We have just returned from a weekend in Rome staying at the Orazia hotel. Booked the hotel through British Airways and paid extra to stay there. Read about the lift and location just before we left. On arrival huge wooden doors and an intercom. Then up in what we called the tardis an ancient lift wire caged with wooden doors. Reception the guy could have been a bit more friendly, room huge, with massive wardrobes, huge double bed, spotlessly clean. View of Sqaure and flower sellers. Breakfast more than adequate, pastries, cheese meat, rolls jam and more.
Very peaceful hotel. Location at first we wondered, but its okay, a supermarket just down the road selling nice pastires and all you need. A block away turn left there is a small pizzaria very reasonable with lovely pizza, lasanga and more. Metro station on door step. 10 min walk from the termini for trains to airport. 25 mins from the collisium and Roman forums. We too went out at night and were fine did not feel at all in any danger.
Not the place we would have choosen if we knew the hotel was on the fith floor, but it worked out well for us, and we enjoyed our stay at the Oriazia.

Don't book the Rome hop on bus ( green) bit of a rip off, use the metro buy a two day ticket.

I loved this hotel. I loved the area. I will stay there every time I go to Rome. It has so much to offer and was so cheap.

Just to set the background, my 2 x twenty-year old sons were booked into a hostel 2 streets away, & initially I was to have stayed with a schoolfriend for our 3 nights in Rome. My arrangement fell through & I booked the Orazia at the last moment as it was close to the boys' hostel. After checking-in & seeing what the Orazia offered, I bit the bullet & moved the boys to the Orazia as well for the 2nd & 3rd nights .. even though we lost the pre-paid hostel accommodation, it was well worth it.

Hotel Security:
Excellent. 24 hour reception. Street entry after 11pm controlled by outer door, inner door plus 2 men at desk. Very alert & aware of exactly who is in the hotel. We (quite rightly) came under severe scrutiny as I (quite wrongly) allowed my un-registered sons full access to my single room during the first day.

Staff:
The staff were excellent. Most spoke good English, all were smiling & helpful, except maybe for the night manager on the 1st night who was very stern about these young men running in & out of my room .. as I said before, he was absolutely right to behave that way, and it gave me enormous confidence in security at the hotel.

Area:
Although every guide book I read warned against the area south of Termini, I didn't find the surrounding streets threatening or "shady" at all .. & not just on the occasions when I was flanked by 2 x 6' sons.
I always felt completely comfortable walking alone in the area. and found the street vendors, cafe owners, passer-bys etc etc very very helpful.

Location:
I knew we were "central" .. but to go for a walk on our 1st day and fall over the Colesseum a couple of streets away was wonderful. Even a fat 49-year old heavy smoker really can easily walk to all the traditional sights !

Cleanliness:
Immaculate. Rooms serviced fully in morning & again at night with shutters closed etc

Facilities:
My single room had desk, double bed, minibar, wardrobe, bedside drawers, good lighting & lamps, efficient air-con/heater, wardrobe, TV, separate bathroom with efficient shower & loads of hot-water. It was a little cramped, but for the budget price far more than I'd expected.
The boys' twin room included all the above, a far bit more passage way and also a small balcony area.

Breakfast:
Unlimited help-yourself buffet in a lovely room overlooking the Piazza.
Cereals, yogurts, fruit juices, cheeses, meats, fresh fresh rolls, rye breads, biscuits, stewed fruit, tea, coffee etc etc etc.

We visited Spain, England, Amsterdam & Rome during our tour and stayed in several hotels .. all more expensive than Orazia.
This was by far the best stay we had.

Although located on the 5th floor, this was no problem, at all, there is a lift. The hotel staff were VERY welcoming, friendly and helpful with finding our way around, best times to visit etc. reminding us about security. The hotel entrance is only a few feet into Via Buonarroti and is just round the corner from the Vittorio red metro line, easily connecting to the other metro lines. Hotel Orazia is within easy walking distance of the beautiful S. Maria Maggiore and if you like walking, the Colliseum. One stop away on the metro takes you to Termini and the number 110 open-top bus route, a great 2-hour ride round all the main sites. You can hop on and off the bus around the route. The area around the hotel is busy and friendly and as two older women, we felt quite comfortable walking back in the evenings. There was no kettle/hospitality tray in the room, but this seems to be general in Europe, and you can order tea/coffee via room service and the reception staff will give you hot water if you ask for it. Enjoy your stay at this hotel, we certainly did.

The Orazia is in a side street off the Victor Emmannuel Square, on the fifth floor of a rather anonymous building.Do not be put off by the entrance!The square has a faded grandeur and a lively feel, with clothes, flower and shoe stalls late into the night, even a tarot reader.Lots of local life and colour. Pharmacist and supermarket within 2 mins walk, and the metro could not be nearer. We did not feel unsafe at any time.
Our room was huge, with a marble floor and massive repro furniture. It overlooked the square, with a pleasant view over trees, etc. The bathroom was a good size, with a full length bath with shower attachment, basin, loo and bidet. Although there was traffic noise from the square, the hotel itself was very quiet.
All areas of the hotel were very clean and well maintained, but the most striking thing was the friendliness and efficiency of the staff. The guys in reception always greeted us by name, gave us loads of help in, eg, how to buy metro tickets, booked restauarants and a limo to the airport, and even wished my partner Happy Birthday (they must have looked in his passport!)
We would certainly recommend this hotel to anyone looking for a good value,friendly, comfortable base while in Rome