where to stay in Rome (close to spanish steps or colesseum?)

Hi Shira - My favorite Hotel in Roma is on the street where I was born -
http://www.hotelforte.com/en/index.htm
Directly at The Piazza di Spagna The Hotel is excellent - My friends Emanuel and Emanuella are the front desk people that will take very good care of you. It is a few hundred yards from The Steps and easy walking to The Via Veneto, The Roman Forum, The Trevi Fountain - And - so many excellent restaurants and cafes on the side streets by The Steps.
Please check out the website and have a GREAT time in Roma.

Ciao, Greg

I prefer to stay either near the train station or near the Colosseum.

An option that I do not think is in Rick's book this year is the “Mecenate Palace Hotel” -- it is 1/4 mile southwest of the train station, 1 mile from the Colosseum -- just off the Piazza Santa Maria Maggiore.

I like the area nearer the Colosseum because of proximity to Metro stations, bus stops, a laundromat --

(That said, I am familiar with where the Hotel Forte is, mentioned above, and if you prefer that part of town it is in a great spot.)

Buona Sera Shira,

I would suggest that you stay in Centro Storico- Historical Center. That's where alot of your main sites will be: Spanish Steps, Fontana di Trevi, Pantheon, Piazza Navona, etc. etc., and the famous Via del Corso runs down the middle connecting Piazza del Popolo, entrance to Villa Borghese, and Piazza Venezia, home to the Vittoriano Monument and Capitoline Hill. That said, it's a great area to stay if you are a walker. While there are really only 2, possibly 3 metro stops servicing this section of Roma (Barberini, Spagna, further out is Flaminio), it's most enjoyable to tour this area on foot. This is where I spend my evenings in Rome, maybe you know of the Italian custom, La Passeggiata, or evening stroll which is quite lovely.

I live in Rome, and I can say there is not much happening at night(or in the day for that matter) in the near vicinity of the Colosseum, apart from itself and the forum, which are obviously closed to tourists at night. The good points about this area however are during the day the Forum, Colosseum naturally, Circo Massimo(Circus Maximus-ancient track), and lesser known sites La Bocca di Verita (Mouth of Truth) and my favorite little temple, Tempio di Vesta.

Either way you will have a great time in Rome! The Spanish Steps & historical center involves more walking, which is good because you discover the magic of Rome and its little backalleys, or you have the area near the Colosseum for more available/efficient transportation with Metro and more bus stops.

Buona fortuna e Buon viaggio!
Ciao, Januelle

You can check out the hotel Capo D'Africa. I have friends who stayed there and loved it.

Donna

I love staying in the Trastevere section of Rome, just across the Tiber River from the ancient sites. Check it out!! There are a lot of B & Bs to choose from there. My favorite is the "Arco del Lauro". Trastevere gives more of a neighborhood feel, is quiet and safe, yet has a vibrant nightlife and tons of good restaurants.