Hi Fodorites, I am trying to decide between these 3 apartments for Rome at the end of May, looking for any advice/opinions.
1. http://www.sleepinitaly.com/files/ap...atoattico.html
2. http://www.vrbo.com/130539
3.http://www.sleepinitaly.com/files/apt_montedipieta.html
I believe you have to click on the second part of the link.
I am leaning more towards #1 or maybe #2. 1 and 3 are 180 euros per night & 2 is 160. I am not sure if 2 is as convenient a location. Please advise. Thanks/

I like #1 and #2 best from the pics, but I would want to know the location of #2, beyond just "5 minute walk to Spanish Steps." That would not be specific enough for me..

I agree with ek, I would want to know exactly where #2 is located. No matter what the company, I am leary of sites that won't give the exact location.

Based solely on location, I would choose #1 or #3, keeping in mind that they are more than "two steps" from Campo de' Fiori. Not far away, but more than that. I like those locations better than #2, because they're right in the center, close to lots of things, great bus connections, dozens of good restaurants. Also, I have used sleepinitaly five times with great results and service.

I like the location of #1 by far the best and have rented nearby on via del Pellegrino in the past. For some reason I also think a Fodor's poster has stayed at the Monserrato Attico before, so do a search and you may find a review.

If you google the telephone number for the vrbo choice #2, you get the website for CG Property Rentals, so I would assume that's the agency for this property:

http://www.cgpropertyrentals.com/

Personally, I don't like a site with only telephone or e-mail contact information, with no street address or "who we are" text.

I don't believe I've ever seen that agency mentioned here or on any other forum.

Also, for both this agency and Sleep in Italy, the deposit is nonrefundable, period. The end of May is over 6 months off, and a lot can happen in that time. I would prefer a less restrictive cancellation policy.

We stayed in Sleep in Italy's Giulia gold apartment last may. We liked the apartment and the location very much, as it was close to the Corso Vittorio Emmanuele, not far from that monserrato apt. you are looking at. There are plenty of buses running on the Corso and it is not very far to walk to either Campo de' fiori or the Pantheon.

I think the Monte Pieta apt may be very close to the Campo, which means it may be very noisy at night, as there's lots of nightlife going on around there. Ask Sleep in Italy to give you the address and find it on Google.

We reserved our apt with sleep in Italy about 6 mos ahead, and had no problems at all.

I am staying at Monte di Pieta next month. I have read good reviews about this apartment on Fodors and slowtravel.com. Another fodorite stayed there a few months back. It is an excellent location and near to the historic sites and Trastevere. It is not right on the Campo Fiori and what I have read is that it is relatively quiet at night. I have been to Rome many times and can say that it is an excellent location. I'll be posting when I get back.

I think #2 is managed by a very nice and competent Frenchwoman from whom I rented a great place in Spring 2007. (Her initials are CG) I'm renting another place from her next March. If you like this apt, contact her and I'm sure she'll answer your questions about exact location, etc.

HI,

I stayed in the building that #3 is in, although in another apartment. I thought the piazza and the building were pretty quiet, our apartment windows faced into the courtyard. It was a short walk to Campo dei Fiori--far enough away so we weren't affected by noise or crowds but close enough so we went there every day.

Leaving tomorrow and staying in the ghetto area in this apartment:
http://www.vrbo.com/199287. I can't wait! I've been away from Italy too long1

Patti

Thanks so much for the replies, I am leaning towards # 1, waiting to hear if it is available for our dates. The location of #2 was emailed to me by Caroline Goodwin as:
It is on piazza di montevecchio 2 minutes walk to the navona square 8 minutes to the pantheon and to the campo dei fiori it is very very central.
risab, do let me know the details of the apt when you get back. Have a great trip.
lovisa, I agree with you about the restrictive cancellation policies, especially with the state of the economy, who knows what can happen in 6 months. I almost feel guilty for planning a trip at a time like this. In any case, does anyone know of any apt rental agencies where one can cancel without losing the deposit, even if it has to be 60 days prior or something similar?

Dolce Roma:

http://www.dolceroma.it/index.htm

has a 60 day cancellation policy.

It's a Slow Travel "favorite" and there are a lot of reviews on the Slow Travel site:

http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/vr/reviews.asp

Hi Excited, I hope your trip planning is going well!

I've heard good things about #1 and the location is great -- I think it's almost directly above the restaurant Pierluigi, which is very nice.

But, I have to stay that my favourite apartments in Rome are Natalia's at Dolce Roma, mentioned just above by lovisa. Natalia is a fantastic host -- once I complained about a can opener in her Campo dei Fiori apartment being a bit stiff and she brought me a new one that night!!! (And I'd highly recommend that apartment, it's about 2 minutes away from apt.#1 on your list)

Natalia also gives her guests a cellphone (since Italian apartments don't usually have telephones) for their personal use while in Rome. It's speed-dial is programmed with her home and cellphone, in case you need anything. But Natalia would phone almost every day just to see if things were okay. I also loaded time on it to phone my family in Canada, make restaurant and tour reservations, that sort of thing.

I can't say enough about how great well Dolce Roma treats its guests, how clean and quiet the apartments are -- Natalia even stocks the kitchen with breakfast supplies and snacks for her guests.

There are two excellent grocery stores within a one or two minute walk from the Campo dei Fiori apartment -- and of course, the Campo itself.

Thank you for the info, sac, I am spending way too much time planning this trip even though it is in the distant future!
I somehow like the inside of Apt 1 although the Campo de' Fiori apt by Dolce Rama looks pretty good too. I think that will be more expensive but I will check. I also found what I think is the same Apt #1 on another website - Romeby.com, which allows cancellations at no charge upto 60 days. The link is http://www.romeby.com/monserratoatti...es/profile.htm
Even though the reviews say it did not have an elevator, the apt description says it does have one, I have emailed for clarification. Has anyone rented from this agency before?

Excited, I think it's great that you're planning ahead -- for me, that's part of the fun of a trip!

I can understand your confusion about Apt. 1 and the elevator. The apartment hasn't gotten very good reviews on Slow Travel (www.slowtrav.com) and every review I saw mentioned the fact that there are a lot of stairs and no elevator. Yet the apartment website says there is an elevator. Perhpas one was recently installed, but that doesn't seem very likely.

Apparently the elevator has been recently added. I will check out the other reviews on slowtrav.

My husband and I stayed in #3 for a week in Jan.'07. Loved the place...
How many will be staying?

Please type in Monte di Pietà in the search field up top and you should see my review. You can also find it on www.slowtrav.com.

Yes, I do see that the Monserrato Attico apt is not rated too favorably on slowtrav so I guess I will give up on that. I will keep looking for something else under 200 euros per night, all suggestions are welcome.

Contact the company of the apartments you like and let them know what you can afford to pay and if it is not too far off the mark from their advertised price they may work something out...however, it is harder to bargain during the high season but it is worth a try.

I did try doing that but it didn't work! In any case that was for the Monserrato Attico apt which I have decided against after I read the reviews on slowtrav. (good advice, thanks sac!)Both #2 and 3 require a non-refundable deposit which I am still wary about. I am leaning towards #3 now, Risab, I will wait until you get back and post details of the apt.
Can anyone help me with opinions on the location of #2? I have listed it in one of my posts above. Thanks.

If interenet connection works from the apartment I will give an update once I am there...that is the end of November. Otherwise I won't post a report until the end of the first week of December. If you can wait that long then that should help. I did find a few reviews of the apartment on fodors so I feel confident that it should be good. The last place I rented was not good and another review on slowtravel had the exact same complaints that we had. SleepinItaly no longer rents that place because although it had a great location in Trastevere it had a lot of problems.
Nonetheless...you can count on an update from me.