There are several different room/suite configurations all with kitchen facilities. It is quite close to the Vatican and Castle St. Angelo with public transportation near. It would be an excellent place for families with children. We enjoyed the many cafes and restaurants in the area. The staff is very pleasant, helpful and bi-lingual.
Dennis and Patty Dewey

Having booked this apartment over the internet, we didn't have a clue what to expect! so firstly thanks for all the tips! :)

We arrived St. Stephens night and left the 4th of Jan. Weather was quiet cold throughout the week.

Taking a taxi from the airport is ridiculous-for five people and luggage we were going to be charged €60, we took a chance on the public transport. Bus tickets cost 60c and metro ticket €1 each bringing the total to a mere €8! Public transport system is great in Rome, running about 22hrs each day.

Finding the apartments was a challenge, head for st peters as soon as you step off the metro take the third side street left after crossing two busy roads near the markets.

Apartments was clean and provided the mod cons. We arranged for five people so a double room and a triple room was in order when we arrived. However, this did mean we had to sacrifice a living room. Kitchen was quiet crammed, and all five of us never fit quiet comfortably in it without spilling into the hallway.

Noise from other apartments was not an issue-well insulated. Yet, as it being New Years, fireworks we in the hands of the locals. While we were there, a homeless man took residence in the area just outside the front door. Shouts of profanities could regularly be heard while passing. The complex was quiet safe though, doors were shut at around 11.

We brought in the New Year at a service held in the square, Unfortunatly, because of this we missed out on the fireworks display at the river, which, we heard later was brilliant.

Shop around for good bargins on souvenirs-massive price difference between the main street and side street. Designer shops can be found at the foot of the Spanish Steps. Fantastic craft shops around the Panthethon.

I feel it essential to get tour guides in the Coluseam and Palatine Hill. Other tourists didn't avail of these, and felt the sites we a let down. They're also a good idea for the Vatican museams as the queues tend to be huge-it also fast tracks you to the Cistine Chapel and the Basilica itself.

We availed of the 48hr city sight seeing bus tour which operates three routes. this was a great way to spot the places we would like to see and also learn a bit more about Rome. One evening we were left stranded at Termi as the last bus did not run. We were not informed of this, and were not impressed-at least we were at the bus station! I think this happen as it was during the quiet season.

Food is generally delicious in the area. Make sure not to be ripped off by cafes or resturants by asking for prices as sometimes they're not printed in the menus for that reason.

Overall, the apartments are a grreat place to start from. 4min walk from St Peters in a pleasant area.

Having just returned from a 5 day break in Rome, staying in a Remo (smallest) apartment at the Borgo Pio 2000, I can highly reccommend this accommodation, mainly due to the cost (very competetive compared with Rome hotels), cleanliness (very good), size (really spacious) and location (absolutely excellent) of these apartments.

As we had not been to Rome before, I did a lot of research on Tripadvisor and in the Lonely Planet Guide before booking our accommodation. Before arriving, I was slightly concerned that the apartment might be quite far out of Rome's centre and the main cultural sights, but in fact we walked everywhere from our accommodation (only using the metro to reach the Collussium which took about 10 mins max, and Termini Train Station which took about 15-20 mins max upon arrival and departure) and it turned out to be an excellent location to see all Rome's cultural sights.

NOTE: Before you go, it is worth looking up the Borgo Pio on multimap as the address on the website only states Piazza delle Vaschette, but it is actually on the street called Borgo Vittoro (next to Borgo Pio - where all taxi drivers will know). If you didn't have this line of the address, ir would be difficult to locate. The apartments are only a 10 min walk from Ottoviano metro and it is really easy (and cheaper) to get to them from the airport via the Leonardo di Vinci Express train and then the metro, rather than using a taxi.

I was away with a friend, and the staff at Borgo Pio arranged for 2 twin beds rather than a double in our apartment, and we had a lot of room compared with what you would usually find in a European hotel. It was also nice to have a fridge so we could keep cold drinks / snacks which cut down costs (especially on breakfast). We purchased these items from the local shop (turn right out the of the apartment and Sigma is a 2 min walk on the corner). They have good fresh bread, fruit and veg, cheese and olives.

There are an abundance of restaurants near Ottoviana metro station (just a 10 min walk) including Dino & Toni's which we would highly reccommend - you just sit down and get what you'[re given (about 9 plates altogether of antipasta, pizza and pastas and desserts and a jug of wine). This only cost 50E and we were stuffed! We also took a 10-15 min walk on 2 nights to the area just across the bridge from Castel Saint Angelo - there are lots of boutique shops for shopping in the day (including vintage clothes, bags accessories) and lovely trattatorias for lunch and dinner - look for the hidden gems tucked away off the main streets!

NOTE: If you want to be 'looked after' I would suggest you might be better off staying in a hotel, but if you are happy to do your own thing and use the apartments as a base, the Borgo Pio is perfect. There is an office and the staff are very helpful and friendly, although the opening hours are a little random. But, for example, one evening we had the misfortune to experience our key for the main door snapping in the lock upon coming in from dinner at about 12.30 and we only managed to gain entrance to the building by knocking very loudly and ringing the other apartments until some poor woman woken from her sleep came to let us in! So, don't expect round the clock access to staff!

We were also deliberating whether to buy a Roma Pass which gains you free entrance to up to 2 sights and then discounted entrance to others and free metro, but in the end we didnt and we were glad we didnt! Most of the sights are free, and if you buy your Collussuem ticket at the same time as your ticket for the Palatine, from the Palatine ticket office (just up the road from the Collusseum or the next metro stop along) then you miss the queues anyway, and the metro is only 1E for a 75 min journey. I think, had we bought the Roma Pass, we would have lost money on it.

NOTE: Don't visit St Peters on a Sunday!!!! We made that mistake and waited from 10.30-1.30 when they finally let us in after the Sunday service and an appearance from the Pope. The queues were horrific and actually quite dangerous (a lot of pushing and shoving when the gates finally opened). Apparently we were supposed to gain access at 12.00 so this is obviously not a usual occurance - but be warned!

We stayed at the Borgo Pio for 5 days; we had two rooms and my entire family of 10 enjoyed it. We were very comfortable; the kitchen and bathroom layout was very handy for a big family. We were able to share a lot of time and had a chance to cook a couple of times; allowing us to save some money in a very expensive town. The service is limited and the internet does not work half the time, so don't expect a full service hotel; however, the staff is friendly, especially the night staff. The hotel is very close to all areas and the metro is easily accessible. If you can't take the stairs ask for a lower level apartment; the elevator is very small so we did our daily exercize. Overall a good experience.