Where to stay in Rome

misskay,

I normally prefer staying in the Termini station area, as it's so very convenient for transportation. The "usual" two hotels I prefer in that area are Hotel Sonya or Hotel Aberdeen. Both are very comfortable, and certainly recommended.

You can find lots of good listings for accommodations in various parts of Rome in the Italy guidebook (which would be a good thing to pack along for reference during your trip).

I am willing to give up proximity to the station for the convenience of staying in the Centro Storico, which is where I spend most of my time. I like the area around Piazza Navona/Pantheon/Campo dei'Fiori.

Termini is convenient to trains and buses, but lacks charm IMHO. Stay near Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, Campo dei Fiori, or over in Prati by the Vatican. The latter is well-connected by bus, metro, and tram to the rest of Rome. When you are tired at the end of a busy day, being in a neighborhood with charm and decent restaurants trumps being close to the train station.

I agree with Zoe and Laurel.
Just took our first trip to Rome and we stayed near Pantheon- it was perfect. Most everything is walkable from there- we never used any public transportation other than a cab a few times (to Vatican, to Borghese- walked back from both).

I stayed in hotel Delle Torre Argentina. We had an end room #310. It had a double and a foldout sofa for our child and a huge bathroom. I think the other rooms have smaller bathrooms. If you look at a map - it's right next to largo delle Torre Argentina - a smaller Roman Ruin. The location is great. You are only a 3 minute walk to the Pantheon or so. The buses and cabs are next door over. You can walk to many sites. Convenient for midday breaks or short excursions from your hotel. I liked the place. The room was nice and had a mini fridge and good AC. The corridors had some minor wear and tear, but nothing bad. I would use this hotel again because of the location. It's a good, clean place. Try to look at a map. Anything around Piazza Navona/Campo dei Fiori/Victor Emmanuel Monument will put you in a good location. Draw a circle or rough triangle around these sites. Then, set a budget or criteria for hotels and start searching.

We've been to Rome a number of times and the Pantheon area is our favorite. Have stayed close to Termini and it's not our favorite by far. We don't use the metro much anyway, because it's not as extensive as the metro in other cities. Part of the charm of Rome for us is the walking. We have happened onto some sites and neighborhoods that we really like by walking.

Whatever you decide, Have a Great Trip!
Mimi

On the west side of the Tiber river, in the Trastevere area, we rented an apartment for a week. It was close to the Pantheon and other historic sights (hop on the #8 Tram, or just go on foot and cross the Tiber by bridge), and just south of The Vatican, too. We were in a real neighborhood, with an outdoor market for locals, convenient shops for food and other necessities, and its own train station. We felt very safe there, too.

For the last several years we have been staying at a great b&b called Armonio All' Opera on Via Dei Viminale located across the street from the Roma Opera House. It is a 10 minute walk or a 5 minute cab ride from Stazione Termini. It's located on the fourth floor of a nice building, which is accessed by an antique elevator. The owner, Paolo, speaks fluent English and is very knowledgeable to help his guests.

Buon viaggio,

I like to stay in Trastevere because of the charm and it's closer to my relatives, but the Centro Storico areas are more convenient for a tourist.
The Centro Storico areas are: Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Trevi, Spanish Steps (piazza Di Spagna), Campo Dei Fiori.
Termini station area is convenient for trains if you take day trips out of town, but lacks the charm. It's a bit cheaper however.
I sometimes use www.nycerome.com to find accommodations and I've been pleased with the facilities listed there.