Un-reviewed Airbnb in Rome: did I make a mistake, and is location OK?

That location is definitely not central. Are you guys "walkers" when you travel? If so, you should try to book somewhere that is max 15/20 minutes from the major sights (assuming that is what you want to see). Walking will get you around faster than the bus.

Also, I think the best thing about Airbnb is the "self-policing" that occurs when people post their reviews. You are forfeiting that feature. I guess if you are really familiar with the city and know what you are getting into that would be ok, but if you aren't it could be a disaster.

After saying all that, I hope you can still cancel! Otherwise, fingers crossed for you!

You will be very near Porta Maggiore with excellent transportation options. You can hop on the tram 3 to go to the Colosseo and the 19 to go to the Borghese.

Nothing wrong with bus or tram, we used them every day for almost 5 years living there. Just keep your wits about you. Taxis will be your friend, also, as they will save you time going to places like the Vatican. We like to use taxis after dinner if we are some distance from our lodgings.

The street scene is typical.

Are you new to Rome as well? In that case, I would be having second thoughts. I would be concerned that the property manager might also be new to Airbnb.

With that said, you did have your reasons for picking this property in the first place, and you are the one who knows what you really want .

I've stayed in lots of airbnb's since our first in 2011. Most have had a good number of reviews, but a few times I've taken a chance on a relatively new listing, and have stayed in a few in less touristy areas, so they didn't have a lot of reviews. For me, I ALWAYS contact the person doing the listing first. I find I can get a feel for them just by communicating back and forth a few times - how fast do they respond...did they answer my questions...that kind of thing. I know language can be an issue, as well as time zone differences, but you can still get a feel for them.

I've stayed in something like 30 airbnb's, and have only ever really been disappointed in one - luckily, it was just a 1 night stay and the next night we were at home.

And graffiti - alas - is everywhere in Rome...even Venice was full of graffiti.

I too am new to Airbnb and I booked a place in the San Giovanni neighborhood in Rome for 7 nights in May. My place did have reviews and an American living in Rome host. I am not "centrally" located either but, this place was best for my budget and desire for privacy. I have researched extensively the transportation and being in your location will not be an issue with all the transport options available! I looked at a couple places in that same neighborhood and the reviews from bloggers and such were happy with the quality and safety of that neighborhood. Good luck and enjoy Rome, I know I plan to!!

If you are at Porta Maggiore you will be able to get a good look at my favourite old Roman memorial - that put up by and for a baker who was a freed man. Wait until you see the industrial ovens and dough rollers.

Wow, thank you for these thoughtful answers! I’ll respond to or clarify a few points.

“That location is definitely not central. Are you guys "walkers" when you travel?”

We are not opposed to significant walking. 10 mile days are not uncommon for us. Per Google Maps, we would be a 30 minute walk to the Colosseum.

“…if you aren't [familiar with the city and know what you are getting into] it could be a disaster.”

“Are you new to Rome as well? In that case, I would be having second thoughts. I would be concerned that the property manager might also be new to Airbnb.”

I have never been to Rome or even Europe before. Advice heeded! It appears Airbnb allows three cancellations per year without paying the Airbnb fee, and the property allows cancellations for free up to 24 hours before the visit. I could burn one of my free Airbnb cancellations.

Given the generous cancellation policy, I am in no rush to do this. One option is to hold on to it for a while and see if any ratings appear. However, how far before a trip to Italy should I reserve Airbnb?

We have stayed in several new places in Rome with no reviews and they have all worked out OK.

It’s hard to get a good sense of the area when it’s a city you’ve never been to! I’m not crazy about the sound of place either, you’re all the way on the other side of Termini.

When I did my searches, it seemed like there were a good deal of options in the Prati neighborhood, just north of the Vatican. It looks kind of remote, but it’s well served by the metro line and is handy if you’re planning on visiting the Vatican at all. The neighborhood itself was quite nice, and on a grid so it was easy to find stuff. I thought it was great. If you’re planning on looking, I’d start there.

No one else has mentioned the "w" word, so I will: weather. June is not July or August, but it still may be quite hot in Rome while you're there (what are the exact dates?). You'll find that air conditioning is not as prevalent in Rome as in US cities. Small bars, cafes, restaurants and shops often do not have a/c. (Hint: If the door is left open on a hot day, there is no a/c!) Some of the museums aren't air conditioned either. And of course there's lots of outdoor sightseeing in Rome.

Wunderground provides day-by-day weather stats for most major cities going back 15 or 20 years. I've linked to the June 2017 data for Rome. You can use the pull-down box to change the date to 2016, 2015, etc., to get an idea of the range of temperatures you might experience. I'd be less nervous about early June than about late June, but it's still a plus to be within convenient walking distance of the core of the historic area.

If you are unlucky with the weather, you'll be very glad to be staying somewhere that's an easy commute from your sightseeing targets so you have a place to cool down from the mid-day heat. That could be by walking (I'd consider a 60-minute extra roundtrip in the middle of the day to be a little long) or by bus or subway. If there's a bus from your area that heads to the historic center, that will work.

I assume that the apartment you've booked is air conditioned, but do verify that. Many European apartments are not, but I think it would be unusual for a rental unit in Rome not to have a/c.

I have a strong preference for being in a neighborhood with multiple restaurant options in my (casual/moderate) price range. I have developed that preference as a result of staying in hotels that were convenient to the train station but very skimpy on places to eat. This may not be an issue for you, depending on how you manage your days and how you feel about needing a bus to get back to your apartment when you finish dinner (probably after 8 PM). If the apartment is in a middle-class neighborhood equipped with eating establishments frequented by Romans, that is great.