I have been planning a trip to Itlay since the last 5 years...but it kept getting pushed for some reason or the other. Now my DH and I are going in May this year with our toddler!

Have loads of questions but will start with the following:

1. Please help me select between the following apartments :

http://www.sleepinitaly.com/info-cav...id_appartam=35

http://www.sleepinitaly.com/info-cav...id_appartam=34

We need something simple , walking distance from major sites, no loft etc. because of the baby. Request your help to decide between the following apartments ( anyone stayed there before?)


2.Do restaurants in Rome allow children? Or do I have to call in advance and check each time for dinner etc?

3.Is Car seat mandatory in Taxis? Do they provide one or do I have to carry mine?

A major part of my trip is help from you guys as usual. Thanks in advance!

Shilpi

I can only answer #2 for you. In Italy children are gold. Unless it's a very expensive restaurant (which we never go to so I don't know) there is never a problem with children. Most even allow dogs! Ok, so that was a bad example because some children can be more rowdy than a dog. It's weird coming from the US and seeing dogs in restaurants, but it's common. So...no problem with children.

Thanks Ann1. Am glad to know that my little angel is so welcome! And thankfully for me, he is naughty but not rowdy (yet!)

Both of these apartments are on the third floor with no elevator--which means the fourth floor if you are from the U.S. Consider if you really want to drag a two-year-old up and down four flights each time you come and go.

Ellenem: Thanks a lot! I am surprised I did not notice this (makes me wonder what else I am missing from a toddlers stand point..)
The other two apartments I am looking at are :

http://www.sleepinitaly.com/appartam...d_appartam=419
http://www.sleepinitaly.com/appartam.php?id_appartam=49

You may or may not know about the darling playground at the Fort di Angelo in Rome. Very nice to have something like that so close to a tourist attraction. My little one had a fun time in the Fort too (as did we)!

Christycruz: Wow...that sounds good....where exactly is this?

For the two new choices, the nice neighborhoods of small charming streets and less car traffic--Via Coppelle might even be pedestrian-only. Very popular central locations. And both are up just one flight--the Grotte choice even has an elevator. Both only have a shower--no tub.

Here's the official web site (it's in Italian but Google Translate worked well) http://www.castelsantangelo.com/info.asp

In taxis, car seats are neither required nor supplied.

Shilpi - you'll have a wonderful time. My husband and I took our daughter when she was 10 months and had so much fun. The Italians (Romans) adore kids and you will be treated like a movie star. here is a link to my trip report which you may find helpful.
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ravel-tips.cfm

You definitely don't need restaurant reservations. We ate at a lot of restaurants (easier at 10 months than 2 years I know). I would try to find some places where you can sit out which will be more interesting for your son (things to look at) and will drown out any noise from him.

We did not bring a carseat around with us. We took a few taxis without one but mostly walked.

Christycruz: Thanks. Will check it out!
Ellenem: Thanks for the input. It's just that all other apartments seem to be asking for huge deposits of 300K Euros....am uncomfortable with that. Anyone ever gave that kinda deposit?
Zerlina: U are saving me the trouble of carrying a huge seat.. Thank you!
Sally30:Just started reading your report....will keep the tips in mind!

ShilpiC: We always try to find out of the way restaurants where local families eat. We have experienced, when my daughter was young, where the children are having fun and get your child to join in. Language doesn't matter at that age. It's worth a try and you're better off at the out of the way restaurants anyway.

Thanks Ann1! I will surely keep that in mind when we go!

Do you plan to bring a stroller? It will be a lot of walking for a 2 year old. The flip side of that is that it is very difficult pushing a stroller over the cobblestones (and they are everywhere).

I too can confirm that you should have no problems with a 2 year old in restaurants. We were in Rome last Christmas with a 4 year old and he got more attention than we did. A thought about a stroller, even in winter Rome was crowded and pushing a stroller would have been a nightmare. We walked with our son everywhere without problems but he is a seasoned traveller and very used to it. Would your son fit in a child's backpack?

It's good that you are going in May, the weather should be warm enough to eat most of your meals outside, hopefully in a piazza. A few circuits around the fountain help to disperse energy between courses.

My daughter bought a backpack-type device that fastens around the waist,also, and allows a child to "sit" on the back of an adult. It also came with a detachable "hood" to prevent the child from getting too much sun. Awesome thing. Best baby product ever.

Whenever we would go to street fairs (which we love), toddler was placed on one of our shoulders for the trip. They love being at eye-level and you don't have to concern yourself with running a stroller in crowds, and over cobblestones.

They are not inexpensive, but worth every penny. And if you have a baby consignment store in your area, you might be able to get one for much less.

Here is link to one I found online, so you can see to what I am referring: http://www.toughtraveler.com/cat3.asp

Apartment rentals in Italy usually require a deposit. I assume you did not mean 300K Euros!! That's 300,000! 300 Euros may be a reasonable deposit depending on the total cost of your stay in the apartment. We have used sleepinitaly several times and found them to be a good agency. There is on caveat with them: their descriptions of the location often say 50 meters from Campo de' Fiori. That is usually not accurate. Our last apt in Rome was more like 500 meters -- half a mile or so.

Also in addition to the stairs, and the tub-shower, look for the size of the kitchen counter area. Some of the have NO counter space except a small square for stacking dishes to dry. It can be difficult to prepare anything without space to work. And if you are going to do any cooking involving cutting stuff up, bring a knife sharpener, as the cheap knives in the apartments are usually very dull.

charnees, It was discussed in another thread that ShilpiC was reading the number 300,00 incorrectly. The comma is used in Italy as a decimal point would be used in the U.S.