We stayed in Lavinia's apartment in September 2013 and it was exactly what we had hoped for! Located in a quiet section of Trastevere, the apartment was a great jumping-off point for sightseeing, exploring, and eating. The space is small, but very cute and clean -- it was so nice to eat breakfast on the terrace every morning, and the expansive DVD/book collection made the room feel very cozy. The full bathroom isn't pictured, but the shower had good hot water and pressure. The building has a very green entryway that makes you feel like you're walking into a secret garden -- since you're set back from the main street, it's very quiet. Steps away from the no. 8 tram that gets you to Piazza Venezia and countless other buses. Easy walk to Roma Trastevere train station as well.

Finally, Lavinia was a wonderful host. She was easy to communicate with (no small feat, considering we did not have a cell phone -- or any phone -- in Italy) and checked in throughout our stay. She left us a few things for our first breakfast, which was a godsend after arriving late and tired. She also graciously shared her recommendations for eating and non-obvious neighborhood sights.

We loved Rome as first-time visitors, in no small part due to Lavinia's hospitality. Highly recommend!