I have recently found this site and learnt a lot reading the posts on Rome. We are going to Rome early next month (Feb) for 4 nights with our two girls, aged 2 and 4 years old. From the info and reviews here I have decided that Campo dei Fiori sounds like an interesting and central location. We want to be as central as possible for the sake of the kids stamina and our sanity. This site has also clarified my idea that an apartment would be far more useful to us than a hotel.
Can anyone recommend an apartment in or near Campo dei Fiori? I randomly chose an apartment via sleepinitaly.com Via Sant' Eustachio - Pantheon which looks OK...it has a washing machine which is always handy with kids. The price is 145euro per night, plus 50euro for a cot/crib (total, not per night). This price range suits us, probably wouldn't want too much higher. But we are still looking...
Any other advice re Rome and small kids most appreciated. When we travelled to Prague last summer we hired a Czech babysitter to come to our hotel a couple of afternoons. This worked out perfectly all round...the girls enjoyed the time to stay inside and play and we appreciated the chance to sight see. Think we might look into this again for Rome...
TIA Robyn
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Kim,
Posts: 25 | Location: Australian in Switzerland | Registered: 19 January 2006
I took a quick peek at the apartment and it does look like nice. I agree, an apartment especially one with a washer would be great with kids. The area is central. Do you have any specific sites that you plan to visit. Will you be walking or planning to use public transportation?
I want to point out our main website in case you found the board without finding Slow Travel. We have reviews of apartments. I looked and we have several from the Sleep in Italy agency but not the specific one you mention. But we also have trip reports and notes on travel in Italy including a few notes on travel with kids. Here are some items to check you if you haven't already:
I hope a member has advice regarding a babysitter. I know members have arranged babysitters in Tuscany but I don't remember anyone mentioning arranging a sitter in Rome specifically. You may want to contact the agency to see if they have any recommendations.
We will probably walk to most things if possible but take public transport if necessary. We have very low expectations on what we can see with the kids. Just to be there, soak up the atmosphere and see the outside of some 'sights' will be good. Just gets too frustrating otherwise.
I have looked through the reviews and they were very helpful. Now I'd like to narrow it right down...ideally hear from someone who has stayed in an apartment with small children in the area we are searching.
I was thinking that I'd ask the apartment person on info re babysitters. Even an occasional-care garderie (creche) would be good.n
Robyn
Posts: 25 | Location: Australian in Switzerland | Registered: 19 January 2006
We will be staying in Sant Eustacchio with our 15 month daughter the week of April 4-11. I put a fair amount of research into it beforehand and this looked good for the decor, central location, price/value ratio, only 1 flight of stairs, and amenities such as washer.
I am excited about the booking. Hopefully, it will work out well....
After lots more reading (thanks for those links Marta) I am currently also looking into the Piazza Navona area. Anyone have experience with either of these apartments Roman Reference #141 or #112?
Posts: 25 | Location: Australian in Switzerland | Registered: 19 January 2006
Robyn, we stayed in Rome last summer with our then 2 and 4 y.o. boys. I can't recommend apartments because we stayed at The Excelsior Hotel. However, we did hire a babysitter through the hotel who was wonderful with the boys. She gave me her card, and if you are interested, I can give you the information. However, your apartment rental agent can probably hook you up with someone, too.
My boys loved exploring Villa Borghese park on the 4 person bikes, and also throwing coins into all the fountains. I thought they were too young to appreciate the Colosseum, but they did enjoy taking walks through Rome, gelato, and running around together or with other children in the piazzas. There is a book available through amazon.com called "Rome with Kids" which might give you more ideas for your children's enjoyment of Rome.
Good luck finding an apartment! We stayed in the Campo dei Fiori area before (without the kids) and it is a very central area. There were lots of children playing in the campo in the early evenings (although this was in the summer -- it's probably different in February!), and it is so close to Piazza Navona which has lots of entertainment for the children (puppet shows, mimes, etc.)
We stayed in a one bedroom apartment at Palazzio Olivia, just off Piazza Navona and not too far from Campo de Fiore, with our 2 kids (son 12, daughter 8) a little over two years ago. The area was great with many restaurants in the area. It was close to everything and the on-site assistant and manager were very friendly and helpful.
I know there are several reviews on the Slow-Trav web site. We were able to book through an American agent in US dollars. I'm not sure they handle this property anymore.
I would highly recommend this location and area. It was our 3rd trip to Rome and, we thought, the best place we stayed (previous trips we stayed in a hotel near the Pantheon).
We also found the "Principesse tour trip report" (noted above) very helpful for activities and restaurants.
Hope this helps. If you want more details, let me know and I'll dig through my old notes and stuff!..
GregW
Posts: 36 | Location: Woodstock, GA | Registered: 03 January 2003
We also stayed at the Palazzo Olivia 2 years ago with our 3 teens. The area is very central to everything. We stayed in the Almaviva apt. My review is here.
Posts: 982 | Location: San Francisco bay area | Registered: 12 May 2003
Sorry, Robyn! I will look for the babysitter's card tomorrow! Hopefully, I still have it. If not, definitely talk to your apartment rental agent -- we had great luck finding babysitters through ours last year!
Robin, We are heading to Rome for a month at the end of February, with our 2 girls, ages 3 and 9 months. We rented an apartment a little further west of the Vatican (only because it was cheaper, so we could stay longer). But I did want to mention that I saw a few postings on Craigslist in Rome (not sure if I can mention another website) of American college students looking to babysit. We may look into this. I also picked up Fodor's "Rome with Kids" book, and although most of it is geared towards older kids, lots of great ideas with younger ones. My 3 year old is most excited about gelato and riding the metro! Angela
I have recently found this site and learnt a lot reading the posts on Rome. We are going to Rome early next month (Feb) for 4 nights with our two girls, aged 2 and 4 years old.
Any other advice re Rome and small kids most appreciated. When we travelled to Prague last summer we hired a Czech babysitter to come to our hotel a couple of afternoons. This worked out perfectly all round...the girls enjoyed the time to stay inside and play and we appreciated the chance to sight see. Think we might look into this again for Rome...
TIA Robyn
Robyn
You might also want to look at my instructions for Rome in a wheelchair. Not because anybody in your party has a wheelchair but I'm betting dollars to donuts you have a stroller. Strollers are as problematic as wheelchairs in Rome. Being forewarned is for armed.
As to baby sitters? Have you considered contacting a church in the area? If you are catholic perhaps your local priest can put you in touch with a priest at a parish in Rome. If you are baptist I can give you the name and number of the minister of the only baptist church in Rome - which BTW is also just a few blocks from your apartment. I believe there is also an episcopalean congregation in the same area but I think they are chinese. Might be a communication barrier there.
Anyone have experience with either of these apartments Roman Reference #141
Robyn,
My wife and I stayed at this apartment with my kids and wrote a review on it on Slowtrav.com
Let me know if you have any specific questions about the apartment. I'd certainly stay there again in a heartbeat. I was just thinking about the apartment last night while watching the movie Besieged. I missed the noise comingfrom the antique restoration shop downstairs every morning
Robyn -- I found our babysitter's card, and apparently she is also a tour guide. Gloria Desideri... gloria.desideri@tin.it. Mobile # 339.5253333.
She speaks excellent English, which is good with young children. We only used her one time, while we went out to dinner, but my boys seemed to like her.
I hope she doesn't mind me posting this, although she does advertise herself as a tour guide so how much could she mind? Best of luck to you!
Robyn, I forgot to mention this -- if you have a double stroller... take it! We loved taking long walks through the city, but it was too much walking for the kids. They were happy to have the stroller. AND... if they happen to fall asleep in the stroller while you are walking around, it is the perfect opportunity to have a nice glass of wine with your husband!!
The girls will be in seventh heaven with the gelato
Amy, we don't have a double stroller...we didn't even buy one of those toddler platforms (to attach to your pram) when the baby was born. The crazy thing is, the younger one doesn't like getting in the stroller (a real pain when we're travelling) but the older one jumps at the chance. So you see us with a big girl in the stroller and the younger one either on daddy's shoulders or asleep in my arms (not my preference by any means, but if she's asleep...).
We do have a very nice backpack for the younger one but it never caught on
Posts: 25 | Location: Australian in Switzerland | Registered: 19 January 2006
Just wondering, what led you away from deciding on San Eustachio Apt. with Sleepinitaly and towards the two you are now focusing on? (Don't worry about offending in any way with your anwer-- I have no particular allegiance to San Eustachio.)
Also, can anyone explain the difference between "central heat" and "independent heat"? Which is preferred? Is either type generally included with the rental or do both cost extra, if nothing else is said in the agreement?
If you need ideas for things to do with the kids check the special section in "Eyewitness guide to Rome" . A couple of books go into detail about kids' things too. Oh, they might like to find the beasts: check my "Roman Bestiary" article recently posted on my website, altho' originally written over 2 decades ago. None of the animals have moved since then.
Andrew I am happy to answer your question. The San Eustachio Apt. is 145euro per night for a one bedroom. The Via dei Falegnami and Pellegrini are both 130euro per night and both 2 bedroom. With two kids I am tempted by the extra bedroom. We have done one bedroom before and it works fine - the girls both fall asleep in the bedroom (the little one in the cot and the big one in our bed). When we go to bed we move the big one out to the sofa bed in the loungeroom. Thankfully the older one is a deep sleeper. For less money we get the extra bedroom. But I see you are travelling with one child which I think makes a difference.
On the Sleep in Italy site both the San Eustachio Apt. and the Falegnami are listed as Deluxe, and the Pellegrini as Superior. So I am leaning towards the Falegnami apt.
Posts: 25 | Location: Australian in Switzerland | Registered: 19 January 2006
I have been re-reading this post to help me make a decision...and I am no closer (the curse of being a Libran is my excuse). We leave for Italy next week (I know, I know) so we are obviously going to book somewhere very soon (like, tomorrow).
Can anyone help me break this deadlock? Sleep in Italy Via dei Falegnami (good price, 2 bedrooms) or Palazzo Olivia Fiorello (bit more expensive, only one bedroom)?
Posts: 25 | Location: Australian in Switzerland | Registered: 19 January 2006
Robyn -- I think either will suit you and your family. They both are in great locations. At this point I would just pick one, and then concentrate on all the other planning issues.
I wouldn't worry too much about the one bedroom -- we rented a large 3 bedroom last summer, but the boys were nervous being alone in their room so we all ended up in one bedroom anyway! If you prefer the one bedroom, don't let the size dissuade you.
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