Arela

The balcony was a lovely place to start the day with the sunrise, then settle in with a couple of chairs and Prosecco at sunset. Licia welcomed us into a spacious, well-equipped flat and shared a Verona map with ideas for places to see and eat. La Bottega della Gina was one of her tips, and its freshly made pasta was so good we bought two more portions to cook at home. Arela feels homely and sits on a quiet street, just a couple of minutes on foot from the Arena. There are cultural sights, restaurants and shops nearby, plus several buses to the train station. Aldi, with a good Italian deli selection, is about five minutes away. The stairs kept us active, too. With the hot weather, an earlier check-in, air conditioning and a washing machine were all very welcome. Licia explained the house rules before taking the deposit, which was promptly returned. After checkout, we used the friendly Verona Luggage Room nearby so we could enjoy our last day in beautiful Verona. La ringrazio molto, Licia.

I wouldn't recommend this place. My flight meant I arrived in Verona at 23:00, but the owner wouldn't let me in and cancelled my booking. I tried to explain, but she wasn't communicative. I understood her rules, booked another apartment for that night, and asked to enter this apartment the next morning. She still refused, charged me for the two-night booking, and left me out on the street at night.

The apartment has two bedrooms, a sofa bed, a kitchen with good appliances and a modern bathroom. It was comfortable and air-conditioned, which we really needed in the hot weather. The Arena is nearby, and the Opera is about a seven-minute walk away. There are some stairs to climb to reach the apartment, and you'll need to park in one of the city's P lots.

Parking was a bit complicated, but the landlord was incredibly helpful, and check-in was friendly and easy. The apartment was spotless and had everything we needed; it matched the pictures. It felt like a dream, right in the heart of the city while still being really quiet. Such a beautiful place, I'd happily come back.