet more of my fellow Wineberserkers experiences to collect.
Unlock your phone and buy a TIM sim card. You can do it before you travel or you can walk into any TIM store and buy one there. In either instance, you will have to provide your passport. Last year, TIM had a tourist plan for those visiting Expo and Biennale. Check online.
Be sure to eat a porchetta sandwich every day at Aristocampo (I like mine with spicy chicory). There are a few around Rome; the original is on a corner of Campo dei Fiori. They serve Porchetta di Ariccia, which is one of the great foods in the world if you dig pig. You can read about Porchetta di Ariccia here: weareitaly.net
Sounds like great advice from Mark regarding cell phones. I tried a similar experiment this time with an old iPhone 5, but I bought the SIM card from WIND. The best I can get for data is 3G, but that was still good enough for navigation. After a food tour, I ended up by the Colosseum and wanted to walk back to my hotel to burn off a few of those calories. 3G was good enough to give me a route and turn by turn directions through Apple maps. I’ll try TIM next time though. Also, some T-Mobile plans (like mine) offer international data at no extra cost. However, in Italy this is limited to 2G.
Here is another very good and reasonably priced in Trastevere
Has a well thought out and reasonably priced wine list.
Osteria Fernanda
Andrea, the host was very cool and accommodating http://www.osteriafernanda.com/
Via Crescenzo del Monte 18/24
06 5894333
We really dug the Travestere neighborhood of Rome for night life options. Lots of very good restaurants and bars and cafes in a concentrated non-touristy area. I would have to look back at notes or pictures to remember names of specific places but if you are into beer, I would check out Bier et Fud. It was the Italian equivalent of a local gastropub. Great beers, some pizzas and ‘bar food’ but just with an Italian flare. We really dug it.
Here is one more suggestion for Rome.
Rome food app, Katie Parla is an Expat American from NJ and does food and wine events in the US when not in Rome. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/katie-parlas-rome/id475306005?mt=8
Also has reccs for wine bars. In one I was able to buy Quintarelli Valpolicella off the shelf for like 60 euros