Suggestions on which area to stay in Rome.

My husband and I stayed at the Duca D'Alba Hotel in Rome. I would highly recommend this hotel. It is not big and luxurious but it is confortable, clean and very centrally located. Walk to the end of the street and you are facing the Coleseum. When I first saw that I was in awe! We walked everywhere from that location. The staff was friendly, very helpful and they spoke English. I left my phone at the hotel and didn't realize it until it was too late to go back. I called the hotel and they very kindly shipped my phone Back to me. This is a great, moderately priced hotel. It also has great reviews on TripAdvisor.

We stayed at 5Rooms near the Vatican accross from the Roma St. Pietro train stop. We walked to the Vatican in 10 minutes and all the way to the Spanish Steps from there and back.

I stayed at the Smeraldo for a few days before heading out on a cruise. It had been recommended to me by a friend. Great location and was able walk to all the sites; it's also close to a transportation hub. There are a couple of restaurants also a bakery/deli close by. Can't speak much to the rooms as I was in a single but had a nice terrace with views over Rome's rooftops. Nice modern bathroom. I slept well so assume the bed was comfortable! Or it could have just been jet lag! Breakfast was plentiful, cold cuts, pastries, breads. Good coffee made to order.

Trastevere is great, ver vibrant and lively, with plenty of restaurants and cafes, although not near many sights. I stay there usually, but I couldnt care less about the sights and I wouldn't mind taking a taxi or the 8 tram.

I'd find a place in the centro storico, anywhere between Piazza di Spagna and Campo de fiori., if it's your first time.

I have noticed that most beds in Italian hotels are more comfortable than they used to be, and the hotels named so far have good ones. Bed width can be an issue, you can check that on a booking website (in centimeters) before you book.

Rooms in hotels in Roma and other tourist cities can be on the small side, so if one has a terrace, you might really enjoy that extra space.

You could also consider convents for budget rooms. We stayed at one that was walking distance from the Colosseum.

Here is a place you should check out. We have stayed at Hotel Fontanella Borghese many times and have always been pleased. While it is not "luxury", it is very nice and the location is great. The staff is very friendly and helpful. You can walk to Spanish Steps, Pantheon, Nuvona, even Vatican city. They also have a sister hotel closer to the Pantheon called Hotel Due Torri. We always send an email directly with our request for a booking and we get an answer back in 24 hours or less. Ask for a room overlooking the courtyard as rooms overlooking the side street can get noisy. The web site is www.fontanellaborghese.com. Check it out and see what you think.

I really enjoyed staying in an Airbnb place near the Pantheon. The Pantheon is particularly wonderful in the morning before the crowds really hit it. And there is so much that's walkable from there - see Rick Steve walking tours of Rome!

The age old question. Frequently asked and answered even more. We go for the Termini area for convenience to transit. We like Hotel Sonya across from the Opera House - great breakfast and wonderful lattes. Also have stay in Hotel Aberdeen a couple blocks further from Termini. Again great breakfast but wife likes Sonya's lattes better. Personally cannot tell the difference. Trastevere is a great area but it is some distance from the main flow.

"Comfortable beds are a must."

Enjoyment of a bed is a subjective experience. It's a very personal pleasure. One man's favorite mattress is another man's breaking back. The only way you'll know whether you will be happy with a hotel's bed: you'll need to sleep in it.

Beds in less expensive hotels are not replaced as often, so the chances of getting a very used mattress increases with a lower price point, depending on when the mattress was purchased.

I stayed at 95 Rooms in Rome last October and thought it had a great location in the Monti neighborhood. I can't remember the beds so i guess they were pretty comfortable. The rates were a bargain, breakfast served in the room and the location was excellent. If you are willing to go 160 Euros you might be looking for something fancier, I suggest booking.com. The general area around Cavour metro I recommend highly.

There currently is a sort-of-war going on between the hotel business community and Booking,com. Many hotels are now working hard to beat consolidator's prices. Many hotels will price-match or offer a lower price if you book directly with the hotel. This includes 4 and 5 star properties. A smart shopper will compare the offerings. IMO, you get better service (a better room) if you communicate directly with the hotel. If Booking is offering no-fee cancellation, don't hesitate to mention that to your hotel. I'm sure many hotels would do whatever they could before giving up the commission to Booking.

In all my decades on travel forums, I've never read anyone complain about the location of the hotel they picked in Rome. Most people seem to like what they picked simply because they picked it. IMO, the only way to know that you'll love your choice, you have to go to Rome and visit each neighborhood and imagine what it would be like to stay in that location.

Rome has numerous charming neighborhoods and beautiful, quiet streets. Every neighborhood seems to offer tons of history. Every internet blogger or forum member has his or her own definition of "center." It's easy to figure out what your center will be. Dot the places you want to visit on a map of Rome and draw a circle around the dots. Then place a dot in the center of the circle. Bingo! Somewhere near that center dot will be your most convenient location for lodging.

You can spin it anyway you like but the center of Rome is really not under dispute. It is where they were walking two thousand years ago.

Thank you so much, great info. I'm reviewing all the suggestions to make decision.