Residence Navonapt

Okay the negative first impressions, please read on after these though. We arrived in Rome and made our way to Piazza Navona which is quite literally around the corner from these apartments. The apartments themselves were extremely difficult to find at first but once we knew it was actually pretty simple. Directions at the end of the review. We met at the specified location and tried for around 10 minutes to call our contact who had emailed us a contact number a couple of days previous. Once we got through we were told that a man called "Dulal" would be on his way down to meet us. Twenty minutes later somebody else came to meet us and in broken English asked us to follow him down a narrow lane and through a small wooden door, immediately making me think of the Liam Neeson dark action spectacular "Taken". The man showed us to our room and how to use the key card, told us that Dulal would be with us soon and then went down the hall to carry on with the work he was going on another apartment. We waited for another 20 minutes and a knock on the door, it was Dulal. He took our passport details, took our payment for the room and again showed us how the keys and keycard work. Dulal was very helpful and very friendly. Okay, we're in the room, the hassle is over. They really need to make it a smoother process because the room really was excellent. From the outside in the narrow lane with the old wooden door I was quite nervous but on the inside the room, the whole place, is immaculate and very new and modern. The bed was the most comfortable on our 2 week trip around Italy. The bathroom was immaculate with a lovely hot shower. The kitchen area had a fridge with freezer draw, sink, hob and microwave. There was a large wardrobe, a table and chairs and a safe. There was also a television. Location was perfect. You walk out of the door and if you turn left down Via del Teatro Pace you pass a few restaurants, turn right onto Via di Tor Millina past some more restaurants and you're on Piazza Navona. Come out of the front door and turn right down Via del Teatro and you Via del Governo Vecchio which has small cafe bars and restaurants, shops and a small supermarket. Pantheon is 5-10 minute walk away to the East. Trevi Fountain a further 5-10 minute walk in the same direction. To the North is Vatican City, aprroximately 15-20 minute walk. To the South is Collosseum, approximately 15-20 minute walk. I would stay here again but they really need to make it easier for new arrivals, especially people who haven't been to Rome before. Directions: Simplest way to explain it is to direct you from Piazza Navona, which is easy enough to find. From the Fountain of the Four Rivers in the middle of the piazza, take Via di Tor Millina which is on the West side of the piazza next to the restaurant "Tre Scalini". Walk down here until you reach Via del Teatro Pace which will be on your left, you will notice Navona Notte restaurant on the corner. This is the lane where the room is and you will no doubt have to meet here. It takes around 2 minutes to get here from Piazza Navona.

We visited Rome from 8 - 11 June and booked the superior apartment through Venere two months prior to the trip. I called the apartment manager several times 10 days before our arrival date to arrange for airport pick up but no one answered. Emailed them and it was 4 days before we arrived that we got a response. We were told that the apartment had electrical problems and was asked if we wanted to stay at another of their property away from Navona Square. We cancelled. So three days before our arrival, during peak season we were left scrambling for alternatives. We had already started on the first leg of our holiday...altogether a very unpleasant experience. So be warned.... Take the risk if you want to. In the end, we managed to get another apartment in the area for 25 Euro cheaper and much more spacious at that. So I guess it was a blessing in disguise.

Location is key. Almost every historical n tourist sites are walking distance from this B&B. The B&B itself is very rustic n very clean. Marco the manager is very friendly n helpful. I will stay there again in my next trip. Without knowing we walked to Vatican. Cafes n restaurants are all 1 -5 min walk away.