I was very reluctant to book a hotel that did not have a review on tripadvisor, but I decided to take a risk.
As I walked from the Termini Station following my mapquest directions, the neighborhood seemed to be getting more and more seedy (dodgy). And, yes, when I was only one block away, I was planning on turning around, losing the money, and moving on to a different hotel. I'm glad that I did not.
Though the Hotel S. Lorenzo Maria is in a bit of a rougher area than I might be accustomed to, I've actually grown quite fond of my roost for the past few days.
The hotel is immaculately clean, very nicely decorated, the staff was excellent, the cleaning staff was even more friendly. The pictures on the official website aren't fake. It's really quite that nice. True, you have to take a tram or bus to get here (it's not really walkable from the Termini--and certainly not recommended as the neighborhood between here and there isn't great), I really think that this is a great deal. For a very reasonable price, I've been able to stay a ten minute tram ride from the Coliseum and the amenities are quite nice... wireless internet, cable tv, plenty of hot water, good air conditioning, breakfast, and a charming property with lots of character.
If you're not comfortable with cities and a bit of grit is going to cause you alarm, this isn't the place for you. But if you're the sort of person who is comfortable with the realities of an urban setting (and can deal with taking the tram/bus), you could really like it here and save a lot of money.
I really liked it here and would certainly come back. Would I come back with mom? Hmm. Mom would probably like a bit more curb appeal.