Recommendation for hotel in Rome please!

Personally I think the Spanish Steps is too touristy but it is reasonably centrally located and $300 should catch something in the area. Check trip adviser.

Trip advisor is overwhelming. when I search "hotels in Rome"..I get posts dating back to 2007. And they are talking of areas I am not familiar with. We will be doing guided tours for both days...are youthinking I need to be in another area?

It is personal preference. We prefer the Termini area for the convenience to public transit, Termini, and some local restaurants. But others do not because it is on the edge of the main tourist areas more of a walk. And you can easily hit the $200 mark or little less. But the Spanish Steps area is fine except I think it is overrun with tourists most of the time. Where will your guided tours start?

I too find Trip Advisor overwhelming. Booking.com allows you to filter your search. Try searching for 'Rome City Centre' and use the filters to narrow the search. Then sort the way you want. When you find a hotel that sounds appealing in your price range, search Trip Advisor to try to find recent reviews about that particular hotel. Also search these boards (upper right corner) for 'Rome hotel' or 'hotel Spanish steps' and read some of the recent threads for recommendations from people here. I don't stay over there anymore so prefer not to give a recommendation.

I was about to totally recommend the Hotel Eden (Le Meridien) behind the Spanish Steps (near Via Veneto). But after looking at hotel rates I noticed that the rooms are a bit above your budget range. What I will add is some feedback on the area. I stayed here for a week during February (less crowded). It was a short 5 minute walk to the Spanish Steps and very well situated to all the sites. Just down the street I was able to catch one of the electric buses that zips you into pedestrian only areas. And then you have the Metro Stop at the bottom of the steps. I wish you could stay at this fabulous hotel, but maybe go onto Google maps and find the names of surrounding hotels and look up their info. There must be something that will suit your budget.

Okay...so please don't get into attack mode...:-)...but we will not be taking public transportation anywhere...we are only there a short time so wish to be in a pedestrian friendly neighbourhood for dinner in the evenings...we will take some type of private or semi private tour...maybe 2...so I do not need to be close to a metro stop, etc.

Have you tried looking into B+B's?? we have booked the White house which is situated right outside of the vatican walls. Very reasonable. I found them thru VRBO. Good luck

Take a look at Hotel La Fenice. It's not too far from the Spanish Steps. It's a small hotel and the staff speaks english. Lafenicehotel.com

Hotel Forte is around the corner from the SSteps on quiet Via Margutta, an interesting street. Its a good hotel that fits your budget. Several restaurants are within easy walking distance including some around Piazza del Popolo. Trevi Fountain is 10-15 minutes' walk, the Pantheon a few minutes more.

annemarie check into Hotel Smeraldo, www.smeraldoroma.com. Our family of 4 (had 2 double rooms)stayed here on our 2nd visit to Rome in July 2006 and found the location to be wonderful in the tangled backstreets of Rome. There are lots of restaurants and bars in the area too. First time we stayed off Via Nazionale at Hotel Italia, which is closer to the train station. The Smeraldo is very close to Campo di Fiore, Piazza Navona, Pantheon, etc. On their website I just plugged in the date of Oct. 15 for 3 nights and the total price for 2 people in a double room came up as 429.30 euros or approx $558 and includes breakfast. The rooms were smallish but the a/c worked fabulously so imo that made up for it. I rented an apartment by P. Navona for 11 nights in Oct. 2011 with my sister to visit her daughter on a semester study abroad and I do love that area. Returning to Rome in July and have again rented an apt. near P. Navona for 4 nights. For 3 nights I personally would not bother with an apartment. I know there have been negative postings on the Smeraldo but our experience with them was perfectly fine. My husband prefers not to use public trans.in Rome but to either walk or get a taxi. My sister and I used the buses/metro lots and found it supereasy to do. Buon Viaggio!

I think we are visiting the wrong country :-)...I checked the Smeraldo...as with many the rooms are way too small as my husband has claustrophia..a B&B just might be the answer...The White house has more roomy accomodations and now I will check Four Rivers.

annemarie, Unless you want to do a LOT of walking, using at least some public transit might make things easier. As you're planning to take one or two local tours, you'll have to get to whichever area the Guide wants to start the tour. I also generally prefer staying in hotels near Termini station. I like the area, it's convenient for transportation and there are some nice restaurants in the vicinity. Have you checked the RS Italy or Rome Guidebooks to find accommodations? They have good hotels listed in various price ranges in several sections of Rome, and also provide a bit of a description of the area that each hotel is located. You could also check the excellent Ron In Rome website. Start with the first article, "The Best Place To Stay In Rome Is....." Good luck and happy travels!

Have you checked airbnb or wimdu? Both let you rent entire apartments in your price range and you can choose your neighborhood. Personally (we left yesterday from Rome), I would stay in Trastevere foe evening life or close to the Pantheon for sightseeing. Just my opinion.

For the last few summers we have been staying at a new b&b across the street from the Roma Opera House on Via Viminale. It is called Armonio All Opera and it is really nice. It is about a 10-15 minute walk from Stazione Termini in a quiet neighborhood. The zone is called Repubblica if you are looking on hotel booking sites. Incidently, wea always use venere.com to book hotels. Buon viaggio,

For the last few summers we have been staying at a new b&b across the street from the Roma Opera House on Via Viminale. It is called Armonio All Opera and it is really nice. It is about a 10-15 minute walk from Stazione Termini in a quiet neighborhood. The zone is called Repubblica if you are looking on hotel booking sites. Incidently, wea always use venere.com to book hotels. Buon viaggio,

Annemarie, I think Via Veneto and Spanish Steps will be more along $500+\night (if u find different, tell me!!!)– For an option, in May (two weeks ago) i spent 5 nights at Albergo Santa Chiara by the Pantheon. It was about €205/night. I was worried this wouldn't be a "nice hotel", as I work for MVW so stay with Ritz/Marriott mostly. BUT!!! This place was great!!! Air conditioning, one of the most comfortable beds i had in 23 nights of Italy sleeping, wonderful deep bathtub to relax between a day of sight seeing, and a night of wandering and dining, wake up to a big inclusive breakfast, great lounge/garden downstairs, and IMO: The location is fabulous! Walking - (this is all based from a red wine drinker, so give or take a couple minutes please!!) 2 minutes to Pantheon -literally RIGHT BEHIND hotel
7 minutes to Trevi Fountain 5 minutes to Piazza Navonna 6 minutes to campo di Fiore (fabulous daytime markets!) 15-20 minutes to Roman Forum and Colosseum, although I hear there's a quicker route. 15 to Spanish Steps ( and I agree with other comments, beautiful area, seems un-authentic and pricey, but again, beautiful) 10 minute taxi to Vatican City With santa Chiara, Ask for Rick Steve's Rate, and book ahead. Ask for a courtyard inner view, if you worry about outside noise (though there's not much on this street honestly) we did a courtyard, and all we ever heard were the birds in the morning :) Have a great trip!

PS- plenty of great dining between pantheon-trevi areas, as well as west of pantheon towards river, and also had a fabulous meal by Spanish steps. Walked to all in boots, totally do-able :)

Wow...you have all been so generous. It looks like I need to budget $300US or CAD minimum nightly for mid October then..which is fine. I am a little surprised. Lots of different standards in Rome, quirky places. I have checked out many of your recommendations and am short listing the ones where there still are rooms...no small feat.

Annemarie, many of us here love to stay in Rick's favorite type of hotel - the small, centrally located, family run hotels he lists in his books. But it sounds like you and your husband might be more comfortable in a US type hotel with amenities like you are use to at home like elevators and larger rooms. I did a quick google on US Chain hotels in Rome and found several-such as a Hilton Garden Inn in the area behind Villa Borghese. They had king size beds and the photos showed rooms that appeared larger than what you get in the type of hotels Rick recommends. They would probably also have a concierge to help with restaurant and tour information. Are you getting your plane reservations via a travel agent-they would be able to help also.

I am used to and love staying in B&Bs, in Germany, Switzerland and Austria but I guess not used to what is offered in such a huge city. It seems you really don't get much for the price. Between the claustrophia(re: skinny elevators, small rooms, poor ventilation) and outlets needed at the bed for sleep machine I am more limited. I have narrowed the search down to Piazza Di Spagna Prestige, Casa Montani, HiSuite Rome and Relais Giulia.