2 Days in Rome - Where to stay? Navona? Travestere? or Monti?

You're over-thinking this. All the areas you mention are great areas to stay. You're only there for two nights so pick an area that is closest to the sites you wish to see and cut out a lot of extra travel time. Rome is compact and easy to walk but with only two days you should stay in an area closest to where you want to be, even if its' the Spanish Steps or termini area (which are great areas also).

Donna

Kind of agree with Donna. With two days I would stay closer to the center. Trastevere is nice but not convenient to most sites. Personally we prefer the Termini area for convenience and I agree with avoiding Spanish steps as it is about as touristy as it comes. Not familiar with Monti.

Actually looking for recommendations on hotels, b&bs.
Do not need to be in the thick of things. We don't plan on hitting a lot of the touristy sites, other than possibly the Colliseum. We don't want to spend the short time we have standing in lines.
That's why I thought the Monti or Trastevere area may be more appealing.

Trastevere is a 30 minute walk (not particularly nice) from the Colosseum. You could take 2 trams or 2 buses but it won't go any faster. Taxi would be a good option. Trastevere can be extremely, wildly, unbelievably noisy at night, especially on or adjacent to one of the piazzas. There is no shortage of charm or food however. For what it is worth, we got a huge 7 room apartment, very central and clean (and extremely, wildly, unbelievably noisy) but with a not so nice living room and kitchen in Trastevere for $100/night.

Check airbnb for listings in Monti. I booked an apartment for Oct that is within 10 min walk from the Colosseum for under $150 a night. It is inside the Wall so you can take the fixed rate taxi to the airport. And it is close enough to most other sites.

Any recs on Trastevere or Monti? It sounds more like what we are looking for.

I was looking at Santa Maria? Also I did find an AirBNB (Superhost) that also includes breakfast. Looks like the owners are lovely providing lots of suggestions for surrounding areas.

Brief Description: Penthouse with fabulous views, bright, quiet, antique furniture, elegant and comfortable rooms with private bathroom, subway under the house, 500 meters from the Colosseum, Fori Imperiali, Termini Station. Quiet and reserved. Access to the terrace. The terrace overlooking the Roman Castles and the Piazza Vittorio Emanuele, sunrise and sunset presents a very picturesque setting. Listing location is Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II,Rome,Lazio,Italy

My husband and I just stayed at this RS-recommended home in Trastevere and cannot say enough good things about it:

http://www.bbarcodeitolomei.com/en/

It's gorgeously furnished. It's air-conditioned. It's centrally located. It has a huge library of books about Italy for English-speaking tourists. Best of all, Marco and his wife are ideal hosts, completely fluent in English, who will go out of their way to make any dining or tour or taxi reservations, offer sightseeing and food and shopping recommendations, escort you from public transit, anything you could possibly need. Definitely our best hosts of the whole trip.

One caveat: plumbing is old, water pressure light. Second caveat: when we were there, Marco was slightly tired from tending to his declining elderly mother, so if she passes away in late October, he may have to close for a few days. His family issues did not affect his hospitality in the slightest and we wished him our best.

My adult daughter and I stayed in Trastevere last September for 4 days. We rented a lovely 1 bd apartment (Airbnb) just off Viale Trastevere where we caught the tram #8 into the center. It dropped us at the end of the line very close (across the street) to the Piazza Venezia.

There was a restaurant across from the apartment, a grocery around the corner and many, many more restaurants, cafes and shops (including a wine shop) on and around the Viale Trastevere.

The apartment was small-ish but it worked very well for us. I stayed in the bedroom and she had the sofa bed in the living room. The biggest downside (for some) would be the bathroom. It's very, very tiny...added by the owner's grandfather some years ago. The shower floor is in the middle of the bathroom going towards the toilet and sink area...i.e., you have to step onto the shower floor as you head to the toilet. We weren't aware of this quirkiness until we got there but we quickly adjusted. You know...when in Rome... :-D

I hope this helps!

Airbnb Trastevere apartment

Info for Tram line #8

I stayed at Hotel Nardizzi Americana Via Firenze 38 in August and thought it was perfect for me, I also booked at Hotel Mascagni Via Vittorio E. Orlando Rome, for December. I looked at the Mascagni when I was in Rome in Aug. and thought it was abetter fit for a family of 3 over xmas. What I liked about both of these hotels is everything we want to do is a short 5-55 min walk.

I also looked at the Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese Via Lombardia, 47, little out of our price range for family of 3 but for 2 I would have booked it. Very romantic and has a rooftop La Terrasse Cuisine & Lounge and spa. Some of the rooms have a balcony. Close to and over looks the Villa Borghese Gardens. You can tell I really wanted to stay here.

Two totally different apartments the first.. because it's soo cute. Block from a bus line.
.http://www.cross-pollinate.com/rome/apartment/162/Studio-San-Pietro. Stayed w/a friend.

With family... https://www.flipkey.com/rome-condo-rentals/p525388/ Terrace is beautiful,
very close to the Colosseum.