Dave and I wanted to stay in Fiumicino for a variety of reasons when we went to Italy in April. At first glance, La Casetta was perfect for our needs. We wanted to be out of Rome, but with easy access to the city. And we needed a place where we could leave our luggage for the duration of our last day in Italy.
Getting to La Casetta
Dave and I have a process when booking accommodation. I look at the internal setting to make sure it meets my very high standards. And then Dave looks on Google Street View to ensure the neighbourhood is good. I also use Google Maps to see how we will get to where we are staying. Google Maps showed we could catch a bus from the airport into Fiumicino Città and then a short walk to the apartment. What Google Maps could not tell us was that Cotral bus tickets need to be purchased online. And that you needed an Italian cell phone number to register for their service. Had I known this before we spent 40 minutes walking around the airport apron, I would have booked a taxi straight away. I recommend freenow as they were the cheaper option. If you have a car, be aware that parking is on the street and limited.
La Casetta
Before I made our booking, I contacted the host to enquire about luggage storage. She was more than willing to keep our luggage for the last day of our trip which was extremely helpful. The apartment had a lovely kitchen, albeit it without a dishwasher; a dining area; and open plan lounge. The bedroom was separate with an extremely comfortable bed. And the bathroom had a lovely large shower. We were provided plenty of towels, which is a huge plus for me. As well as a full array of toiletries, cleaning materials and kitchen goodies, including wine and bottled water. When I told Stefania that Mark and Eva would be coming from The Netherlands, she let me know about the studio apartment that I could book for them.
La Casetta 2
This was ideal for Mark and Eva, and luckily for us, it worked perfectly for a family. They had a patio area outside of their room where we could sit around the table. Their kitchen included a dishwasher, which would have been very useful, but it appeared not to be working. We ended up swapping a few kitchen items between the two units as we ate and cooked in ours for all meals. Because the children had their own space, they could leave early in the morning without disturbing us. However, I am a very light sleeper, and could hear them, but this did not detract from how comfortable our stay was.
In the area
Just a few blocks away, and a two minute walk is the Conad supermarket. It has everything you need, from plant based meals to meat lovers food. We did all of our shopping here, which was most convenient. On the opposite block is a Bar which we frequented each afternoon. The owner and his wife were lovely, and we had great snacks with our drinks. There are lovely beaches in Fiumicino as well as parks and places of interest to walk around and see. We spent a morning exploring the area and it showcases Italian living to a tee.
Getting to Rome
The best way to get to Rome is to walk to the SIT bus shuttle stop. This is located at Fiumicino Piazza Generale Carlo Alberto dalla Chiesa. Across from the bus stop is a small pub, which is great for a coffee stop on your way into Rome. The cost to get into the city is €8 per person which is well worth it. From this stop to Termini takes just over an hour but the ride is pleasant and you get to see a lot during the trip. We went in twice to explore different areas of Rome.
Use this link to book your accommodation and get 10% back after your stay.
See the links below for blog posts I published on November 28:
- 2023: Stufato Di Melanzane
- 2021: The Burning
- 2018: Ristorante Pizzeria Il Maneggio
- 2016: Torta Della Nonna
- 2014: Friday 28 November 2014 | Out And About
- 2012: Top Ten Home Cooks
- 2011: Panettone
I’m sure the trip provided plenty of inspiration for your recipes
I have one particular recipe I am working on because of this trip 🙂
That apartment looks really nice. Thank you for sharing your experiences, which I believe would make the traveling and finding a right accommodation less stressful. I, however, avoid any traveling if possible. These days delayed flights and trains make it even more exhausting.
Delayed flights can be stressful, as well as tiresome!
Looks like it was a fun time!
It was a magical visit 🙂
We love Italy and it looks like you had a blast! Cheers!
We always have a good time there 🙂
Rome is amazing! Your apartment looks good. We stayed in a dank and awful hotel years ago, near a railway station i think. Back in the dark days of no internet etc…
sherry
Ah, that must have been close to Termini! That area is not the best, and the bathrooms in the coffee shops there are vile! But Rome is lovely 🙂
What an interesting read! Must admit I am so old-fashioned (does this mean old :)?) I have only ever stayed in hotel accommodation so it is fascinating to see the ‘other’ possibilities! More logical ones these days too! Love your Rome photos . . . coming on our at least annual business (and fun) trips to Europe it was almost always the first stop for us and I know it well . . . Villa Hassler atop the Spanish Steps was almost home number two . . .
Our first trip to Italy was for our honeymoon, and we stayed in some lovely hotels. But after 2008 we decided we would rather self cater and have mostly stayed in apartments since then. And no, you are not old!
We (specifically me) haven’t been to Rome and this part of Italy but I love Europe. Yes, we too do all the homework for the stay and and the conveyance. My daughter is one step ahead. When she went to Europe with her friend, she made an excel sheet of where to stay, eat, tours, and how much to spend.
I do a spreadsheet as well which I share with everyone travelling with us 😉