Our family of 2 parents and 3 teenage sons is planning to visit Rome in late November. Please recommend centrally-located hotels and apartments with charm and local color. Luxury is not necessary. Cleanliness, comfort, and character are. Please also give us advice on where to eat. We love good food and wine and like to eat local specialities wherever we go.

Hi,
I've used the apartment reviews on the Slow Travelers web site (think it's slowtrav.com) for apartments both in Rome and in Paris--loved them both. Can't remember the name of the company for the Rome place, but it was through a guy named Mauro on via Pellegrini (sp?). I recommend that area between Piazza Navona and Campo dei Fiori. Pick a little quiet street, choose a little coffee bar to go to each morning and have a great time.

For food, also do research (if you like doing research!) on the eGullet site; they have an Italy forum.

We walked everywhere, every single day.

Buon viaggi!

Try www.romeaparthotels.com. I've booked through them for an apartment in mid november. So far the response has been prompt and helpful. Their web-site is good and prices great. Can't give you any suggestions from personal experience though, I havn't yet travelled to Rome

We stayed at Santa Chiara twice last summer (coming and going). One time we had a suite and the other they gave us two rooms for the price of the suite. The hotel is a favorite on Fodors. It is nice and the location can't be beat. It is just around the block from the Pantheon and you cxan walk to almost everything in a few minutes.

Thank you everyone. eGullet looks doubleplusfun. I'll enjoy researching there!

My sister and I took four teens to Rome for 10 days over Easter and stayed in this apartment. The pictures and description do not do it justice. It was wonderful. Via Fratina is just off the Spanish steps and is a very lively street full of clothing and shoe stores. Windows from the bedrooms open out onto the street. There are lots of restaurants around that area (including McDonalds - perfect for late-night snacking for the teens!). The owners are very nice. And all for the price of a nice hotel room! Perfect!

http://www.romehome.de/en/spanische/17.php

Hi There this Mauro the guy who is mentioned from Mr. Leely
Come to see my website at
www.rome-apartments-for-rent.it
I am sure i can help you to enjoy Rome at the best.
Good food and Wine ?? Rome is the right place.
Have a good weekend.
Mauro

We rented an apartment from Mauro that was great for a family. You can read my trip report here:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...een_name=wliwl

I also left an apartment review on slowtrav.com.

We rented a flat through www.comfortitalia.com. Perfect location, great apartment, everything went very smoothly.

My advice - go somewhere else - certainly not Rome. We arrived in Rome the evening of Aug 22, 2005. The following morning we walked about 3 blocks to the GLT office for a tour. We favor the type of tour that allows on/off privileges. After a few hours touring, we returned to the hotel for my husband to take a nap. I took a walk and planned to find a nice dining spot for later that evening. While walking, three young men in their 20's, well dressed, came towards me. They threw me to the pavement in front of many pedestrians. No one helped. The way I fell, they were not able to get my purse. They expected me to fall on my head, but I landed on my side with my purse under me. Would you believe they tried to get me up from the pavement? When they realized they couldn't get anything with my kicking and screaming, they finally left. I was on the pavement crying and bleeding. Everyone watched and no one came to my assistance when these "criminals" left the scene of the crime. It took me a while to crawl to a sitting position and get up. This happened a few doors away from the police station. I went in, crying and bleeding. When I asked if a policeman could take me back to the hotel, they couldn't believe my request and flatly refused. I asked them to call the American Consulate and was treated the same way. I then asked them to call a taxi for me. When I returned to the hotel, my husband was sleeping very peacefully. I waited until he woke up and then very gradually told him what happened. I was in terrible pain and we decided to leave Italy the next morning to return home. Originally, my husband had grand plans to seranade me on a gondola, but he felt I would not be comfortable making the 4 hour rail trip to Venice. I didn't find any warmth in the Italian bystanders. We visit our daughter each year in Israel and stop in Europe for a week on our return home. We never experienced this coldness anywhere that was directed towards me. There are many other cities in the world to visit. I remember hearing that the Italian men like to pinch the ladies, but they went overboard in throwing me with their enthusiasm in order to try to rob me.

I, on the other hand, have travelled to Rome completely alone, walked around at night by myself, and have never had a problem with anyone trying to rob me. In addition to that, I have been posting here for about 4 years now, unlike marlynherb. Go figure! Other regulars on this board like Elaine, kismetchiara, and nanb have also not had the kind of problems mentioned in the post above mine. Guess we must be "gifted" or something! Portia, if you want to go to Rome, go for it! For restaurant recommendations, I can tell you that the Buca di Ripetta, Pierluigi, and Sabatini (the last one is in Trastevere) are all great places to dine.

Buon Viaggio,
BC

BC

TROLL ALERT:
The first and ONLY post from Marilynherb. Too much herb perhaps?

I too have traveled alone around Italy, multiple times (early30s female), and have NEVER had any trouble. (The occasional whistle and a "Rossa!" but nothing serious!) I think the Italians are delightful, hospitable, and charming. As for being robbed: use good sense, that's all, just like anyplace. Viva Italia!

Marlynherb-
Can you explain a little more into detail why perhaps the Italian people singled you out and "coldness was directed toward you"????
Personally,i cannot imagine that no one helped you including the police.
This sure sounds as if you just dont like Italian people and are using this forum to trash a beautiful country and it's people.

2 years ago my family of 5 stayed at the hotel Trastevere Manara,Via L. Manara 24-25. It is in the heart of Trastevere, a short walk to Santa Maria in Trastevere. We had a very large room with a queen size bed, a twin bed, and bunk beds for my little ones. There was even a full size refrigerator and a microwave in the room. The room overlooked the Piazza San Cosimato, with its daily open air market. We really loved the location, and the service at the hotel was great!

Last Xmas/New Year's, my hubby and I and 3 friends went to Rome and stayed at the Hotel Panda, right across the street from the Spanish Steps, in a great area! I would go back to this hotel (and to Rome!!) in a heartbeat. It was very reasonably priced, centrally located, and comfortable. We were trying to save money so we all 5 stayed in a room together, and it really wasn't even that squishy. Also, on the same street there were a couple nice restaurants. Mainly, we enjoyed eating on the go, grabbing little Italian treats as we walked around. There was one thing we absolutely loved: these little fried pocket things with mozarella, tomato sauce, and rice inside. YUM! Very cheap, we bought them every day and ate a few for lunch.