Hello, Our family of 7 is trying to decide which apartment location would work best for 3 nights in Rome in July. One is on Via di San Giovanni in Laterano; one is in Trastevere near the Ottaviano metro stop, and one is
very close to 'La Sapienza' University. All apartments fit size and budget requirements, although the Laterano apartment is about $200 more (is its location worth that?) and all have AC. Also, we will have a rental car that we need to keep somewhere during our 4 days in Rome (we will not use it in Rome). The apartment owners all say there is ample street and garage parking. Is that actually true or will this be a huge hassle when we get there? Thank you for your help!
Posted by
OP
Fairfax, VA
9 posts
Thank you all for the good advice! I will look into dropping the car off and picking it up. Our kids are 4, 7 and 9 (plus we are bringing grandparents). We are not planning to be overly ambitious in our itinerary in Rome and instead pick one major thing to do each day, then let the rest of the day unfold. We are going to focus more on large, outdoor sites like the Coliseum and steer clear of the crowded, indoor sites like the Vatican; our 4 year old will just not be able to handle the lines and I think we'll all have more fun if we approach it as a cultural experience more than a touring one, if that makes sense. We'll really only have 2 full days and 1 half day so there won't be time to do too much at the pace we will be going. By the way, we plan to start in Sorrento, spend one day visiting Pompeii and one going to the town our family is from (a tiny place 2 hours east of Naples) before we head to Rome. We will probably need a driver to get us to this tiny town, so maybe we should rethink the car entirely until we head from Rome to Tuscany. I had thought he price of train tickets for 7 would outweigh the rental but that might not be true, and it might be easier not to have the car at all in Sorrento.
Posted by
OP
Fairfax, VA
9 posts
Sorry for the extra question, but I found one more apartment, a bit more expensive than the Via di San Giovanni one but not much. It looks out onto Via Sant'Andrea delle Fratte near the Spanish Steps. Is this location preferable to the others?
Posted by
Pa and Italy
4152 posts
I would probably choose the Laterano apartment just based on location. You'll be closer to more sites. There is also a metro stop in the area. You'll easily be able to walk to the colosseum area. From there the other areas of Rome are very easy to get to. I would take a cab or the metro to get to the Vatican from there as it will be a very long walk. As for parking, it's hard to say. If you park in a garage you'll have to pay. Finding street parking can be very hard or even impossible. My recommendation would be to see if you can turn in the car for the time you have in Rome. If not, find a parking area outside the city where you can leave it for a few days. Donna
Posted by
Coraopolis, Pa, USA
1018 posts
I believe Ottaviano is on the northern side of the Vatican and Trastevere is to the south of the Vatican. As for the car situation, I would check with the car rental people to price the cost of 2 rentals. One to drop off when you arrive in Rome and the other when you leave. Also, take into consideration the cost of a parking because this will effect the total $$$, as well. A car in a big city is a huge liability. Buon viaggio,
Posted by
lexington, il
4105 posts
Heather, What ever you do DO NOT drive into Rome!!! It will drive you CRAZY! Park your car at the Airport and train into the city. To answer your other questions, we really need to know the ages of the children,or specific attractions you wish to see. The Trastevere neighborhood is much more relaxing than some of the others, that said transportation options are mostly limited to buses. Ottaviano is north of the Vatican and gives easy access to that area plus Piazza Narvona, Campo di Fiori and the Pantheon area. Metro connections here are fairly reasonable plus there are many buses. The one on Via di San Giovanni gives you easy access to the Colosseum and Roman Forum and Capitoline Hills area. One thing you need to keep in mind...Rome is a HUGE city, places may look very close on a map but are in fact miles apart. Save time by closly looking at the metro map and get a good bus map as soon as you get there.
Have fun planning
Posted by
lexington, il
4105 posts
Heather, The first Via di san Giovanni is near the Coloseum the one on Via Sant'Andrea dell Fratte is near the Trevi Fountain and The Villa Borgheese. Either location affords you the opportunity to have fun with the kids.
Villa Borgheese is a WONDERFUL park...Train rides for the kids, 4-6 person" bicycle cars" golf carts all wonderful ways to explore this park. Either apt should work. Planning to do 1 major a day is the way to go. Soak up the ambiance of Rome and enjoy yourselves. Ah, Campaigna you'll love it ! My daughter lives there so I visit often.