Hello all,

First time on this forum, which I have enjoyed for ages. I am arriving in Rome on October the 10th with my two "children" ages 19 and 22 and we are staying for 11 days. We then go on a week coach tour of the North, followed by a month in Perugia then a month in Calabria.

I have been trying to book a two bedroom apartment in Rome for almost two weeks in the centro storico area, as recommended by many Fodorites, but to no avail, unless I want to pay around $AU3,000.00. I have lost count of the number of emails I have sent.

After consulting the articles in this forum and much research, I have found a number of apartments that are actually vacant for the 11 days, but none in the areas of the Piazza Navone, Pantheon or Campo dei Fiori. They fit my requirements of two bedrooms, a washine machine and a TV.

I would like to stay somewhere where we feel safe and are not worried about having our things stolen or walking around in the evening with my family. I would also like to stay somewhere where we are part of the culture so we can practice our Italian.

Can someone please tell me which of the following areas they would recommend?
Piazza Barberini (this looks like a good area), Via dei Fienili, which is by the entrance to the Roman Forum and the Circo Massimo, Via dei Genovesi in Trastevere (this one only has one bedroom but also a balcony), one on the Via Capo d'Africa close to the Colosseum and the Roman Forum and my favourite in Vicolo delle Penetenza in Trastevere - the down side to this one is that it is only avialable for 9 days. The chap has suggested I book it then go to a hotel for 2 days as accomodation in Rome for October is heavily booked.

I would appreciate any suggestions.
Many thanks
Monda

Monda-- I am a hufe fan of holiday-rentals.com having used them with very satisfactory results. I plugged in your numbers and requirements and came out with a great apartment suggestion at AUS$623/week. Check it out at:

http://www.holiday-rentals.co.uk/Ita...-City/p270.htm

On the choices, off the bat I would discard the one-bedroom one.

Hi... and welcome to the Europe forum (a "place" that some of "us" treat like a second home)...

...so this is offered, sincerely... in the spirit of helpfulness.

Although you are not the first, or only person to post a message with a header like this... it's a common custom here... and courtesy... to include info about your destination(s) in your message header.

Would you please re-post... and mention <b>Rome</b> in your message header?

If everyone put this kind of message header on their questions, as you have...

...it would be a bit like walking into the travel section of a library, and seeing shelf after shelf filled with rows and rows of volumes... and on the spine of each one of them, you would see &quot;about a place&quot;.

So, please, <i><b>do</b></i> re-post...

Best wishes,

Rex

I have only been to Rome once, and I stayed just up from the Piazza Barberini. The location was actually pretty good.

I returning in October (15-22) and have booked an apartment near the Pantheon, because as you have noted the centro storico is the best area. Personally I don't think I would want to stay near the Colosseum, but then I don't know Rome well. Second choice would probably be Trastevere. Maybe if you post the website links to the apartments you have listed you will get more advice from others who know Rome better than I, and can tell you much more about the locations of these apartments.

Have you tried www.sleepinitaly.com ?

Although I think your dilemma is probably because you are staying 11 days, not the specific 7 or 14 days which covers the weekly letting period There may be many more apartments available for a Friday-Friday or Saturday-Saturday period, so have you considered searching for an apartment for that period 13/14-20/21 and staying in a hotel the other nights?

One other company I came across who have some lovely looking apartments (although too large for my needs on my dates)...

www.aplaceinrome.com

Good luck, and have a good trip.

Details, details....make that AUS$623pp/pw. May be a bit pricey....

I would stay at your favorite at Vicolo delle Penetenza. That way you can take it as your chance to sample another area, i.e. by Piazza Navona, etc...