billmui

1. Has anyone used the site sleepinitaly.com?

2. I am considering their Mercede apartment near the Spanish steps. Is it a good choice? Has anyone stayed there?

3. I have 6 adults and 2 young children. Anything to watch out for?

4. Any other tips you would give on renting apartments in Rome? Location / Price?

Thanks,
QQ

Mimar

You might look at reviews of Sleep in Italy at www.slowtrav.com. I didn't see this particular apartment but you can read about others' experience with this agency, which is generally well thought of.

This apartment looks fine. The only quibble I have is not enough chairs for everybody at the table. The washer may be a washer-dryer or you may have to hang up the clothes to dry. And the bedrooms overlook the street, which will probably be noisy, but the bedrooms have AC, so you can close the windows. When are you going? Will the AC be working then? And ask for the exact address, just to confirm its location.

donnaroberts

I have just returned from a one month trip to Italy and stayed in an apartment in Rome that I booked thru Sleep In Italy. The apartment (Boccaccio Big) was generally dirty with old bedding stashed in the closets and stained upholstery. When I wrote a review for Sleep In Italy's guestbook (obviously a bad review), they did not post it, nor did they respond to another e-mail asking why they would not post an honest review.

I travelled to Rome with my adult step-daughter and my husband. A week after staying at Boccaccio Big, my stepdaughter developed a staph infection! Can't say where exactly she got it, but you get staph infections in unclean environments.

I wouldn't trust Sleep In Italy at all, considering they misrepresented the apartment that we stayed in...Luxury wasn't how I would catagorize it... and they don't post EVERY (ie., BAD) reviews. Try www.homeaway.com. I have had alot of luck with them. Also, from my experience, I wouln't book an apartment where the owner wasn't actively involved in the management of the property. With www.homeaway.com you book directly with the owners. Good luck!

Mimar

Never trust the reviews on the "source" website. This includes homeaway, where, historically at least, owners were allowed to block negative reviews.

Google for the apartment/villa. Note that different sources may give the unit a different name. Also ask at forums like this one or Tripadvisor.

clairdelune

Just returned from Rome where we rented a Sleep in Italy apartment. The apartment itself was cute and in a great location.

However, I wouldn't use this company again. Maybe I overlooked it but I didn't realize the payment balance was due in cash. We called a phone number and were told to meet in front of the apartment. The person took us upstairs, asked for the cash balance (no receipt or any documents) and left - didn't show us around or explain where things were. He ran off as if he were being chased.

The apartment had a washing machine but all the instructions were in Italian and I couldn't figure out how it worked. The manual or English instructions would have been helpful. The hairdryer did not work. Worst of all, the drainage in the shower was sooooooooo slow - after a few minutes you were ankle deep in dirty water. I think there was something backing up because the whole place smelled bad after a couple days.

Another detail: there were no paper products in the place at all - not even toilet paper. We had to find a market and buy some before we could even use the toilet which was no fun after a long train ride. Having WIFI would have been nice.

Btw, We used Air bnb for other cities in Italy and found that to be better. There! That's our experience. I love the apartment idea and would do it again but next time look for a different agency.

Dickie_Gr

We used them and had a good experience.

For goodness sake clairdelune have you never been to Italy before? You will pay a legitimate deposit which will be duly declared for tax purposes. The cash balance will go in the owner's pocket and stay there, on your arrival. This is Italy.

I personally wouldn't stay close to The Spanish Steps it is a tourist cattle market. We stayed just off Piazza Del Popolo. Peaceful area with a local food market and tube station 2 minutes away, Borghese park also 2 minutes away.

Dickie_Gr

BTW be aware that this is Italy, where contacts are at times meaningless as a form commitment. We have had owners back out and return deposits weeks before our arrival, simply because they had a better offer of a longer rental.

Italian contractual arrangements can be vague at times.