Vacation Rentals by Owner

First time to Rome and this was the perfect home base

Guest: Lois B. (San Diego CA USA)
Date of Stay: 05/03/12 Review Submitted: 05/11/12

We've rented apartments before during our trips to Europe but this is the best yet. From the very start owner Mary Anne Vitale was available and eager to help with everything from how to operate the cable TV to the best places go to and what to see. The apartment was so comfortable, it was a great place to return to after a hectic day in Rome. Our outdoor terrace was as large as the apartment with great seating for breakfast or dinner. Since we were on the 6th floor we had a great view of our surrounding neighborhood (Ostia Lido) and could actually view the ocean from our patio. Transportation into Rome is an easy 30-45 minute train ride, depending on where in Rome you are headed. And the ride only costs 1 euro! The train station is two blocks away from the apartment. We got to know all the local places: Carrefour market that had supplied most of our needs, the daily street markets for fresh vegetables and fruit, the local wine vendor who would fill up our empty soda bottles with great vino for about 2 euros a liter, the downstairs cafe owners who served us our daily 1 euro cappuccino, the pizza vendor near the train station who served by the slice some of the best pizza we have ever eaten, etc. etc. One of the things that I loved about this apartment is that the description is very true and everything that was provided actually worked! The apartment we rented previous to this one promised wifi, a washer, a telephone, cable TV and never did all of these work at the same time, if ever. The owner, Mary Anne, lives right next door so she is available to answer questions, give directions, suggestions, and even 5:30am rides to the airport if needed for a small fee. We will definitely return for our next trip to Rome and highly suggest this as a comfortable retreat from the hectic lifestyle in Rome. Also, Ostia Antica, one of our favorite destinations during our stay is only two train stops away.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

A Must to Stay at Again - Truly a Home away from Home

Guest: Linnie (Canada)
Date of Stay: 04/01/12 Review Submitted: 04/27/12

My daughter and I had the opportunity to stay at this apartment and it was truly wonderful. Unlike some rental locations, this truly felt like home. There was a fully equipped kitchen with many dishes, lots of cutlery and pots and pans. The terrace was a nice place to relax after a busy day of sightseeing. The local train was within walking distance and it was very easy to get around on the local trains and very inexpensive (1 Euro). The apartment is about 45 minutes from Rome. There was a fruit market literally next door to the condo building and a full grocery store within walking distance. We didn't get to the harbor, but it was also within walking distance. The surrounding area is very clean with well kept apartments. The owner, Mary Anne is delightful. She went out of her way to make us feel at home. She lives around the corner in another unit and made sure that we had everything we needed. There were even some basic food supplies for us. She drove us to the open air markets and walked around with us. She even helped me locate a specific ring designer that I had been searching for and drove us around to many jeweler stores before we located what I was seeking. Now that it is going above and beyond! In addition, Mary Anne drove us to the airport on the morning of our departure. Although it was a taxi drive of approximately 80 Euros to the apartment from the main train station in Rome, it was worth it. We both loved the apartment and out of the three apartments we stayed in during our time in Italy, this was by far the best. We look forward to another trip back to Italy perhaps in a few years and this would be the spot that we would call home and use as a home base and then venture from here. Mary Anne, thank you again for your hospitality. You are a delightful person and such a nice way to end our trip.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

A home in Rome!

Guest: Halo1228 (Eastern Ontario Canada )
Date of Stay: 03/16/12 Review Submitted: 03/26/12

We really enjoyed our time at this apartment. It was big enough for the two of us and possibly kids if you had them. We enjoyed having a home base to travel to Rome (about 45 min including transfer times with trains). There are a few supermarkets nearby, a bakery/coffee shop down stairs, pizza around the corner and the beach about a fifteen min walk away. The train station is about ten minutes away and very easy to get to. It's easy to buy tickets from the machine and just hop on the train to the Piramide station to transfer into the rest of Rome. The owner was delightful and even picked us up and dropped us off at the train station so we wouldn't have to drag our luggage there. She gave us some helpful info and made us feel very welcome. It was reassuring to know there was someone to help in case we lost out way! The apartment had enough equipment to make espresso, and cook a few nice meals. It was clean, renovated and nice and neat. It was also nice and quiet for sleeping at night! We really appreciated having a washing machine after a week on the road. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay here and hope to come back one day! Enjoy your stay! We highly recommend it.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with young children, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Husband and wife

Guest: Pamela (Adelaide, South Australia)
Date of Stay: 10/23/11 Review Submitted: 12/02/11

The property was very accommodating and clean, there were adequate provisions in the apartment for our use upon arrival. The only down side was the flow of water from the shower was quite limiting until it was fixed the day before we left. The distance from Rome is navigable by train, the station being a short walk from the apartment. There is a small store opposite the unit where you can purchase every day needs also they have fresh meals cooked each day to take away which is very useful. The owner of the unit was extremely helpful, she met us at the train as the floods had washed out part of the train track and the local station was out of action. She drove some distance to pick us up and for the next 2 days drove us to and from the station until the local station was back in action. She also drove us to the airport on our departure. A mobile phone was provided to us for any time we needed to contact her for any assistance. Her hospitality and attention was over and above anything we had experienced during our six weeks in Italy. For anybody searching for a quiet self contained unit out of the hustle and bustle of Rome and within a short distance to the beach and the ancient ruins of the ancient port of Ostia Antica we thoroughly recommend this property.

Recommended for:Tourists without a car

Excellent Place to Stay

Guest: Andrea (Fremont, CA USA)
Date of Stay: 10/17/11 Review Submitted: 12/02/11

We had a wonderful time staying at this apartment. Mary Anne was unbelievable very kind and a good host. Close to metro very easy to get around from this area. I would highly recommend staying here. It was our first time to Rome and we were on a budget so we were glad we stayed here easy access to everything. Markets, post office and beach within walking distance. Thank you so much Mary Anne for all your help we cherished our time in Rome and will never forget the kindness you showed us. Smiles

Recommended for:Girls getaway, tourists without a car.

Amazing Location and Amazing Host!

Guest: Ben (Minneapolis, MN - USA)
Date of Stay: 09/14/11 Review Submitted: 02/29/12

I've been meaning to write this review for some time, but it is worth my time because it was such a great experience. My wife and I traveled here with my mother in law in September 2011. We wanted to stay in a location outside of Rome so we could escape the noise / congestion of the city after a long day of sightseeing. Ostia was a perfect way for us to accomplish this, and the town is much quieter / safer than Rome and is close to the sea. We even spent one of our days on the beach...definitely a great surprise that we weren't planning on when we initially planned the trip! Also, the patio outside the apartment is incredible...the views that Mary Anne has on the listing don't do it justice!!! MOST IMPORTANTLY, Mary Anne is an amazing host. It is always a little intimidating making these plans without really knowing the person that you are renting from, and Mary Anne was a perfect host. She was great to work with to help us make the reservation and sightseeing plans, and when we arrived, she went out of her way to make sure that we felt comfortable throughout our stay. Whether it was directions to the train and around Rome or restaurant suggestions in Ostia, Mary Anne is a huge reason why our stay was so amazing. Thanks again for everything!!!!!

Owner response:Hello Ben, Thank you for your wonderful review, I really appreciate it and it really helps. I hope to have you as my guest some time again in the future. Thank you again and "saluti" to you wife and mother - in - law, Mary Anne

Recommended for:Families with young children, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Sabine from Berlin Germany
Date of Stay: 04/17/11 Review Submitted: 04/29/11

April 17th to 24th 100% well appointed apartement von sabine, Berlin Bewertung vom 26.04.11 - Reisezeitraum April 2011 perfectly equipped apartement with beautiful terrace; direct connection to public transportation to Rome; very very friendly landlady, great hospitaliy, good recommendations for restaurants in Ostia Äusserer Gesamteindruck: 100% Ausstattung: 100% Lage100% Sauberkeit: 100% Service: 100% Preis/Leistung: 100%

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I agree!!

Guest: Todd (Utah)
Date of Stay: 04/05/11 Review Submitted: 04/18/11

Heather and Todd Christiansen UTAH U.S.A. April 5th April 11th 2011 We can’t say enough good about Mary Anne and our experience in Ostia. It was our 20th anniversary and Mary Anne helped to make it special for us. The apartment was clean and convenient with the kitchenette, and it had a beautiful veranda, where we sat and enjoyed most of our mornings and evenings, relaxing and looking out over the city with a favorite beverage, or some great local food we purchased from the local grocer’s a half block away. When we arrived (she picked us up at the airport), she had little snacks in a basket, (a bottle of wine in the fridge—though we don’t drink, it just goes to show Mary Anne wants people to enjoy their experience) lot’s of information (maps, Italian dictionary, walking tours, subway maps and direction) for getting to the metro, nice restaurants, and favorite gelato places. She even provided us a cell phone to use in case we got lost. We have a tendency to be home bodies and it was great to have Mary Anne there to encourage us and show us what we should do in Rome (only 30 minutes away on the Metro). We were able to navigate ourselves easily enough after the first day and we realized though Rome was huge, we were able to see and do so much in such a short time. Ostia was also nice because it had beautiful running parks (my husband and I love to run) and we walked down to the beach front almost every night we were there. The local people are friendly and are patient and helpful if you don’t speak Italian. She made it possible for us to take a two day trip into Florence and stay in the little town of Sarteano. There we visited the natural hot spring baths—just like a massage in the waterfalls. We did shopping there and got some great prices on beautiful leather items! Mary Anne has become a very good friend and our experience there was something we will cherish forever.

Recommended for:Age 55+, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

Perfect!

Guest: Rose & Ron (Salida, CO USA)
Date of Stay: 03/24/11 Review Submitted: 04/04/11

We agree with what the other reviewers had to say and will add a few comments of our own. We spend six nights at Ostia Bella Vista. Having Mary Anne pick us up at the airport at a cost less than a taxi was a wonderful feature. Not having to deal with taxi drivers after 15 hours of travel was wonderful. Mary Anne was very helpful. We brought our own laptop but had "issues" with converters and adaptors. Mary Anne sorted it all out in no time at all. The accommodation was clean, well kept and comfortable. Being 30 minutes outside of Rome worked for us as an escape from the pandemonium of Rome. Be sure to consider a visit to Ostia Antica which is two train stops away from Ostia Centro. It is awesome!! We will be back!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

Loved our visit

Guest: Claudia (Kenmore, WA USA)
Date of Stay: 10/20/10 Review Submitted: 10/30/10

We spent a week in this wonderful Ostia apartment. It was comfortable, had wonderful rooftop views, a very handy washer, and a kitchen stocked with coffee, staples, and everything we needed for perfect stay. There were all kinds of shops and cafes nearby, and the 2-block walk to the metro station made it easy to get into Rome every day. The apartment is only a few blocks away from the seashore as well, and beautiful walks on the "lungomare" (boardwalk). Mary Anne made everything easy, even dropping us off at the airport at 6 am! We felt like real guests, almost Romans, not tourists. One tip -- if you'll be staying for more than a few days, invest in a weekly "CIS" pass for the bus/metro. It's only 16 Euro, and it enables you to ride everything (except regional trains) for a full week, as much as you want. Also, there's a outdoor market in the mornings just a few blocks from the apartment. The food is AMAZING!!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Loved it!

Guest: Cindy & Ken (Calgary, Canada)
Date of Stay: 09/25/10 Review Submitted: 12/17/10

My wife & I spent a week at this apartment and we really enjoyed ourselves. It was an easy train ride in to Rome for sightseeing and it was a "great escape" at the end of the day to get away from the hustle & bustle of the big city. Mary Anne's hospitality was tremendous. She helped us with planning our daily itinerary; she pointed out the good places to shop & dine; she helped us drop off our car rental and she even drove us to the airport when we left. We really appreciated all of her help & hospitality. We couldn't have asked for anything more.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Trip of a life time (October 2009)

Guest: kytel (Coquitlam)
Date of Stay: 10/04/09 Review Submitted: 06/10/10

This location could have not been better. It had everything we needed, from the cafe's to the shopping for groceries to just relaxing. Mary Anne made our stay amazing. For a small fee she even picked us up at the airport. Great service. The apartment was in great condition and the perfect location. Far enough away from the main city and quiet enough to relax after a long day of site seeing. This area is what I would say more authentic Italy. People very friendly and it was great to brush up on the little Italian we new. Having the train only a few blocks away, made the 30 minute commutte very relaxing and perfect to see the sites as you go by. We felt very safe and loved our experience. Would recommend this apartment to all of our friends who plan to travel to Rome. Thank you Mary Anne and your beautiful daughters for an amazing trip. Paula & Carlos Vicente Coquitlam, B.C. Canada

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Lonnie Webb (Newark, Delaware)
Date of Stay: 06/10/09 Review Submitted: 06/10/09

we had a grand time and the accommodations were wonderful, within walking distance to all the important places like grocery stores, restaurants and train/bus station. A very relaxing vacation. Our host was wonderful, thoughtful, helpful and very kind and friendly. Thank you Mary Anne for a great vacation.

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Guest: John & Terri (Arlington,TX)
Date of Stay: 06/10/09 Review Submitted: 06/10/09

Ostia Bella Vista was the perfect place for our family to escape the chaos of Rome. Ostia Lido has all the amenities (grocery stores, restaurants, etc.) that one needs without wall-to-wall people. Try the pizzeria below the apartment. It is great! The apartment is well maintained and the terrace is beautiful! Mary Anne is a very gracious hostess and she speaks perfect English. We went to Italy to research my Calabrian heritage. We left Italy with wonderful memories and new friends.

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Guest: Melinda12 (Texas)
Date of Stay: 06/09/09 Review Submitted: 06/09/09

Mary Anne your hospitality and warmth was the icing on the cake to your quaint apartment. You made our first trip to Rome so comfortable. We loved staying in Ostia among Italians vs. the throngs of tourists in Rome central. It was a such a treat. From the friendly Butcher who made our daily sandwiches for our trips into Rome, to the Barista at the corner store who served up the best cappuccinos every morning on our way to the train. It was fun and magical. I agree with your other guests, the train is fast and easy and a great time to visit and collect thoughts on the plans for the day. And, at the end of the day, we looked forward to relaxing together on the balcony and toasting the sunset with another great glass of wine. We are already planning our next trip and wouldn't think of staying anywhere that didn't include Mary Anne as our hostess. She spoke English which took tons of stress off our stay and offered to translate and contact our next innkeepers to ensure the rest of our trip went smoothly. Just cannot say enough good things about Mary Anne. Ciao! Ciao! Hope to see you soon.

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Guest: Lori45 (Hilton, NY )
Date of Stay: 06/06/09 Review Submitted: 06/06/09

My husband and I along with our two grown children stayed here 8 nights/May into June 2009. It couldn't have been more perfect! MaryAnne was extremely helpful from the first time I contacted her about the apartment right through to the day we left. She's a wonderful, genuine person. We felt at home from day one. The apartment is warmly decorated, kitched fully equipped. We cooked many meals there and ate most on the relaxing terrace. Grocery store, fresh fruits/vegetables, restaurants and shops of all kinds very conveniently located. There is a walking bridge above the train that makes it very convenient to get back and forth to/from the apartment. We went into Rome almost daily using train and metro/subway, up to 30-40 minutes depending on where you are going. We did lots of walking and lots of stairs and saw some incredible sights in Rome. It's enormous, so do research and plan ahead...I'm glad we did! MaryAnne gave us a phone to stay in contact with her if we needed anything. She even drove me to the pharmacy one day. She was always there if we needed her, but respected our privacy. She even agreed to take a picture with us. If we go back to Rome, we would definitely stay here again. Thanks again MaryAnne for all your help and hospitality! Ciao, Lori, Pat, Nick and Stephanie

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Guest: Keith & Joanne Trick (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada)
Date of Stay: 12/21/08 Review Submitted: 12/21/08

Our stay was from the 4th to 11th of October, 2008 and we enjoyed every minute of it. Absolutely no surprises and our host, Mary Ann, was attentive to all of our needs and certainly made us feel at home. The apartment is exactly as advertised but contains many more 'jems' such as several binders containing all kinds of information...not only for Rome, but also for Ostia (best local gelatto; best reasonably priced restaurants; where to shop; where to buy your groceries). Mary Ann is totally dedicated to her guests; most caring...you will not be disappointed. If we return to the area we will definitely stay there again! P.S...for a small fee Mary Ann drove us to the airport which was not only more convenient for us but saved us the higher cost of a taxi.

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Guest: Kathy52 (Durham, NC)
Date of Stay: 10/15/08 Review Submitted: 10/15/08

My husband and I recently had the pleasure of staying in Mary Anne's apartment. What a treat!! The convenience of the grocery store just down the street, the fruit market right outside the door, the wonderful view from the rooftop, the hospitality......I can't say enough. As others have said, it's a convenient 30 min ride to the city providing plenty of time to plan your day in Rome. If we are lucky enough to return, we'll certainly contact Mary Anne again. Mary Anne thank you for all that you did to make our trip to Italy such a memorable one. Take care!

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 07/06/08 Review Submitted: 07/06/08

We had the most relaxing time here at the apartment. We stayed for a week and traveled into Rome daily to meet our son and daughter in law, who had flown in to meet us. It was our daughter's high school graduation trip. Maryanne was amazing! She met us at the airport and that was such a treat! Having the apartment to come back to was very relaxing. We loved walking around the town and finding all the little shops. The beach was a fun treat, too. The apartment was everything we needed and made our trip very special. Thank you so much Maryanne for everything!!

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Guest: Irene Piel (Saskatoon, SK Canada)
Date of Stay: 06/23/08 Review Submitted: 06/23/08

We stayed at this apartment rental from May 21-24/08. What a great place! It had everything that we needed, and Mary Anne was super good to us. She even picked us up from station & then besides letting us use a cellphone also let us use a laptop since we needed to do an urgent email. She helped us with info on Rome with her booklets, pamphlets and her answers. The fact that she spoke English made the visit even better. The location is outside of Rome, about 40 mins from Rome Termini, but great connections via metro. Ostia Lido is a beautiful area, and it was so nice to relax out of the busy-ness of Rome. We stayed with one other couple and there was plenty enough room with the sofa bed & the double bed. We really enjoyed our visit to this apartment and would definitely book in here again if we come to Rome. Thank you so much again Mary Anne, especially for all the little extras you did for us. Tom & Irene Piel, Saskatoon, Canada

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 05/17/08 Review Submitted: 05/17/08

Mary Anne was so helpful, she provided a cell phone for use while there, and even took us to rent some movies to watch at night. A wonderful person, a wonderful place!

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Guest: Eric Miller
Date of Stay: 04/01/08 Review Submitted: 03/31/08

We had an incredibly relaxing time in this beautiful apartment. Our only regret is not staying long enough, as 3 nights was not enough to enjoy Rome and all of the local beach. We found the hospitality and extra comforts to be outstanding. The fruit stand at the bottom of the apartment and grocery around the corner were very convenient. The washing machine, great deck and beautiful weather made washing our clothes mid-trip a breeze. The box of toys were a treasure for our youngest daughter, and the tasteful decoration of the apartment has us thinking of how to do our own home. The terrace and view are unmatchable, and the accessibility of the train station without hearing the train is great. Thank you, Eric, Sandi, Ally and Anna Miller P.S. I almost forgot to mention the maps and tourist information, well organized and extremely helpful!

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Guest: Jonathan Otten (St. Paul, MN)
Date of Stay: 03/26/08 Review Submitted: 03/26/08

This apartment is beautiful and very comfortable but the hostess, Mary Anne is even more wonderful! She made us feel right at home in Rome! She is a very kind person and offered useful tips on our Rome visit. The apartment has most everything you could need and has a beautiful terrace on the roof on which you can have a lovely evening meal. It was nice to be away from the "craziness" of Rome at night - this apartment offers that opportunity. Thanks so much Mary Anne for making our trip to Rome so very pleasant!

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Guest: michelle49 (Wiltshire, England)
Date of Stay: 03/04/08 Review Submitted: 03/04/08

My husband & I and our 2 children stayed here in February. We had a fabulous time and Mary Anne was the most gracious hostess. We took all of her advice and made the most of our week. First of all, this apartment is in an ideal location, everything is in close proximity. It was so easy to hop on the train and be in Rome in under 30 minutes. We loved the fact that we could walk to dinner or buy a few things from the market just down the street. The apartment itself is tastefully decorated and very comfortable and clean. We couldn't believe how incredibly quiet it was, we had the best night's sleep which doesn't always happen when you're away from your own home and bed. To top things off, this place has an amazing view, we just wanted to get up and spend our mornings outside in the glorious sunshine. When we wanted to stay in for the night we found the kitchen to be fully equipped and shopping at the nearby market was alot of fun. Italy has the most amazing tomatoes and oranges, wine and cheese and the list goes on and on. Thank you to Mary Anne for making us feel like we were right at home from the moment we arrived.

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Guest: Donna (Kirkland, Wa. US)
Date of Stay: 01/03/08 Review Submitted: 01/03/08

All we can say is that previous comments did not overstate what a great stay this was. This was by far the best equipped kitchen we found on our ten week vacation. MaryAnn is apparaently gadget happy and as we did much cooking in we were delighted with the electric cheese grater, the gadget to froth milk for our coffee, the whisks and fine cookware. The train into Rome was easy and just long enough for us to use the time to plan the day on the way in and talk about our adventures on the way home. I only wish the weather would have been nicer so we could have taken advantage of the huge terrace. Mary Ann could not have been more helpful - helped us with dinner reservations, gave us a cell phone to use, and checked in often enough to make sure we had all that we needed, but was never intrusive. If we return to Rome, I hope this unit will still be available for rent. We were also very glad that there was an elevator after doing miles of walking in the Eternal City.

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Guest: Anna & Jesse (Santa Rosa, CA)
Date of Stay: 10/10/07 Review Submitted: 10/10/07

This apartment was wonderful! Everything about it was great. Mary Anne was an amazing host, she had maps, books and helpful tips ready for us. She was very sweet and helpful. We spent three weeks traveling around Europe and wanted a few days to have a vacation away from our vacation to relax and re-energize and this place was perfect! We felt like we were at home. We stayed in Rome for almost and loved it but it was nice to be outside of Rome and have such easy access, only a block to the train and 1 euro per person to get there. Not to mention it is easy to get to Pompeii and Naples if you want to do some exploring. We wish we could have stayed longer! We can't say enough wonderful things about Mary Anne and the apartment, both were a pleasant suprise and a great comfort.

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 09/28/07 Review Submitted: 09/28/07

I can't say enough wonderful things! The owner, Mary Anne, is wonderful and went out of her way for us. She even picked us up at the airport. During our trip to Italy, we stayed in 4 different cities and staying at this apartment was fabulous. The view of the city from the rooftop balcony was beautiful. The apartment was tastefully decorated and very much updated and had every amenity to accomodate our needs. There was a book with maps and places to see. We were only a block from the Metro train station and a few blocks to the beach. The center of Rome was only a short half hour train ride and staying at this apartment was great because Rome was too congested and this was much more relaxing. There are shops and restaurants within walking distance. When we return to Italy again for a visit, Mary Anne will be the first one I contact to make arrangements to return to the apartment. If you choose to stay here, you have definitely made a smart decision.

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Guest: Trapper (Washington, DC)
Date of Stay: 09/12/07 Review Submitted: 09/12/07

Mary Anne and this place were great. About a block from the metro station and only a few blocks to the ocean and restaurants etc. The place is cute and more than what you need for a great restful vacation. Truly a gem and speaking English was a huge help for us. She even took up to the airport for a few extra dollars since our flight was so early!! Really a gem.......Trapper

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Guest: Peter & Miriam Stark (Los Angeles, CA)
Date of Stay: 09/02/07 Review Submitted: 09/02/07

We stayed in this apartment on two separate occasions during our 5 week trip to Europe - both when we arrived and right before our departure back to LA. It was the perfect way to start and end our trip! Mary Anne, the proprietor who speaks perfect English with a genuine Brooklyn accent, was not only helpful, but graciously went out of her way to accomodate any and all of our (sometimes unusual) needs. By the time we left for home, we felt like we had made a great friend. If only to see her again, we would definitely go back! But there is much more to her apartment than Mary Anne! It is a great location - just minutes from the Fumicino airport, and even closer to the beach. And away from the madness of Rome. (But, when you WANT the madness of Rome, you can jump on the train and be there in 1/2 hour for a couple Euros.) The apartment is VERY comfortable - air- conditioned, smartly decorated, and with a great view of Ostia from a beautiful and spacious balcony! There is a great place to buy beer, wine and gelato down the street, and another to get tasty traditional Italian food downstairs. So, if you are looking for a place to chill outside of the chaos of Rome, but still be close enough to travel into the city for the day - look no further! And, who knows, you may leave Italy with a new friend!

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Guest: maryam1 (Vancouver, BC)
Date of Stay: 08/06/07 Review Submitted: 08/06/07

We had a five week stay in Europe and the one week stay in this place in Ostia was one of the best part. The apartment was very clean and large and very well furnished. The balcony was lovely and after a busy day we used to take a rest on the balcony. The owners were outstanding, very helpful and fluent in English. It was a ten minutes walk to the beach, the beach was sandy and very nice. We spent one day in Ostia Antica and it was beautiful. Ten minutes walk to the station and we could go to downtown rome quite easily. I defenitely recommend this apartment.

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 06/29/07 Review Submitted: 06/29/07

I really can't say enough wonderful things about this vacation rental just outside of ROME. This place was a memorable highlight of our trip to Europe! The photos don't do the place justice...I don't even know where to start. First off, its location is just phenomenal. A little outside of Rome, but the fact that it is within walking distance to the Medditerrean BEACH more than makes up for the (easy and inexpensive) 20 minute subway ride into Rome. It is quite nice to come home to a smaller quieter town after a busy wonderful exciting day of site seeing in Rome (as many of the locals who work in Rome do)! We so much enjoyed being able to be within minutes of Rome while being able to just chill on the balcony or walk down to the beach after the hustle bustle of ROME. The place itself was immpecably clean, tastefully decorated, with beautiful natural lighting, air conditioning, washer/dryer and very sufficient for 3 people, or even 4. For Two, it would be spacious! There was internet service, a cell phone, even ROBES; and a fully equipped kitchen, with everything you could possible need, including wine opener! The wine and groceries in the smaller town of Ostia were so incredibly reasonable, so those high touristy prices in Rome were nicely offset by the local faire. The owner speaks fluent english and was SO helpful with everything, including maps and guidebooks of Rome, as well as picking us up from the train station and taking us up to the airport for a small extra charge, which was less expensive and more convenient than the cab or public transportation. The price is right too, so if you want to spend a week in ROME, this is one of the BEST places to stay in vacation rentals, and I highly recommend you giving this relatively unknown BEAUTIFUL SPOT a try. The view from the balcony is PHENOMENAL, as well, as a wonderful place to dine, read, or sunbathe. This place was the highlight of our trip to EUROPE! It was just incredible...so was ROME!

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