We are two ladies planning a mid-March trip to Italy with 5 nights in Rome...leaning toward an apartment. First-timers both. Is that "very" low season? Maybe good rates would be available at hotels as we get closer?

There are 3 apartments which have caught my interest, all in the 100-110 EURO per night level. We would appreciate input on the locations and anything else that might not have occurred to us.

1) Via Manara--Trastavere ("behind Santa Maria square&quot 110 Euro/night.
5th floor WITH lift.
The commentary is poorly written, but it sounds like it has 2 beds (?) which we require. http://www.sleepinitaly.com/files/apt_manara.html

2) Via di Panico - Piazza Navona---110 EURO
Sounds too good to be true! 2 bedrooms, 1st floor WITH lift, across the street is Via dei Coronari. Low ceilings probably not a problem since I'm the tallest and I'm only 5'4".
http://sleepinitaly.com/files/apt_panico.html

3) Apt Monserrato--Campo dei Fiori--100 Euro
It's ground floor, but it looks like entrance is from a courtyard (We'd check on that). Actually, it looks like it's a little below "street level". That might be a problem in that bustling area??
http://sleepinitaly.com/files/apt_monserrato.html

I've scoured Fodors and other websites, but I don't know Rome, so would appreciate any comments.

All three areas are good and you are making a wise decision. I got the advice from people here about an apartment and could not have been more thrilled!!It is a great way to go.

Hi Jeanne,

For this one: .http://sleepinitaly.com/files/apt_panico.html
I've actually stayed at the via panico apartment and it was really lovely. Loved the location and the landlord/owner is very kind - I'd stay here again for sure. This is in between Piazza Navona and Castel St. Angelo. You just cross the river to get to the Vatican St. Peter's ect. I'm staying at an apartment that is very close to this one.


The Via Manara--Trastaverelooks good too. It was one that I tried to book it for my trip in May but it was already booked. Good lacation too - not as central as the Via Panico but I am really starting to spend more time in the Trasevere area when I go to Rome.

Good luck let us know what you get!

opps forgot, the Apt Monserrato--Campo dei Fiori, good location in the center but the apartment to me doesn't look that great I'd keep looking.

Also someone here told me about a site called wwwrealrome.com - I have not used them but the apartments seem good and good prices too.

you might want to read the other post about the people who arrived in Rome to find Sleeps in Italy had changed them to another apartment -- a dump.

Which post is that? I've done a search and nothing apparent came up. I'd like to check it out.

here you go

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=2

Sorry, ecat, I must be doing something wrong. When I click that link, Fodors comes up, but no thread. Please just give me a clue to search on and I'll see if I can find it. Thanks!

Hi Jeanne,

Try & copy and paste this into your browser. If that does not work, the Title is: Recently returned-fewedback on Apartments.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=2

jeannieB, just check post number 10 , he or she is describing about his or her experience about renting apts. in Rome.

I would go over to www.slowtalk.com and check out their reviews. Links are provided so you can take a look at the apartments, and the reviews are very thorough. We rented through sleepinitaly and had no trouble with them. We rented in Trastevere in Via Grande Natale, and the apartment was in a great location. It was a bit too dark for us, though, as it opened into a courtyard and had just one window.

The URL eileen has given is just the Fodors Europe forums. This is the URL of that specific thread on apts in Rome:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...18&start=0

Sorry Jeanne about that link I posted - that was very un-brunette of me ; )

"un-brunette":

I went un-brunette years ago, but no one would know it! LOL!

Having read the concerns about agency rentals, I think it boils down to whether we're going at a busy time. Last week of March, 2004. Of course, it's hard to know whether any given week has special events or not. I still think we may take our chances if the apartment is available.

ttt for Cindy.

Jeanne B--my first trip to Rome 11 years ago (I go to Italy every year now! Totally addicted), we stayed at Pensione Manara on Via Manara. I would never recommend that particular place, but the neighborhood was a delight. Trastevere is great and you feel like you're getting away from the tourist bustle when you return there. There's great bus and tram service from there to any place in Rome although you can walk easily to most spots.

It is hard to believe something across from Via dei Coronari is that inexpensive, but hey, it's a great area-central to everything, and with Gelato at Tre Scalini it sounds terrific. Cia dei Coronari is close to a main traffic area though, so try to pinpoint ezactly where it is. It won't be very quiet, actually all of these neighborhoods are hopping, so don't expect too much.

Good rates should be available until April, but with the dollar as tanked as it is now, I don't know if that will help much!

We stay often at Albergo Abruzzi, which is right across from the Pantheon on the Piazza della Rotonda. Wonderful place, but limited rooms with bagno interno, so book soon if you are interested. It's also not a very quiet area, but truth is in mid March it's usually fairly rainy, so folks don't linger that much!
Buon viaggio!