We loved the location: an apartment building on Via Cavour, halfway between Santa Maria Maggiore and the Colliseum. It was away from the crowds but only 2 blocks from the Cavour Metro station and had a Laundromat with internet access 2 doors down and a grocery store just
past that. Between walking, the Metro and bus #87, we could easily get almost everywhere we wanted.

The woman that runs it was very nice and helpful. When we checked in she gave us a map of Rome and showed us how to get to major attractions. She gave us her cell number and told us she only lived a minute away if we needed anything. Then she gave us the keys and we were basically on our own.

The rooms are on the 4th floor, no lift. Not huge, but not too cramped. It had a TV, mini fridge, wall safe and hair dryer. No phone. The bed had an unusual mattress (thin, but dense) over a metal spring platform. My husband commented that it was hard but we both slept well. The subway line must run right by the building because we could hear a subtle rumble every few minutes. It wasn’t loud enough to keep us awake though.

They left a tray in the room with the next day’s breakfast which consisted of coffee/tea, a bowl of bran flakes and a packaged croissant that reminded me of a Twinkie without the cream filling. Whole milk and orange juice were in the fridge. Nothing exciting but since we're usually gone before breakfast is served, it was nice to have something.

There was a large shared bathroom with both a shower and a separate tub. It was somewhat worn. The shower drain was slow and the knobs to the shower door had come off so it was a little difficult to open. Unfortunately the guests that we shared the bathroom were in there for at least 30 minutes the first morning and at least 45 minutes the second. When they finally got out, the bathroom was totally steamed up. Thank goodness we had both gotten up around 5 and went then. I can’t believe anyone would be that inconsiderate when sharing a bathroom but that’s the risk you run. Maybe they would have hurried along if we had knocked on the door but we didn’t want to do that. There appeared to be 3 guest rooms however I don’t know if any had a private bath.

We were expected to pay cash up front. She actually let us pay the next day because it would have taken all our cash. I was somewhat prepared because I had read that in one of the reviews on Venere.com but it was not mentioned on the listing or in the email confirmation.

If you can handle 4 floors without a lift and you’re willing to risk a shared bathroom, at 100EU a night, the price and location can’t be beat.