Rome: bed and breakfast or hotel?
To answer this question you should know exactly what is the
meaning of bed and breakfast in Rome, and in general in Italy -
since you are supposed to know what to expect from a Hotel.
This type of accommodation is very much different from country
to country: if in the United Kingdom (the homeland of bed and
breakfasts) this type of accommodation has a long tradition and
there are several bed and breakfast associations, a rating
system, and a quality control, in Italy things are a bit
different. The first bed and breakfast opened in Rome in 1997,
so less than 9 years ago, and since then thousands of B&Bs
opened all over Italy. At the beginning it was a solution to
answer the quest for accommodation of the pilgrims coming for
the Jubilee (year 2000).
The state rules concerning the bed and breakfast standards and
policies are demanded to the regions, and in each region things
work differently. The result is that nowadays we still don't
have a general rating system and a quality control. If bed and
breakfasts are checked by the official tourist boards at the
very beginning (when they open), no other control is done
afterwards.
In this situation the control effort is demanded to the private
companies which promotes bed and breakfasts, and serious
companies check constantly the service quality and the overall
standard offered. In good bed and breakfast you find extremely
high quality standards at a relatively cheap price. Usually they
are very well located and rooms are comparable to 3 stars hotel
rooms (sometimes even better!).
Anyway if you are looking for a bed and breakfast in Rome don't
think about finding a house or a cottage, but a big apartment
well organized with 3 to 6 rooms for guests, many times with
en-suite bathrooms (to be sure ask for it!) and a breakfast
hall. If you are concerned about breakfast, don't think about
the English one: we have strict rules in the Lazio region about
the food manipulation. That's why if a bed and breakfast sticks
to the rules you won't find hand made cakes, pizza, fresh
croissants: everything you are going to get has to be singularly
packed.
Explain exactly and clearly your needs and you will surely spend
a nice and relaxing holiday!