It can be a real challenge to travel with kids. After all, many hotels aren't ready to deal with your needs, resulting in stress and unhappiness for you, your kids and the hotel staff.

The good news is that there's an easy way to have a great vacation and avoid this problem entirely. Choose short term rentals of vacation apartments when your family takes their next trip to Rome and have a great time.

These apartments give you better privacy, more space, and the amenities you'd expect in a regular home, unlike the majority of hotel rooms. Plus, you'll save money renting them, particularly since hotel accommodations in Rome are famous for their high cost.

Apartments cost around the same as a hotel room, and can go as low as about half the cost of your hotel stay, depending on the number of rooms you'd be renting and the level of hotel you'd have stayed at. Remember to choose your space carefully, and if you have someone in the family who's willing to share rooms or sleep on a sofa bed, you'll save even more.

Another money saver is the fact that apartments give you the basics you'd expect at home. You'll save on cleaners and extra baggage costs when you do your own laundry in the apartment, for instance.

The full kitchen provided with each apartment allows you to shop locally and sample food in Rome the way natives do. That'll allow you to save your money for some really good restaurant trips, instead of eating out constantly and incurring very high bills.

Since most apartment units are close to a number of transportation options, you can choose a less expensive, quieter neighborhood without giving up access to the best tourist locations. Just make sure you check up on the routes before you head out for the day.

It's important to remember that stocked fridges and pantries aren't part of the package in most cases, and that you should read the description carefully to find out what amenities are included. After all, air conditioning and elevators are rare in Rome, and may need to be specifically requested from your agency if you need them.

Remember that you and your family will have to plan ahead as well. That's because apartment bookings often work differently than reservations for hotels. Pay close attention to what you need and your travel times, and be sure to communicate effectively with the helpful staff provided by your apartment booking agency.

If you're visiting Rome with your family and your budget is tight, it helps to check out all the options. Be sure to include budget vacation apartments on your list of choices, since they could change the entire feel of your journey.