Hi all - will be in Rome this August, and am on the look out for b&bs. Trastevere area would be great, but if not there, anywhere nice will do - thanks

Hi olivia,<BR>Saw your post and as I live and work in Rome I know the city very well. I am a tour guide so have many contacts with B&Bs. If you would like to email me direct I would be more than happy to send you some recommendations and areas that are best to stay.<BR>You can contact me at [email protected]<BR>Regards<BR>Marianna

In August, be sure to find a place with air conditioning.

Hi Marianna,<BR>I'm going to Rome this September, and as Olivia looking for B&B... Didn't dare to write to your email since you've invited only Olivia, but would be happy to get your recommendations! Thank you.

Hi Olivia, we went in March and stayed at a really lovely B&B, the Residenza San Pantaleo, just between Piazza Navona (1 minute walk) and Campo di Fiori (2 minutes walk). I found them on the www.ibbp.com website, a site for B&Bs. we paid 99 euros per night with breakfast. the rooms were simple but charming (a/c) and all had a private bathroom, small but very functional. clean and really friendly service. at first they did not have availability for our dates, so the owner offered us to stay for the same price at one of the studios she owns in campo di fiori. in hindsight, knowing Rome now, I think we would have preferred to stay there because Campo di Fiori is such a lovely place, but even though the Residenza was really great. the best was the location - piazza navona really just around the corner, and you could walk to just everywhere, except for maybe Vatican. but then you had plenty of bus stops just outside as well, incl. the direct bus line to vatican. all in all I vividly recommend it, but it depends of course on what you are looking for. we like very much discovering restaurants and sitting outside and "people watching" - and from the San Pantaleo we could walk just every night to a different "restauranty-buzzy" area and see something different every night, as well as the "culture bits" during the day.

This is run by some friends of a friend of mine (no, I get no money from them!!!!). They also have a restaurant (a good one). www.sognoroma.it

some at<BR>www.horizonitalia.net/PRIMO.uk.htm<BR>

Olivia,<BR><BR>I DO NOT recommend Residenza San Pantaleo. I found the place very cheap, as opposed to simple. The walls were very thin, if you need an extra bed it will be a cot with a unbelievably thin mattress, the owner did not seem to know much tourist information, the breakfast was horrible. The location is great, but I would find something else in that location. I've stayed in youth hostels that were about the same. It isn't horrible, but I think there must be something better. There has been a lot of controversy about this hotel, some like it a lot, some do not like it at all. If you don't know what category you will be in, it might be safer to avoid it.<BR>Have a great trip,<BR>Natasha

Olivia, This controversy about the San Pantaleo has been going around ever since I booked it last fall. Before that, it was all positive. Then two weeks before I left along thread was started about how bad the place was. I was so close to cancelling. I didn't though, and am very happy. I had room 5 which is the biggest and costs 10E more per night. 110 still a bargain. It was very clean, no shouting during the night, I did not hear through the walls, no wet towels laying around. It was just a plain, clean two star place with a terrific location and great price. If you plan on staying in your room all day, look somewhere else. If you need a nice, clean place to sleep , it is great. Breakfast was coffee, a plum cake and a piece of toast which is par for Italy. Karen

Karen, I believe I started the thread re concerns about the RSP, and I'm glad to hear you chose the good room that we discovered = #5. Like I was saying before, if you can't stay in #5, DON'T. The price and location is great if you can find the right rm there. Glad you reaped the Fodors rewards!<BR>-Laura-

You could try www.cross-pollinate.com. I have not stayed in any of the places, but several look nice. Has anyone here used this service and care to comment?

Take a look at B&Bs offered by sleepinitaly.com

Hi,<BR>I have been thinking of staying at the Residenza San Pantaleo next year. Four of us, all women will be going to spend our 50th birthdays. Does room 5 sleep 4? And how early do you have to book, we plan on being there June 10, to 15. <BR>Thanks, Diane

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we stayed at the pensione parliamento, a moderately priced hotel with a very nice breakfast room and terrace on the roof for outdoor dining in good weather. the desk staff speak perfect english and are most accommodating -- they made reservations for the vatican, even the uffizi in florence.

Hello All,<BR> <BR>I, too, stayed at the Residenza San Pantaleo for a week this past March. I thought it was perfectly fine for a place to lay your head at night and the location is perfect. I walked to the Vatican easiest of all places and took the bus that runs directly by the hotel to the train station and various other places. Walking is just as easy and you see more, though. I always left the room early in the morning, too early for the breakfast, except for my last day. That day they served yogurt, a plum cake, coffee and juice. It was very good, I thought. <BR><BR>The bathroom was very tiny but everything worked and was clean. I would stay there again. But I am easy to please and spend very little time in a hotel. It was fine for me. Good luck in your search.