anonymous on
18. Feb 2013:
 | Elsa could not have been friendlier or a more gracious hostess! We got a little lost on the way over which delayed our arrival time by about an hour yet we were able to contact Elsa and she was more than accommodating. Our room overlooking the courtyard gave our stay a very authentic Italian feel especially one night when a pianist was practicing! Added to the fact that it is situated exceptionally close to both the Colosseum and the Basilica of San Clemente, this was an exceptional place to stay. |
 | While we never had to contact Cross-Pollinate while in Rome, all of the information we received was accurate and left us well prepared to deal with anything that might go awry with our stay. Fortunately, everything went as planned and promised! |
anonymous on
27. Dec 2012:
 | Elsa was wonderful! Even though she did not speak English, she had her niece come up and translate and we figured it out even without the translation. I accidentally only booked one double instead of two for 3 people, but Elsa was super accomodating and brought in a rollaway and all was well. Location was perfect, on a quiet street only a couple blocks from the Colossium with coffee shops and every day life all around. |
anonymous on
09. Aug 2012:
 | My wife and I stayed there the last night of our honeymoon. The hospitality at Elsa's was amazing. We had a wonderful stay. |
 | You have to be willing and ready to share a bathroom. |
anonymous on
03. May 2012:
 | Elsa is an extraordinarily sweet woman. She was genuinely invested in making sure we had a pleasant stay. |
 | Elsa speaks almost no English, but we were able to communicate pretty well through a combination of broken Spanish and hand gestures. Just be prepared to struggle a little. |
anonymous on
03. May 2012:
 | Elsa is an extraordinarily sweet woman. She was genuinely invested in making sure we had a pleasant stay. |
 | Elsa speaks almost no English, but we were able to communicate pretty well through a combination of broken Spanish and hand gestures. Just be prepared to struggle a little. |
anonymous on
06. Apr 2012:
 | I loved everything about my stay at Elsa's; it's in a great location just a short walk from the Colosseum, Elsa's accommodations are first rate, and she's also a lovely person to boot :) |
 | I had to change my original reservation a couple times, and the staff at Cross-Pollinate was extremely cordial and helpful. Excellent service! |
anonymous on
11. Jul 2012:
 | Elsa is a lovely woman and the locality of her apartment is really terrific. This place suits people who want a quiet place to stay and not suitable for people coming in at odd times as Elsa lives in the same apartment. It was great to be able to have breakdkfast around the corner at the local bar! |
 | Very professional, thankyou. |
anonymous on
05. Apr 2012:
 | The room was pleasant and quiet, since the window opens onto an inner courtyard instead of a noisy street. The room / sheets / towels were very clean. There are restaurants and a bank and pharmacy within a couple blocks, the metro stop and Colosseum also quite close.
The owner was very nice and accommodating. She speaks almost no English, however. I'm conversational in Italian, so it wasn't really an issue, but I can imagine that it would get difficult if you don't know any Italian. |
 | The hot water in the shower was very intermittent both times I used it. Not very pleasant.
There was no air conditioning (which is pretty standard in Rome unless you're paying a lot). The room was not unbearable, but it was hot.
Wifi was VERY slow but it did work (again, pretty standard for a small Italian B&B). Too slow to call my family over Skype without frequent drop-outs.
I was hoping to be able to sit and write on my laptop in my room, but there was no table or desk I could sit at. This might not be an issue for you, but it was disappointing for me. |
 | The bed was a thick futon on top of a wooden frame, not a normal mattress. That being said, I didn't find it uncomfortable, so I'm not sure it's a "con" - just something to be aware of. |
Admin on 06. May 2013:
The air-conditioning at Elsa's is a portable kind and in April I have to assume it wasn't in use, given that in April it's not considered hot. I don't know if the guest inquired about it or not - but don't have any record of begin asked about it. In April, most people in Rome are still using blankets.
anonymous on
21. May 2012:
 | It was clean, quiet and easy to find. I was alone on my trip, and felt completely safe and comfortable. I would definitely stay here again. |