We liked the Via Veneto area as it was just out of the centre of Rome, but only a 10-15 minute walk to Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Via del Corso etc and Via Veneto also has buses (including tour buses such as the 110) running along it and Barberini tube station is very close too.
The hotel itself was small and comfortable. Our request for a quiet, twin room was met. The hotel was spotlessly clean, with huge self-service breakfasts - cake, pastries, cooked breakfast, yoghurt, cheese etc. etc. as much as you want. We went to the 'cocktail' party on Tuesday evening free for guests, but really it was a glass of wine with canapes but it was nice all the same to meet other guests. There was always plenty of hot water, clean towels. Sky News and BBC News 24 and CNN on TV. Our room at the back was very quiet. We booked on Booking.com and it cost us only 417 euros for 4 nights band b which we thought very good but for that you do get one of the smaller rooms.
In the area however, there are very few restaurants other than Hard Rock cafe in Via Veneto. Don't go to La Pizzeria la Scala as the pizzas are small and you will get ripped off! Best restaurant for lunch is in central Rome - Enoteca Corsi but it doesn't do evening meal. Best day out is the Vatican museums and St. Peter's Basilica. Villa Borghese looked beautiful but I think you have to book. We also enjoyed travelling round on the tourist buses 110 which were frequent and you could hop on and hop off. It was very cold during our visit so we also got on for a bit if we were cold!
Tip - if there is a queue for the Colosseum ticket booths, (which there is all the time!) walk along a bit to the Roman Forum ticket booth, where there is less of a queue, and get a joint forum and colosseum ticket and then go back to the Colosseum where you can then go straight in!
