Hotel Paba - Rome

Never been to that specific hotel but I know Rome and where the hotel is.
Via Cavour is a busy street all day and night, like around Times Square, and the city center of Rome is safer than any city in the US. Don't be bothered by graffiti, they are everywhere, even the most upscale parts of town. Italians can't help themselves and they have this innate need to draw on walls that goes back millennia. Graffiti is an Italian word after all.
Stories of pickpockets are widely exaggerated. They do exist, but they operate primarily aboard crowded buses and subway trains. Those are the times when you should be vigilant. Actually, considering you are located in a very central area, close to everything I doubt you will use public transportation much. I'd be more concerned about blisters in your feet after the intense walking you will be doing. A comfortable pair of shoes is what you need to worry about, not graffiti. If you need to go far and are tired of walking, consider a taxi. They are cheap and plentiful.

Have not stayed at the hotel but was just around the corner at St Peter in Chains church, home of Michelangelo's statue of Moses, Do be sure to see it.

During the day neighborhood seemed fine.

Grafitti is passion of the Italian soul....a nice contrast in a conservative place like Rome.

Follow the precautions in RS book and common sense. Don't leave any credit cards, passport or more than a few Euros in a bag or pocket..it gives you peace of mind in crowded places...of which there are many in France and Italy...keep it all under your clothing.

As for Hotel Paba, I don't know it, but have recently stayed at Hotel Adriano in the Centro Storico.. it has quiet rooms, all modern, very clean, great staff, super breakfast, many services, and various seating areas in the lobby plus lobby bar. Very safe area.

I walked to all these places in 5-15 minutes: Piazza Navona, Trevi fountain, Spanish Steps, Campo di Fiori and 15-20 to Trastevere.

We stayed in a flat about two blocks off Via Cavour in the Monti area and loved the area -- our building looked a little sketchy from the outside (yes, graffiti on the wall) but safe and charming.

Thank you so much for the responses. I feel much better about the area now. I'm beyond excited about getting to Italy and the help I'm getting here on this forum is very helpful. Thanks!!

P.S. Thanks Joe for the tip of seeing Moses. I've added it to my extensive list of art to enjoy.

I stayed in the Hotel Paba last year and can recommend both the hotel and the location. The hotel is small and friendly, run by the owner and her son, who gave us great restaurant recommdations in the area. It is right around the corner from the Colisseum and the Forum, about two blocks from a subway stop, right next to the Monti district, and within reasonable walking distance of the Pantheon area. I certainly never felt unsafe or that the area was questionable. We liked it a lot.

I can also vouch for the area - I just stayed on Via Cavour , like 2 doors away from Hotel Paba. The area was fine - there's a tobacco shop on the other side of the street where you can get the Roma Pass.

Vouching for that area too. We haven't stayed on Via Cavour but been through it enough times. Location of this hotel is great, and reviews on booking.com (my hotel site of choice) are excellent. Rome is a very safe city so I wouldn't worry about walking around at night. Lots of other people will be out for a stroll as well, and Rome is a different kind of lovely after dark.

Graffiti is just a fact of life in Rome and in other European cities as well: it's no indication of an unsafe area.

Yes, Rome has some pickpockets but they're easily deterred with the proper precautions. You'll want to take those same precautions in Paris and generally any European city which draws a lot of tourists. Mr. Steves himself was just relieved of his wallet on the Paris metro a few days ago but admitted to having been careless with it. :O)