Recommended neighborhood for first time stay in Rome

hey hey moss
what are dates, budget in euros, how many people & if kids (ages)? it will be chaotic with many traveling during winter/christmas time. it's kinda late to be booking when many have booked a year ago. what are amenities needed, mobility issues "elevator/lift" stair/steps to climb with luggage, check-in 3-4pm and check-out10-11am. waiting around with luggage or drop off at hotel storage (what they really offer and how secured).
what attraction/activities are you wishing for? many have been sold out and you may need to book with a tour company, no guarantees.
start with booking.com, left side are filters you hope/want and see what's left over. good luck
aloha

We stayed at the Arch Rome Suites which is about two blocks from the Pantheon. It's walking distance to everything. It even has a taxi stand a block away that makes it easy to get to the airport or anything else.

https://www.archromesuites.it/

I have been to Rome many times and have stayed by the train station each time. It's very convenient to be close to the metro and train station. There are nicer neighborhoods but they are trickier to get to.

We stayed in Trastevere for 6 days in October 2022.
AirBnB. https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/657804854446348043
Loved the location.

Hi Moss,

I’ve stayed in Rome multiple times in several locations. The Pantheon area is the easiest for being at the core of several sites, but you need a taxi to go from the Roma Termini over to that area, and it’s a congested area with tourists.

I only stay near Roma Termini train station if I have an early train out of Rome; otherwise, I don’t prefer to be there. The nicest place of several in that neighborhood that I’ve stayed at is Mecenate Palace Hotel. Their buffet breakfast is exceptional. The gelato shop on the ground floor of their building is excellent. : ). It’s across the street from the church the last pope was buried.

During my last time in Rome, I stayed here:

Hotel City Palazzo Dei Cardinali
I especially liked it because it’s on the metro line (Barberini stop), so no taxi needed (and traffic for taxis is heavy), yet it was easy for me to walk everywhere. It also was very quiet at night & had a nice staff. I have my room reserved there again for next year.

Love the Pantheon area.

what are dates, budget in euros, how many people & if kids (ages)?

Dec 8-12 — 4 nights

Under €700 all in

2 adults — not a couple, so want 2 beds or a bed and fold out couch situation

Already have some AirBnB’s tentatively booked but wondering about location. One is near the Colosseum and the other is advertised as being in the old Jewish ghetto.

Mostly considering AirBnBs so we can get two beds and some more space.

what are amenities needed, mobility issues "elevator/lift" stair/steps to climb with luggage, check-in 3-4pm and check-out10-11am. waiting around with luggage or drop off at hotel storage (what they really offer and how secured).
what attraction/activities are you wishing for? many have been sold out and you may need to book with a tour company, no guarantees.

Elevator not needed. Non-smoking only request, other than 2 beds.

Have already booked Vatican tour for Dec 11. Will definitely go to Pantheon and Colosseum. Still figuring out ticket situation for those.

My question here was more about a good location than about recommendation for specific properties, though I appreciate those.

I just booked the Albergo del Senato hotel for a few nights in April. The hotel is beside the Pantheon. Reviews are good. It's my second trip to Rome.

We prefer the historic center-anywhere near Pantheon, P Navonna, Campo de’Fiori
You can walk most anywhere from there

We’ve never had to use public transportation in Rome
We have taken taxi to/from Termini and to early morning Vatican tour

Rome is best seen on foot, is very walkable and compact

The place you have booked near Jewish ghetto would work, that is basically same area

ETA
Friends just stayed at Albego Senato and loved it

Anyplace in the Centro Storico will do. December won’t be too chaotic.

Right...sights are spread out but the city is fairly walkable.

I've stayed at Albergo del Senato and it's great; ask for Pantheon view and prepare for tiny rooms. But I think that's well over the OPs budget. (You mean 700 euro total for four nights, correct? Not 700 per night (??) )That's on the very low side, I think, for central Rome hotels these days.

Pantheon for sure. Maybe Monti, but it's more quiet.

You mean 700 euro total for four nights, correct? Not 700 per night (??) )That's on the very low side, I think, for central Rome hotels these days.

Yup, €700 for four nights. I’ve got a couple AirBnBs scoped out within that budget.

Hotels are probably more expensive because they come with more amenities. Both the AirBnBs I’m looking are top floors with no elevator, which some people might not want.

I’m really just looking for location recommendations, not specific property names.

https://www.booking.com/Share-0DqwNd

Around the Corner Colosseo B and B.

My friend and I stayed here for 4 nights in 2022.
It’s run by two lovely sisters and was super clean.
The kitchen has no cooktop or oven, but has a big fridge, microwave, kettle, coffee pot etc.
It’s one huge room with three beds, a small area for sitting in the hall, a kitchen and a good bathroom.
We walked from Termini Station, and there are multiple bus routes nearby.
I thought it was great, and the two sisters were so helpful.
They brought me a cold pack for my sore knee one day.

It seems to be available on your dates.

My wife and son and his wife stayed last spring at Casa per Ferie Beata Madre Magherita Calani. Yes it’s a place run by nuns ! Near the Vatican and easy walking to two metro stops. Nice restaurant and a gelato shop ( yummmm ) right across the street. Good price, 2 beds no problem - that’s standard. Booked thru Monasterystays.com.

No religious requirement to stay there

We stayed in the Jewish Ghetto area last trip, it was great because it was a little removed from the CRAZY of the Pantheon area, but we could get to Trastevere very quickly or even up to the Pantheon in less than 5 min to grab a caffe at San Eustachio. And plenty of gelato nearby! We still had to take buses to the Vatican, and used the metro for other things, but we liked the area.

I really liked the area around Piazza Barberini. I stayed in an hotel about 1 block away from the piazza. Easy to walk to many sites. There are also a few bus stops, a taxi stand, and a Metro station, so easy to go farther afield.

We stayed at the Albergo del Senato on the square by the Pantheon and loved it! Hoping to go back one day.