I don’t like traveling alone, I have to admit it.
I am a solitary person and I love spending time alone but when it comes to traveling, that’s a whole different story. If I travel alone, I tend to become anxious and feel the need to be with people. Moreover, when I visit a new place I really like to share what I see and feel with somebody else.
That’s why I always try to avoid traveling solo. Sometimes, though, you either have to travel on your own, maybe for work-related things, or maybe you just feel brave and try to get out of your comfort zone, as recommended by all life coaches. In either case, I think it is always best if you can find a place that makes you feel at home and I am glad I have found one in Rome.
I have visited this place back in February and I have liked it so much that I decided to include it in the Places I Recommend section of this blog, where you can find all the places I like in terms of hotels, restaurants, and accommodations. By the way, there are only two other blog posts in the section so far because I am super careful with the places I want to share with you!
the lounge room at The Beehive
If you have been following me for a while, you may have already heard of the hostel I am writing about today. As a matter of fact, I have interviewed Linda Martinez, owner of The Beehive with her husband Steve, back in October for one of my Expats in Italy posts. As it often happens with the people I interview, we kept in touch via social media, became friends and finally met last month.
Linda has been so nice as to invite me to stay at the hostel and I accepted enthusiastically, not just because I was happy to meet her and give her a hug but also because for me it was a good opportunity to test an accommodation in Rome, so that I know what to suggest when you guys ask me for recommendations.
Actually, I liked the place so much that I decided to write a whole post about it. I really enjoyed the casual atmosphere of the hostel and the fact that it’s not the place you’d imagine when you think of hostel: they make really clear that the Beehive is not a party hostel and there are some rules to follow, which allow everyone to relax and enjoy some quality time there.
But let me tell you why I liked The Beehive so much.
one of the rooms
The location
The Beehive is super conveniently located. It is a stone’s throw from Roma Termini, making it very easy to be reached. The station is a hub for transportation in the city, so being close to it is great upon arrival and departure but it is really convenient if you need to use public transport to visit Rome too.
Moreover, if you like walking as I do, you can enjoy a nice 20-minute walk to get to the city. I especially like walking down via Cavour and get directly to the Roman Forum, but you can even take a detour and enjoy the trendy Monti neighborhood or admire the Moses by Michelangelo in San Pietro in Vincoli.
Actually, the neighborhood around Termini Station is very interesting, rich in history and full of interesting things to see and do, in case you want to explore a more off-the-beaten-path location. If you want, you can ask Linda to show you around, as she offers a specific service that gives you the chance to discover the area: I haven’t done it this time but it’s on my wishlist for my next visit to Rome.
another view of the lounge room
The breakfast and lounge room
Let me tell you: breakfast at The Beehive is awesome. It is not included in your room rate, so you have to pay it separately but it is worth every penny. All food is organic and homemade, there’s awesome bread, different types of sweet delicacies, and all other kinds of dishes are freshly prepared by the guys in charge of breakfast (I met Daniele, who is super kind).
Breakfast is served in the small room which also doubles as a basic kitchen for guests and location for all weekly dinners – more on that later. As I said, the room is small, has a very homey feeling and makes it very easy for you to chat with other guests and fellow travelers.
The same “homey” feeling is in the lounge, a small room next to the kitchen where you can find a sofa, chairs, nice music, a desk, board games and more. The walls are nicely decorated with Linda and Steve’s family pictures and it is a very comfy place to sit and relax.
the breakfast room
The activities
As I said, I don’t like traveling alone. As much as I love spending time by myself when I am at home, when I am abroad I tend to immediately feel very lonely. I don’t like the feeling of being on my own all the time. And this is where a place like The Beehive helps a lot.
There are a lot of activities planned, which give you the opportunity of meeting other people and finding someone to chat with. Unfortunately, I missed the pasta making class but I got the chance to enjoy a super nice, friendly family-style dinner, which is hosted by Steve a couple of nights a week. I met a lot of interesting people there and had a fun evening, exactly as if I was with my friends. Moreover, Steve is a very good cook, so you’ll also enjoy great food, which is something worth mentioning!
Another event I missed, unfortunately, is the Storytellers Rome, a monthly English language oral storytelling event. I follow the event on social media and it seems a very interesting thing, so it’s just another reason to go back and see for myself!
the activity board
The owners and everything else
Well, I strongly believe that the beauty of a place reflects the beauty of its owners. This is true for the other two locations I shared in my previous posts and it is undoubtedly true for The Beehive as well. The Beehive is a place where kindness is the rule and smiles are the norm, which makes everything easier.
Linda and Steve are super helpful and really try to make you feel at home but also help you discover the real beauty of the amazing city of Rome. They have been running the hostel since 1999 and know the city very well, so they can give you lots of interesting and off-the-beaten-track tips.
I had already asked Linda some of her favorite places to visit in Rome in my interview, so this time I asked her about bars and restaurants close to the hostel. And here’s what she recommends:
Ristorante Regina is a family owned restaurant that has been around at least 40 years and at lunchtime is packed with locals. Located in our same building, it’s our go-to restaurant for simple, no frills, but delicious Roman food. Via dei Mille, 46 (Closed Sundays).
Caffe Fondi is our neighborhood bar. Perfect for a quick pastry and cappuccino in the morning, aperitivo in the evening or a late night cocktail. Via Magenta, 61.
Trimani is one of the oldest wine shops in Rome and has an extensive selection of local and regional wines. Next door to the wine shop is their enoteca which is an excellent place for a light lunch, aperitivo or dinner with more creative rather than classical Roman cuisine. Wine shop, via Goito, 20 (Closed Sundays), Enoteca , via Cernaia, 37/b (Closed Sundays).
the garden
So, if you are looking for a simple, down-to-earth place, where you can relax, enjoy good food and feel at home away from home while feeling immersed in the beauty of Rome at the same time, The Beehive is the place for you. Don’t expect anything super fancy or luxurious but a sparkling clean, colorful, simple, happy place, where service is great – isn’t it perfect?
Leave a Reply