Isabella's apartment in Monti is absolutely wonderful. The pictures are beautiful, but in person, the place is stunning with large airy rooms and incredible views looking towards Santa Maria Maggiore. It was also spotless. I stayed for several weeks and a lovely cleaning lady came each Friday to refresh the apartment and provide me with clean sheets and towels.

Isabella met me at the apartment to show me around. She had graciously stocked the refrigerator with a variety of beverages, including a bottle of wine, and left recommendations for nearby places. The apartment also had a variety of travel guides to reference. Communication was smooth and easy in advance of my arrival.

The bedroom: Some other reviewers have noted the mattress in the bedroom is quite firm and this is true. At home, my mattress is quite different, but I still slept very well. There is air conditioning you can control via remote control, which was appreciated on the hot summer days. (There is another A/C unit in the main living space.) There are plenty of extra blankets and tons of storage space for anything you bring or buy.

The bathroom: A great size and so clean. One caution: because this is an older building, you do need to turn on the hot water before you shower. If there isn't enough hot water heated, the water pressure can be very weak. I asked Isabella about this and she noted it was a problem with the building-wide plumbing, so out of her control. It wasn't a problem, but it did take some getting used to as I don't have this type of system in the US. In the bathroom, soaps, slippers, an extra toothbrush, and toothpaste were provided in case you forget yours at home!

Main space: The main living space is light, airy and the sofas are very comfortable. There is a huge TV and strong wifi. The bed in the TV room converts to a sleeper sofa. The kitchen is well stocked and also had basic cooking essentials (salt, pepper, oil, tea, coffee, pasta!)

Building: This apartment building is located on a main street in the Monti neighborhood. The unit is on the top floor and there is an elevator. There is also a buzzer and video security system if you expect guests.

Location: Monti is one of Rome's most desired neighborhoods and Isabella's apartment is right there. There are delicious restaurants and hip bars within easy walking distance. You can find a great lunch for less that 5 euro and a great dinner for 15. You are also just a few minutes from each of Rome's 2 main subway lines and dozens of bus routes. It makes getting around the city easy if you don't want to walk. The block the building is on has a late-night bar on the corner and a mini mart is a few doors down, which make getting a coffee or a snack easy!