We stayed in Dario's apartment for four days during the epic "Caronte" heat wave of July 2015, when temperatures were approaching 40 degrees C. Dario was the consummate host - polite, prompt with replies, and profoundly helpful in giving tips to negotiate Rome. This was our first AirBnB experience, and Dario really made it one that we will remember for quite a while! He met us at the door, gave us a tour of the apartment, and then topped it off with a personal walking tour of the neighborhood. How cool was that!

The apartment itself is exactly as pictured, with plenty of space for 3 or 4 (or even 5 if the season is cool enough to use the single bed on the patio). It's also spotless and modern, with new appliances, great WiFi, and a bathroom with plenty of space (though the shower might be a bit cozy for someone of larger-than-average girth).

Dario's neighborhood is not "tourist central," which means you'll get a chance to see the "real" Rome and not just the parts of the city overrun with those who only know it from guidebooks or travel shows. There are great restaurants in his neighborhood, and the grocery store downstairs (literally under the building) makes it possible to cook your own Italian fare in the comfort of an air-conditioned apartment. Perfect!

Dario's recommendations for things to do was easily the best part of the whole trip. We asked for ideas on things off the beaten track, and Dario told us about a Romanesque (AD 300) church that is one of the oldest churches in Rome. We went there, wandered in, and were amazed by the subtle beauty and powerful symbolism of the place. To top it off, we were the ONLY ones there. Of course we did the traditional tourist hot spots as well, and found it not too difficult at all to get downtown from Dario's place. The bus to Tiburtina runs right past the apartment, and from there you have the option of taking the Metro or other buses pretty much anywhere you want to go in the city. Our advice? Buy a multi-day bus pass and take the buses from Tiburtina, if you can. They're fast, efficient, usually air-conditioned, and not nearly as crowded as the Metro. Once we figured that out, we were thrilled by how much of Rome we saw aboveground. We really felt like we got a feel for the city that way.

All in all, I'm going to say Dario's apartment was the perfect initiation into AirBnB. We could not have asked for a better host or apartment, and we highly recommend it to everyone.