Warmth, character and comfort in a central location

Liza (Western Australia)
Review submitted: April 11, 2013   Date of arrival: January 4, 2013

In the heart of Trastevere, on a little piazza close to Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere, the apartment is located in a charming square with a "local" feel, enhanced by the Museo Di Roma opposite the apartment and the Ombre Rosse cafe below. Five minutes walk takes you to the Ponte Sisto from where you can access the Campo de' Fiori, Largo Argentina, Piazza Navona and the Corso Vittorio Emanuele.  And the Vatican, Forum, Colosseum and Capitoline museums are all in easy reach.
The apartment is extremely comfortable, warmly furnished with books, artwork and textiles and there are plenty of seating options.  There are easy chairs and sofas in both the sitting room and the kitchen area.   The kitchen is well organised and has a double oven and new five burner stove.  There is a full-sized fridge, microwave and abundant pots, pans, knives, cutlery and crockery, all in good shape.  Both bedroom and bathroom provide plenty of storage options and the bedroom is a large, book-lined space with a comfortable and firm bed, a desk for writing or using the computer, and an easy chair by the window which overlooks the rooftops.  The bathroom has a good shower and usual amenities with a large, well-lit mirror over the vanity unit.  In the sitting room, with the windows open, you can enjoy the hum of people below in the square.  The bedroom, located in the back of the apartment, is a peaceful haven and ensures you get a good night’s rest. Weekly visits from Al and Abigail keep the space immaculately clean and everything is in top-notch condition.
The owner takes good care of her guests and is very quick to respond to any issues or queries.  She is warm, sociable and engaging - and a great authority on Rome, having written both guides and articles on her city. The rental rate is extremely reasonable for the central location and quality of the accommodation.
This is a very liveable place; it is not a sterile and austere rental.  Everything is new, clean and works.  There is central heating for the winter months, and air-conditioning and ceiling fans for summer. Extra touches like bathrobes and hairdryers add a layer of comfort that was much appreciated. Local restaurants in the Via della Scala, your own piazza and the Piazza Santa Maria provide great dining options. The marvellous Glass Hostaria is just around the corner.  Additionally you can enjoy evening drinks at the Antico del Moro and the Caffe della Scala in Trastevere.

Recommended for: adventure seekers, sight seeing, tourists without a car, romantic getaway

Do you find this review helpful?   Yes   No

Helpful votes: 0 / 0

AMAZING!

Janet (Bend, OR)
Review submitted: April 11, 2013   Date of arrival: April 3, 2013

My husband and I came to Rome to celebrate our 30th anniversary and always prefer to stay in an apartment/home versus a hotel.

This apartment is in one of the best neighborhoods of Rome, Trastevere, and in a beautiful little plaza very near Plaza Santa Maria. We walked to almost all of Rome and the Vatican ( with comfortable walking shoes!). Because this was home to the owner for almost 20 years, it is very comfortable, well decorated, has a wonderful kitchen, and just feels inviting and a wonderful place to base yourself in Rome! The shower works great with lots of hot water, the bed is very comfortable and the bedroom is very quiet at night. During the day it's fun to watch life unfold on the Plaza.

There are so many restaurants to choose from in the area, as well as many take-out pizza shops. Every morning there's a fresh fruit market 2 blocks away.

The owner was very easy to work with directly and I would highly recommend this apartment!!

Recommended for: adventure seekers, age 55+, sight seeing, tourists without a car, romantic getaway

Do you find this review helpful?   Yes   No

Helpful votes: 0 / 0

A wondrous experience

Annie (Florida USA)
Review submitted: April 5, 2012   Date of arrival: February 1, 2012

While I had planned to spend the full month of Feb 2012 in Trastevere, a family health issue at home necessitated that I leave after nearly 3 weeks. I traveled alone, with my family's blessing, to spend some time getting to know myself again. We all have roles in our lives that we fulfill, but we can also lose sight of the core of who we really are. Sari's lovely apt.home as well as enchanting Trastevere offered me a Sanctuary. She is such a lovely person, always helpful and very concerned that you have a true "roman" experience. I walked everywhere (except when I went on a day tour to Pompeii.) I also happened to be there during the "european ice age," which I was not prepared for. I would leave the apt. in the morning with almost everything I had packed to stay warm outside for the day. Everyone I met along my travels were friendly and accomodating, except the people who work in the Farmacia in Piazza di Santa Maria. They are simply rude. I would return in a heartbeat and I would not have Sari change a single thing. It was just a magical experience.

Recommended for: adventure seekers, sight seeing, tourists without a car, romantic getaway

Do you find this review helpful?   Yes   No

Helpful votes: 3 / 5

Great apartment!

Matt from Chicago (Chicago, IL USA)
Review submitted: December 7, 2011   Date of arrival: November 7, 2011

My wife and I, both in our late 50s, stayed here for 11 days in early November and loved it. The location was fantastic, an easy walk across the beautiful Ponte Sisto to the heart of Rome. Plus lots of places to explore in Trastevere, just outside the door. You are really living in Rome when you stay here.

The apartment is spacious (for a couple) and comfortable with a great kitchen that had all the cooking utensils we could need. An outdoor market is just a short walk away and there's a good supermarket close by as well. Also tons of restaurants, night spots and shops.

The owner was more than helpful and we felt well taken care of. She arranged a car for us from and to the airport (which I recommend) and made sure everything was in order when we got there and throughout our stay.

The apartment is up two flights of stairs which could be an issue for some people, although we prefer being up a few floors. There's a great people-watching window in the living room which looks out on the bustling piazza, while the bedroom opens to the back of the building and is very quiet.

Public transportation is not far away and can get you to everywhere you need to go, but the apartment is so well situated that we found it no trouble to walk to most places we were interested in. Just make sure you have a good map because it's easy to get turned around in the twisting streets and piazzas, but of course that's part of the fun.

Our favorite restaurant in Trastevere was about six blocks away called Spirito di Vino. We ate dinner there twice and enjoyed both the food and the family who run it. Its wine cellar is a first century BC Roman ruin of some sort and they'll let you look around down there if you ask.

In sum we were very pleased with the rental and it made our stay in Rome one of the best vacation ever.

Recommended for: sight seeing, tourists without a car, romantic getaway

Do you find this review helpful?   Yes   No

Helpful votes: 6 / 7

All true

dpinger (West Hartford, CT)
Review submitted: November 27, 2011   Date of arrival: November 20, 2011

Just a quick note because I'm sure my wife will write a more thorough review. I quickly read the reviews from above and they are all true. We couldn't have picked a better place to stay. I don't think I will ever stay in a hotel again if I can help it.
Sari's apartment is stocked with absolutely everything you could ever ask for in an apartment.
My wife and I just returned last night and plan to return at some point. We will also tell all our friends about it if they ever decide to go to Rome that this is the place to go. Not only is the apartment great, the general area,Trastavere, is so wonderful and, the immediate area the apartment is in is perfectly located close to everything without being so close that the noise is an issue. Trastavere is a kind of large area and not all areas are that charming. This area is in my opinion, the nicest.

Recommended for: adventure seekers, families with young children, sight seeing, tourists without a car, romantic getaway

Do you find this review helpful?   Yes   No

Helpful votes: 2 / 3

The Perfect Place to Stay

Roxzann (Richmond, Virginia)
Review submitted: October 21, 2011   Date of arrival: September 17, 2011

The apartment and location could not have been more perfect. The owner was helpful; she arranged for her driver to pick us up and was there to meet us and show us around the apartment when we arrived. We wanted an apartment with a kitchen so we could do some eating in and were not disappointed. The kitchen was well equipped, and it was a short walk to a grocery store and a wonderful outdoor market. The apartment itself was comfortable, clean, and spacious; however, the best part about it was the location. It is right behind beautiful Santa Maria in Trastevere; the chiming of the bells and the activity in the piazza only served to increase its charm. In the evening we could watch street performers from our window. The neighborhood is made up of narrow winding streets filled with little shops, cafes, and restaurants. During our stay, we dined only in Trastevere--there were so many wonderful places within a short walk. We chose Le Mani in Pasta, Roma Sparita, Bir e Fud, and Glass. All were enjoyable for various reasons, but our experience at Glass was amazing. We opted for their five-course tasting menu, which is truly worth the splurge. I highly recommend this apartment; I really cannot imagine a better place to stay in Rome.

Recommended for: sight seeing, tourists without a car, romantic getaway

Do you find this review helpful?   Yes   No

Helpful votes: 2 / 3

Lived Like a Rman

Corey (Toronto)
Review submitted: September 29, 2011   Date of arrival: July 18, 2011

Fantastic apartment well located. Walk everywhere. Sari provided us with great contacts (Michael's walking tour was enlightening) and direction making this a very memorable experience. Highly recommended.

Recommended for: adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, people with disabilities, families with teenagers, girls getaway, sight seeing, tourists without a car, romantic getaway

Do you find this review helpful?   Yes   No

Helpful votes: 1 / 2

Perfect location, great neighborhood, fully equipped apartment

mia-yul (Miami)
Review submitted: May 24, 2011   Date of arrival: April 25, 2011

Enjoyed my stay at this unit in Trastevere. The pictures and description by the owner is absolutely accurate. Apartment is located close to the river and in a very lively neighborhood. A quick walk across the Sisto bridge to the Pantheon, Trevi fountain, historic center, etc. The 271 bus (near the bridge) took us directly to the Colosseum and Roman Forum within minutes. Didn't trek to the Vatican from there, but it is not a far walk for those who are mobile or a bus ride for those who are less mobile (bus pickup and drop off are along the river close to the apartment). Apartment was clean and had everything we needed for cooking. Plenty of linens provided. Having staying in various other spots in Rome, this neighborhood was by far the most appealing. Walking around was nice. Tons of restaurants. A large grocery store (Billa) is not too far away if you prefer to cook. Plenty of shopping... I really enjoyed getting lost on all the little streets, especially that the streets were geared for pedestrian traffic over automobiles. I would definitely stay again if I ever return to Rome.

Recommended for: adventure seekers, sight seeing, tourists without a car, romantic getaway

Do you find this review helpful?   Yes   No

Helpful votes: 4 / 4

Bellissimo!!

Candy (Royersford,PA, USA)
Review submitted: September 21, 2010   Date of arrival: September 8, 2010

This apartment was not only exactly as advertised but had so many more added features.

Sari,the owner, was fantastic and it was our pleasure & honor to meet her. The

apartment was immaculate, fresh linens, towels, tons of closet space and drawers. The

kitchen had more than you could image of pots,pans & utensils! The laptop was a great

feature for emailing family. The location couldn't have been more fantastic! The Piazza

St Egidio below us was bustling with the beautiful sounds of Italian children & adults

in the morning off to work & school. At night it came alive with music and residence

and tourist alike off to dinning and walking about. You can reach all the sights that you

may have on your wish list from this apartment, transporations are at your fingertips. I

would highly recommend this apartment to everyone. It is your home away from home

and then some. The best also, is Sari's added personal touches, to make you feel

comfortable and relaxed on your vacation. The area has great resturants and minutes

away from shops & markets. I was hesitate to write a GREAT review on this apartment

in fear that when we want to return - it would be booked! My advise is, if you are going

to Rome, do not pass this apartment up. It truly is a rare gem and you do Live Rome

Like A Roman! To my favorite landlady, "Thank You" for making our trip to Rome

even more memorable!

Recommended for: adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, sight seeing, romantic getaway

Do you find this review helpful?   Yes   No

Helpful votes: 5 / 5

Bellissimo!

Candy (Royersford,PA, USA)
Review submitted: September 21, 2010   Date of arrival: September 8, 2010

This apartment was not only exactly as advertised but had so many more added features. Sari,the owner, was fantastic and it was our pleasure & honor to meet her. The apartment was immaculate, fresh linens, towels, tons of closet space and drawers. The kitchen had more than you could image of pots,pans & utensils! The laptop was a great feature for emailing family. The location couldn't have been more fantastic! The Piazza St Egidio below us was bustling with the beautiful sounds of Italian children & adults in the morning off to work & school. At night it came alive with music and residence and tourist alike off to dinning and walking about. You can reach all the sights that you may have on your wish list from this apartment, transporations are at your fingertips. I would highly recommend this apartment to everyone. It is your home away from home and then some. The best also, is Sari's added personal touches, to make you feel comfortable and relaxed on your vacation. The area has great resturants and minutes away from shops & markets. I was hesitate to write a GREAT review on this apartment in fear that when we want to return - it would be booked! My advise is, if you are going to Rome, do not pass this apartment up. It truly is a rare gem and you do Live Rome Like A Roman! To my favorite landlady, "Thank You" for making our trip to Rome even more memorable!

Recommended for: adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, sight seeing, tourists without a car, romantic getaway

Do you find this review helpful?   Yes   No

Helpful votes: 2 / 2

A perfect apartment in Rome

Alohatoall (Hawaii)
Review submitted: June 8, 2010   Date of arrival: October 17, 2009

We have stayed at the "Live Rome like a Roman" apartment overlooking Piazza S. Egidio in Trastevere 3 times since we discovered it in 2005, and we've just made reservations for another stay there in April 2011. The location is terrific, just a block to Trastevere's main piazza and a short walk across the Tiber to Campo dei Fiori and the other delights of Rome's historic center. The Colosseum and the Pantheon are within walking distance, and public transportation is also nearby (as well as countless cafes, restaurants, pizzerias, shops, etc.). The apartment itself is accurately portrayed here on its VRBO web site, although we were still pleasantly surprised by many of its features.
The bedroom is spacious, with a good bed, huge closets with lots of hangars, a dresser, and a comfortable chair by the phone -- PLUS books galore and blissful quiet at night. The living room is attractively furnished, with satellite TV and a great view of the endlessly-changing
action in Piazza S. Egidio. And the kitchen is probably the best we've had in years of renting apartments and houses in Italy and France: full-size major appliances, an abundance of small appliances, ample granite counter space, and a chair and sofa nearby so the cook doesn't have to work in isolation. The apartment offers that rare combination of being comfortable, cozy and "homey" without feeling cluttered by the owner's possessions. The owner, co-author of the National Geographic Traveler's guide to Rome, is the perfect landlady, willing to share her knowledge and love of Rome -- and extraordinarily helpful and concerned when a serious eye injury caused a problem for us during our stay in Rome. I don't think a couple can find a better apartment or a nicer landlady in all of Rome.

Recommended for: age 55+, sight seeing, tourists without a car, romantic getaway

Do you find this review helpful?   Yes   No

Helpful votes: 14 / 14

VRBORORG249707 (-)
Review submitted: September 30, 2009   Date of arrival: September 30, 2009

Central location in Trastevere is absolutely PERFECT. Everything is just outside your door. The apartment is charming and ideal for 1-2 people - and worth the 2 story walk-up. Besides, the owner is as charming as the apartment and helpful in every way.

Do you find this review helpful?   Yes   No

Helpful votes: 8 / 8