Flaminio Village Bungalow Park

Set amid the leafy greenery next to Veio Park, Flaminio Village is a solid alternative to a traditional hotel and is the first of its kind in Rome to be open year round (though it can be a bit desolate in the winter). The campground is comprised of sites for tents and campers, as well as humble bungalow-style buildings housing apartments and hotel-style rooms. It has been managed by the same family since 1974, and the grounds feature gardens, manicured lawns, and an outdoor pool that's pretty enough to be included at a high-end resort. There’s a bar off the pool and two playgrounds for kids, one outside and one inside, and several well-kept, attractive buildings are scattered around the property. The atmosphere is tranquil during the day, but it gets lively at night when drinks and meals are served poolside or on the deck of the L'Ottavo Colle restaurant. Guests here include budget travelers, as well as couples and families who prefer a more casual, independent place to rest their heads.

The campground is secluded but not cut off from the rest of Rome, as it lies within the ring road that surrounds the city, off of busy Via Flaminia Nuova. Rome’s best attractions are miles away, and the campground is ideal for guests with cars -- it takes about 25 minutes to drive into the city center. As an alternative, the Due Ponti Metro station is a 10-minute walk from the entrance to the property, and trips into the city center take an hour. There is also a bus stop right at the entrance of the property. Restaurants and shops are a five-minute walk, while a Carrefour supermarket is a two-minute walk outside of the property for guests looking to use the barbecue areas or in-room kitchenettes. Porta di Roma, a huge and popular mall with brand-name retail stores, is 15-minutes away by car and the sprawling Park Veio, which holds modest ancient Etruscan ruins, is just behind the property. Leonardo da Vinci Airport takes about 30 minutes to reach by car. 

There are different pitches for tents and campers, and they all come equipped with electricity and designated, modern public bathrooms that are very clean, though some guests have reported waits for showers. Children have their own nursery and their own bathroom. The Village is comprised of 120 apartment-style units and hotel-style rooms, all of which are simple, but clean. Light wood laminate floors, mottled tan wallpaper, and simple oak-veneer furniture give them a humble vibe, and some can be tiny. All units include en-suite bathrooms with showers, as well as air-conditioning, mini-fridges, and free Wi-Fi. Higher level bookings have furnished porches, kitchenettes, barbecues, and flat-screen TVs, though these features vary from room to room so check ahead.The grounds are lovely, but don’t expect much in terms of decor in the guest rooms; it’s camping, after all.

The pool, open during the summer, is enormous and has a surrounding terrace with lounge chairs, umbrellas, and a poolside snack bar. Outdoor activities include hiking and on-site rentals for scooters, mopeds, and bicycles, plus two playgrounds -- one indoor and one outdoor -- for kids. There’s free Wi-Fi throughout the property and a computer station, and the on-site market that sells alcoholic beverages is also the area where the breakfast buffet is served, though it's not included with all bookings. There are two eateries on-site, an informal poolside resto-bar and L'Ottavo Colle, a more formal (though still casual) restaurant serving dishes like pizza and Italian specialties that's open to visitors and locals alike. There are also terraces for dining al fresco and barbecue areas for families who want to cook their own meals. Airport transfers (for a fee), free self-parking, 24-hour reception, and a courtesy car round out the many features of this highly-unique village, and the dedicated concierge is available to help with organized tours and excursions. There is a laundry area on site and pets are welcome here, though there are small fees attached.