I am an American who just returned from a week in Rome, where I rented a<BR>palazzo near the Spanish Steps from Dr. Mauro Abate at Roman Homes. (www.romanhomes.com).<BR><BR>Hotels are rated with stars. I believe Five Stars is the highest achievement. My experience with Dr. Abate and his staff, and the palazzo I rented, can be rated at FIFTY stars, however. My stay was TEN TIMES<BR>more memorable than previous occasions.<BR><BR>I experienced Rome as a Roman and I made outstanding friendships that<BR>otherwise would not have occurred.<BR><BR>If you know quality accommodations, but really want to TOUCH the city and the people,<BR>and, in turn, be touched by them, the first place to start is Roman Homes. Based on my personal experience, there is nothing else like it!<BR><BR>Joe Goldfuss<BR>Dallas, Texas<BR><BR><BR><BR>

I've read so many negative comments on many different forums about how volatile the owner is, so I'm glad to finally hear something positive. Glad you enjoyed yourself.

Dr. Abate - GO AWAY!!<BR><BR>No American posts and then puts their city, state underneath their name.<BR><BR>Quit advertising<BR>

Rex does.

Rex does, but he exists and lives there.<BR>(I'm not Rex)

This posting is so obviously an ad. The wording is just too good to be true.

Oh Gawd -- here we go again...<BR>I think we're in Nietzsche's "eternal reoccurrence" ...

I love it. Sequels are usually a hoot. <BR><BR>Unfortunately for the doubters, there's a Joe Goldfuss listed in the Dallas phone book. If it's an ad from the good doctor, he's being very thorough.

AAARRRRGGGHHHH!!!!!!<BR>He's back.......

Obviously it was written by someone else and then posted--did you see the strange line breaks?

And like Dr. Abate, Rex uses this forum to advertise his business and troll for customers, complete with the phony testimonials from various aliases. Spare us all the mantra about being the "hobby traveler" yet again, Dr. Ego. You're trying to organize a business and you use this forum to lure guinea pigs for it. Even if it's all nonprofit, Fodor's doesn't say "yeah go ahead and advertise your nonprofit ventures here!" Both of you SCRAM and let the honest travelers who have nothing to pitch get back to travel talk here.

I suspect Dr Ababte got consent from the guy to post in his name.<BR><BR>I might do the same thing myself if I was in his business. <BR><BR>Still a clear breach of the "rules" and so badly done it wasn't worth it.<BR><BR>Mind you I'm tempted to use Roman Homes just to see what like it is

<BR>&gt;&gt;and, in turn, be touched by them&gt;&gt;<BR><BR>No, thank you, Dr Abate.

Do it, Sheila, do it!!!

Oh Lordy Sheila -- you ARE brave...<BR><BR>Here are 2 limericks from older times...<BR><BR>At PR Abate's a pro <BR>But RomanHomes had to eat crow <BR>There are no more vestiges <BR>Of spurious messages <BR>Allowing him his horn to blow <BR>[Neal Sanders]<BR><BR>There once was a bloke named Abate <BR>Who rented apartments with latte <BR>The problem was this <BR>A man did he piss <BR>And drove his PR firm batty <BR>[s.fowler]

Identical posting elsewhere on the Web: http://www.frommers.com/cgi-bin/WebX?13@@.ee96c0c