We stayed here with our two small children in August 2005. We had been worried by some reviews but were pleasantly surprised by the welcome from the hotel staff. We drove down from Tuscany and found parking in the basement a nightmare with a large car. The elevator is up several steps and through a fire door - it's best to unload outside the hotel entrance. I dropped our car back at Termini and walked back - it took me around 15 minutes.
We had booked a room for two adults and two children but had been allocated a twin room with no beds for the children. The hotel gave us two double rooms for the first night and then moved us to a family room for the rest of our stay.
It was on our first morning there, just before we changed rooms that we had our camera stolen from our locked hotel room. We spent a morning at the police station reporting the theft and talking to the manager etc. We had to follow it through all the time with the hotel, they never even apologised! The next day after some more chasing they eventually said that only the maid had entered the room to check the mini-bar while we were away, no one else. They promised to write to us on our return to England but six weeks later we have heard nothing.
I wouldn't leave anything valuable in your room if you stay here and luck your luggage at all times. They rely on the fact that people are having short stays and will find it difficult to complain.
Our first room was tiny with a massive pilar right at the end of the bed. The second room much better but the back end of the day bed was missing leaving a four foot wooden slat hanging from the wall with screws protruding. Not great for a kid's bed, after all the complaining over incorrect bookings and then the theft I just couldn't be bothered with moaning about the state of the wall.
The breakfast was great, I think that they have made changes and have a very efficient manager now. The kids loved the rooftop pool, it was very cold even in August but great for cooling off after a day in Rome.
There are several buses that depart from outside the hotel that go right up to the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain (we used the 85 or the 117 small electric bus.) Get of on Via Del Corso. The Metro station (Colosseo) isn't far and was manageable even with the buggy/stroller. The receptionists have lots of maps and will sketch the route for you.
The church of St. Celemente is near and well worth a visit.
If staying here it's well worth calling ahead and checking that your booking and room are what you think you have booked and note the name of the person you speak to, they all speak very good English.
