website to book apartment stay in Rome

I have used the following: Vrbo.com Homeaway.com
Romecapitalapartments.com Read reviews about the area etc. You should find more than enough on those sights.

You can use slowtravel.com to find reviews of apartments. Donna

Just stayed in this one last month for 9 nights. Loved the location (Largo dei Torre Argentina) and the apartment. http://www.romerentalapartments.it/argentina-holiday-rome-rental-apartment. Steps away from major transportation hub, yet quiet bedroom. 3 minute walk to Campo dei Fiori, great WIFI, clothes washer, full kitchen.

Clearly "safety" is more important to you than anything else. Nobody can guarantee "safety". You could slip in the shower, or somebody could break into any hotel room. My parents, several years ago, were robbed right outside the Fairmont Hotel in Dallas, and you couldn't get a safer hotel in a better part of town. So while I take and suggest reasonably precautions, and look around for fire hazards (reported one hotel in Switzerland) I realize that crime can happen anywhere.

As always, Nigel makes an excellent point. Safe websites? Yes, I supposed you could send your deposit via PayPal, have it end up in Nigeria, and be left on a Roman street in front of a non-existent address. I've used VRBO and a couple of other sites (including the one above) and felt totally comfortable with the process, and have never been left standing in the street. Keep your online confirmations and receipts, take them with you. As to safety in Rome (or in all of Italy for that matter), in 7 weeks of Italian travel in the past two years, we have never felt even remotely threatened or unsafe. Keep your wits about you, as you would at home, don't count your money in the street, use a moneybelt. We absolutely LOVE Rome adn feel very comfortable there. In fact, we are now moving to Rome thanks to my employer succumbing and assigning me there for 3 glorious years!

We used cross-pollinate.com several times and were always completely satisfied. Ample feedback given to any questions we had, and extremely well informed postings on locations.

Thanks to all, I really just to know in which area to stay in Rome, without worrying about being in a seedy area. I was thinking of staying in one of four areas; Spanish steps; pantheon area; Trevi fountain area or colus oleum area; want a area that can access the sites; and a nice area to walk around at night. I am from Los angeles and I know there are places to stay that are near the sites and some are safe others are not. Thanks

As far as website safety in vrbo and homeaway you can buy insurance of sorts for about $39 to insure what you book is not misrepresented etc. check out their help section. As far as safe areas, as Nigel said anywhere can be unsafe if you are unaware etc. However,I have found booking apartments with great reviews on either of those sites are fine. Other renters wouldn't give them good reviews if they weren't. Also I think you will find Rome easy to walk/access from just about anywhere. If not taxis, buses, and the metro are all easily accessible.

Phil, you really should pick up a copy of the RS Italy and/or Rome books. He does a great job of providing information that's esp. helpful for first time visitors. As for safety, Rome is very safe. Some neighborhoods are a little grittier than others, but not a problem if you just use common sense. Termini is often given as an example of gritty but still safe. Use Google Maps Street View to take a look around any immediate area BEFORE you book a place to stay. Be forewarned - there's graffiti virtually everywhere in Rome. I generally suggest that first-timers to Rome stay in the historic center, roughly defined by me as the general area formed by Campo de' Fiori, Piazza Navona, Pantheon and the Forum, esp. since that gives you easiest access to the major sites. So of the areas you list, I'd pick the Pantheon area. But the tourist area of Rome is very compact compared to other cities (I'm looking at you, Paris.) so it's hard to go wrong unless you stray way outside that area.