ROME- stay in Trastevere or Piazza Di Spagna (near spanish steps)?

Trastevere feels more like you're staying in a medieval village, if that helps with your decision.

Trastevere is charming, more like an authentic lived-in Roman community. Tourists during the day to walk the charming streets and visit the churches; at night hopping with nightlife. For elementary school aged girls, Piazza di Spagna wouid likely be more interesting, IMO. Aside - I saw a handwritten sign on a chalkboard outside a smallish trattoria in Trastevere that said, "We are against war and tourist menus." :)

Another issue to consider is that you will have to use public transit from Trastevere to most of ancient Rome while you could walk from Spagna and there is a Metro stop close if traveling out of the city. I would vote for Piazza Di Spagna.

It's an easy tram ride from Trastevere to anywhere...and quiet at night!!! A nice contrast to Tourist Rome.

here's the one thing i forgot to mention: the apartment in trastevere is basically one big room- a loft over the main living space and a sleeper sofa along with that. the apartment near the spanish steps has a SEPARATE bedroom so we could put the girls down and stay up a bit longer and sleep on the sleeper sofa. SOOOOO, would that change yalls decisions? i originally wanted trastevere, but i like the idea of the separate bedroom at the other.. decisions, decisions....

I always like a little separation. Just more convenient. Granted it is an easy tram ride but it is always a tram ride.

Sorry to answer a question with a question, but if you were trying to make a similar decision for a visit somewhere in the U.S., which would you choose? If you're used to a big house and are suddenly crammed into a one-room studio with loft, what impact is that likely to have on your family dynamic? IMO, more space for about the same price is always better, provided everything else is equal. Traveling is challenging enough - being together non-stop for days on end in unfamiliar circumstances. Giving yourselves a little extra breathing space and privacy seems like a good idea. Also, are you including your wife in these decisions? She would probably have an opinion on this one.

And FWIW there are a lot more apartments in Rome than just those two. But you should definitely factor in the layout of the room. I'm surprised you're considering two that are so different. How did you come to narrow it down to just these two?

ive been on vrbo, friendly rentals, and all sorts of sites.. i've written TONS of owners and havent gotten much back. these two happen to be managed by the same guy-- i wrote him about another apartment which is booked, but he sent me these two listings that are available. they are both within the budget, both have washers and AC, and wireless. those are my non-negotiables! plus i have NO personal experience (at least in the last 20 years) of Rome, so I'm reading alot about the different areas and trying to figure out which areas work for us.. it's kindof a shot in the dark!

Spanish Steps. Much more within walking distance including Spanish Steps.

Randel, I don't know when your trip is, but if you remain indecisive too long about an apartment with A/C and wireless in either of those locations, there's a good chance it will be gone when you finally do decide.

With two kids and the apartment near the Spanish Steps having a separate room for the adults the Spanish Steps apartment is the hands down winner. I am a big fan of Trastevere but the SS apartment is a better fit for your needs.

With kids definitely the Spanish Steps area...it's cleaner and more central. It's a bit of a trek with kids to get into the central area from Trastavere. Honestly, and this is my own opinion that I'm sure others would vehemently disagree with, I dislike Trastavere. Although small pieces of it are charming, much of it is covered with an excessive amount of grafitti and it is one of the few places in Europe I've seen rats on the streets going in and out of the cracks in the charming buildings. The area is definitely worth a visit but I was just very put off by some of what I saw.