Where to stay in Rome

First, use the search function and you find this question asked and answered a dozen times with lots of recommendation for either. We like the Termini area for convenience to transit, others don't. We like Sonya across from the Opera House in the Termini area. Have used it several times and always pleased.

noted, thank you for the feedback, i'll take a look at the prior posts option.

I was just trying to figure out which is better option, it's not really explained too well in RS book. So I'm torn on what to do.

One of the better detailed descriptions of the options on where to sleep in Rome is in Rick's Rome guidebook.
The areas and hotels recommended are:
Near Termini station
Southwest of the station
Northeast of the station
Near Ancient Rome
In the Pantheon neighborhood
In Trastevere
Near Vatican City

understood, I'm using the general italy version

These areas, and the recommended hotels in them, are also described in the Italy guidebook, in the Sleeping in Rome section.

agreed, I'm utilizing this section currently but it's not really clear if one area is recommended over another, in this case I prefer to ask those that have been to Rome what would they recommend to do.

Good idea.
It's frustrating to try and pick one from the thousand hotels in Rome.
You won't get the perfect hotel, no matter how long you spend. When you've given out from exhaustion, pick the best one for youand move on to other trip planning issues.
Try to get one that doesn't want 100% of the cost up front and is unchangeable. That way, you can revisit the hotel issue later.

Try to search for prior posts, the Search function is not as efficient as it could be. Might be better to go to the Italy section and scroll down the list of topics and look at the posts where hotel recommendations were requested and given.

And then, maybe here on this thread, others will contribute with specific recommendations to help you.

If you want helpful suggestions from the Forum, indicate the range of cost per night in euros that you would consider.

Neither. Check out Hotel Smeraldo, just blocks from Campo de Fiori and withing walkable distance to just about all the sights. It's about 20 minutes to the Vatican and Colosseum, 10 minutes to Piazza Navona and the Pantheon, Trevi fountain, and Spanish Steps. We loved the hotel for convenience to major sights and right in the heart of everything. Salumeria Roscioli, one of the best eateries in Rome is about 25 steps from the hotel. Both Smeraldo and Roscioli have websites. When in doubt stay in the heart of things. You can always get a taxi to the train station or the airport.

I've read elsewhere Hotel Smeraldo is a good option, sadly it is sold out during my dates

We stayed at an Airbnb near Campo de Fiori and loved the location -- it was central to walking to most major sites and also near restaurants/bars/shopping. Most people that I knew that had visited Rome recommended this area or Piazza Navonna as feeling fairly central with things nearby (vs. focusing more on where the metro stops are). We're not adverse to public transportation, but we wound up walking to almost everything with a few cab rides as our feet got tired.

Both times we've visited Roma, we stayed at Relais Maddalena near the Pantheon. Not right on the Pantheon but a block away on Piazza della Maddalena in front of this historic old church of the same name. Great location. They offer a car to pick you up at airport, or cab from termini is not much at all. Your host Francesco has added rooms in an centuries old palace situated on the baths of Nero and he is a wonderful friendly host indeed. The rooms are amazing, and varied. Breakfast is great, and you're in a perfect location to tour all over Roma. He also has incorporated the name relais monalisa http://www.relaismaddalena.com/

I always stay near Termini, on the Via Marsala side, reached by walking to the big green neon Plus sign locating the Farmacia inside Termini and then walking through that hallway flanking the Farmacia to the outside.

I love the feeling I get by just crossing Via Marsala, walking a few steps to the corner of Via Milazzo, then the nearby office at Via Milazzo 4/6, and then I go to my room in one of three hotels, Hotel Mirage, Hotel Halifax, and Bed and Breakfast Caroline Suites. Among the best mattresses I've had in Italy. Yummy breakfasts with people gathering from all three hotels. Good, kind and efficient hotel staff. TV and WiFi in all rooms.

Rooms facing the indoor courtyard get quiet by 11 PM when the ristoranti on the block end their day. Rooms facing the street get noisey at 4 AM when the vendors arrive. I always say that I have the dubious distinction of sleeping next to Termini.

I like having Termini shopping so close, all the train connections, taxi stands and the bus terminal at Piazza del Cinquecento. Merchants on the block from everywhere, good people who look out for the visitors.

Pamela,

Thanks for your post. We will be staying at the Mirage for the first time next month for a few days.
I hope it is good as you say it is. Sounds encouraging.

Last October I stayed in a RS recommended hotel, Hotel Aberdeen,http://www.hotelaberdeen.it/en/default.html. The hotel is about a 10min walk from the Termini Station and under 15min to the Spanish Steps. Rooms were nice and the breakfast filling. The Repubblica Metro Station was just down the street as well, which can take you near the Spanish Steps & the Vatican or connect at Termini for Line B and head to the Coliseum.

Within each section of hotel info in Rick's book, his top choices are listed first. However, I might choose a property lower on the list based on price and have found them fine for me. Rick gives priority to the train station area both for price and convenience to transportation, but other neighborhoods also work fine. If you are a walker, for instance, you could easily walk from the Termini station area to either the Coloseum or the Borghese park and gallery, as well as you have a good selection of bus and metro service from the station or from Piazza Republica.