I'm in Rome in August, for 5 nights, with DH and two teen-age girls. I've narrowed my search down to these two apartments. Neither one seems to have air-conditioning, but hopefully they'll have fans at least. My priority has been to get actual beds for my two daughters, and to stay in the Campo dei Fiori area.

Has anyone stayed in either one of these apartments? Any comments, please? They both seem to be in about the same area.

http://www.realrome.com/propreginella1.html
(on Via della Reginella overlooking Teatro Marcello)


http://www.vrbo.com/91496
( on Corso Vittorio Emanuele in front of Chiesa Nuova).

The second apartment is of course, more expensive, but would it be worth it?

The first one will be probably quieter and with more pedestrian-only areas in the immediate vicinity. I love this description from the website "It is very traquil and very oldy worldy."

The other is slap-bang in the middle of lots of...everything. Corso Vittorio Emmanuele is extremely busy with tons of cars, people and buses. I have no idea how loud it might be, but I would suspect it can't help but be much louder than the first one. If you choose the first one, you will only be a few blocks from this busy street but that can make a world of difference in the feel of the place.

Monica - I am not sure about the locations - but I can say that Tim at Real Rome is a doll to work with!

I stayed near Campo di Fiori a few weeks ago, a few blocks from Chiesa Nueva. I liked the location, cannot comment specifically on your apartment.

Five nights in Rome in AUgust will be miserable without an a/c, I would keep looking!

I've stayed in close vicinity to the first one and it is indeed a very charming residential area and also quiet at night. Sandi is correct--staying even one street off a busy avenue makes an enormous difference.

BUT...I'd have to second the opinion that no A/C in Rome in August would keep me looking. If you are determined to have one of these, I'd be sure to know before booking exactly how many fans, and how large, will be available for use during your stay.

I had given up on the first apartment because of lack of air conditioning, and was looking at another apartment near Piazza Barberelli, but then Tim from RealRome wrote back about the first apartment:

"The apartment actually has coolers, which are not air-conditioners but act the same and work to about 90% effectiveness of air-conditioning - it is not possible to put air-conditioning in this apartment due to building
regulations, so this is the next best thing."

OK, posted the previous message accidentally before posing my question:

Question: does anyone have experience with "coolers" especially with using them in the middle of a hot and muggy summer in Rome?