We stayed at Boncompagni during Easter Week, the most expensive time to stay in Rome! We were attending a family wedding, the church was just off Via Veneto so I began looking for accommodation in the area. Some of our relations/friends stayed in 3* hotels in the area at a cost of €350 per night (compared to our €110 per night) and they weren't a patch on our B&B! Just a few notes on the accommodation:
1. This is the best area to stay in Rome. The American Embassy is on the corner of Via Veneto & Via Boncompagni so you know that it will be a good area. All the five star hotels in Rome are on Via Veneto also. We walked home late at night and it is perfectly safe. Because the Embassy is here, there is plenty of police/security anyway!
2. Arrange for the B&B's taxi to bring you from the airport. By the time you have your return bus/train ticket, it is almost the same price anyway and so much less hassle(Italian drivers are very fast drivers so be prepared to tell them to slow down!).
3. The B&B is spotless. You get plenty of nice towels. The rooms & toilets are cleaned every day and you get fresh bed linen and towels every second day.
4. The staff couldn't have been more firendlly or polite.
5. Breakfast is adequate to get you started in the morning- juice, tea/coffee, pastries, bread with butter, jams etc., biscuits.
6. One of the best things about this B&B is that you feel ike you are in a hotel. You get your own keys and entrance and can come and go as you like.
7. The nearby amenities were brilliant: On the adjacent street, via Sicilia, towards Via Veneto, there is a fantastic restaurant where our relations had their wedding reception. A little pricey but the food is excellent, so if you want to treat yourselves, make a booking here. Stay away from the restaurants and bars on Via Veneto or in the main touristy areas. Bottles of Heineken were charged at €9! The local draught beer is nice @ €3-4 a pint. Believe it or not, everything in Rome is within walking distance so there is no need to purchase week long metro tickets. We did and the only time we used them was to go to the Vatican. Instead use the bus tour. €13 a ticket and you can get on and off at all the sites. Defintately make a trip to Tastevere. It's over the river and is authentic Rome, where the Italians eat. We had the best meal while we were in Rome for €28, 3 courses compared to practically the same meal near Via Veneto for €87!
When you come out of the B&B, turn right, go down two blocks and turn right again at the corner of the bank offices. A little up the sreet on the left hand side, is the best pizza you will ever taste in so many different flavours. About €2 a slice-a cheap lunch or supper! Buy ice cream/gelato from San Crispino. Renowned as the best in Rome. We only discovered it on our last day and we were heartbroken! it's in the Lonely Planet, again a worthwhile purchase before you go to Rome.