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Accommodation in Rome - Finding Accommodation | | |
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Contacting Sites.
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Methods of searching.
You can use two methods of searching through the net. You can simply build as much information as you can about Rome, and then precisely target particular options, or you can ask generally on sites and people to make offers.
Both can be rewarding.
If you use the first method, you will be relatively confident in your final choice on the basis of the information you have built. The drawback is that to gain 99% confidence, you have to spend huge amounts of time doing so. Not only that - you will likely miss out on something special.
The second method of just putting it out there and seeing what comes back (i.e. sending many emails and filling in many forms) can be both excellent and useless.
The important thing is to give as much information as you can so that the person responding can make a sensible suggestions. Don't think that simply because you have sent an email that you will get a swift and comprehensive response. If the email is deemed to be tyre-kicking, or even sloppy, then you can expect a fairly week response.
A strong email, or notes to a form (even if carefully scripted, and copied and pasted in each time you send), that clearly states the things you definitely need/want (centre of city, autonomous heating, etc) and the things you definitely don't want (unsavoury area, stairs maybe, etc). In addition, clearly state the dates and number of people (including the number of separate beds and separate sleeping rooms required).
That defines strongly your parameters. Now you need to further refine YOUR personal touches to ensure that if you get someone responding to you that is really listening, they may just be able to get you something special/perfect.
Items such as age, mobility, reason for the trip, if you would like a balcony, windows out to a cobbled street, etc. Clearly state how important each of these items are. If you state "I need a balcony", then you may find that you get few responses (balconies are wonderful but relatively rare). If you state "I would much prefer accommodation with a balcony", you will receive many more quality responses.
This advice applies to both multiple accommodation sites (such as this one) or even supposedly single accommodation sites such as a hotel site. It may seem that the hotel either has a room or not and that is the end of it. But people know people, and although the hotel may not have accommodation themselves, they may be able to suggest something.
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The most important information...
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The most important factor is to explain as clearly as possible what you are looking for. Remember, if you bump into someone who really cares about your stay in Rome, ensure they have enough information to help you. You maybe dealing with people who will assess your requirements and offer a response based on what you say. If you are coming for business, your apartment/Bed and Breakfast requirement will be different from if you are coming for the sites of Rome.
If you are unsure of your final requirements, then it is more important than ever to give quality parameters and access the responses.
On this site, the booking form will ask the most basic information required. We need this as a minimum, but add plenty of notes to help staff really offer something useful and not waste your and our time. The notes section is the one that differentiates your requirements specifically.
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Assessing responses.
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Assessing your response...
People can build beautiful websites and fill them with corporate phrases of "the customer is the cats whiskers etc", but your real test of a supplier is reality.
Email can be an excellent way to communicate. It is relatively if not very informal, and this allows a bit of flexibility to really understand each other.
Personal Responses:
The first thing to look for, if you have given quality information about your requirements, is to see if the person responding has referred to your email in any way. If not, or if not much, then you can be assured that you are either talking to someone with little interest in what you want (concentrating more on what they have) or it is a standardised response.
If you don't get a personal feel at this stage, then it is unlikely you will get it at any stage with the supplier.
Level and Type of Detail:
Incomplete descriptions of accommodation, like a few lines in an email, or very brief web pages, are also something that doesn't help your confidence. On the odd occasion the place is fine and it is just not being presented well. But it would not be a bad bet that either the person responding doesn't know the accommodation, or there is something not being said.
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How we select our properties.
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All the hotels, apartments, bed and breakfasts have been visited by us here in Rome, and for the apartments and bed and breakfasts, the photos are all taken by us and our independent descriptions are given.
The properties have been selected for a number of reasons. The descriptions give the outline. There are a few standards. That of honesty and trust of the property owner to commit to their agreement to supply a clean and tidy standard with fresh sheets, towels etc (unless otherwise stated). But there are properties that are lavish, and those that aren't. This allows a broad price range to those who will sacrifice the exclusive for the budget. Ultimately, it is definitely true here, you will get what you pay for. We hope to surprise you in just how much that is for your money.
Included in our selection of places to stay is a large variety of widely differing places. Our descriptions are designed to give you an excellent idea of what you will be experiencing during your stay. And we are told, and it is our experience, that the key difference between this accommodation and the more formal, is that you truly "experience" the city, and not just visit it.
Many people come to Europe with a very different understanding of terms, so we use this section to help clarify what we mean.
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Avoiding Unwelcome Surprises.
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If you have any information that you think we should know about, please tell us. Things like:
-Don't like small elevators
-Don't like steep stairs
-Anything over 2 flights, we require a lift.
-Very light sleeper.
-etc etc
If you have any disability you MUST tell us. Not all descriptions include descriptions to indicate a particularly difficult set of stairs or whatever. Rome generally is not kind to those with mobility restrictions, so it is somewhat redundant to highlight something in the apartment that isn't as bad as that around the apartment.
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Your Expectations filled
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The important thing is your expectations. We will endeavour to fill them. It requires that we know what they are. Therefore, information like:
-Is it a holiday or business
-Do you mind a short walk, buses, or need to be right in the centre
-Are you young at heart or more settled in your requirements
-Do you like a nice environment inside or more important the location.
Certain things cost more money, like the very centre, or a terrace, or air-conditioning, and you should bear that in mind. The cobbled street outside will probably come at a premium, but often is the real joy that makes peoples' stay in Rome an exquisite one. Likewise, a short walk or bus ride may save you significant money to spend elsewhere on your holiday, either in Rome or somewhere else.
If you want "Navona", or "Spanish Steps" - please clarify if it means "in the piazza", within 1 metre, 100 metres, 1 kilometre etc. Generally Real Rome will interpret it to mean within what is generally regarded as the area, and we will tell you how far it is from the suggested accommodation to your mentioned area.
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Using Pricing as a Guide
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Pricing is often the equivalent of Star Rating for a hotel. Properties are generally priced according to their particular features and desirability. If it has more desirable features, such as its location or antique furniture or dishwasher or is larger etc, then it most likely cost more to buy, own and maintain. For this reason, if you cannot think of all the particular features you need or would like, then you tell us what you can spend and we will tell you what you will get for your money. We have put a wide range and variety of options on the site, so you might use this to generate some ideas to give us a chance to get you the ideal accommodation.
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How to use this site.
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1. Scan properties briefly.
2. Read only interesting ones.
3. Check with us on availability or for our suggestions of similar alternatives.
4. You will be assigned someone to talk to, and that person will deal with your requirements and questions.
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