I would plan to stay in the centro - near Campo di Fiori. Here's a video introduction to the area.

http://www.webvisionitaly.com/category.php?id=243&ref_genre=&ref_item=180

Once you choose an area it should be easier to find a hotel. What's the budget? How many days in Rome? How does an apartment sound?

I should mention that I do not use a cane or walker. We also love Renaissance art.

We will probably be there for 6 nights and although we are not in the $1000 a night range, we have quite a bit of leeway budget wise.

I can highly recommend ALBERGO DEL SENATO, a small 4-star hotel located just across a tiny lane from the Pantheon. When we stayed there, we had a small sixth-floor suite (2 rooms) with a tiny balcony facing the Pantheon.

This hotel is within easy walking distance of Piazza Navona, the Trevi Fountain, and as mentioned, across the street from The Pantheon. It's a little farther ( about 20 minutes or so) from the Colosseum. The area is bustling into the early morning hours, and has lots of excellent gelato shops (!) and trattorias.

I also like the Hotel Portoghesi, in the same general area. You should be able to easily get an above standard room there. I like the hotel because of its location and somewhat stylish rooms.

We have stayed in a few standard doubles there that were fine, but a little tight. Very sparkling baths.

Lots of shopping and food choices close at hand.

Albergo Cesari is my wife's favorite. I too love the location.

We really enjoyed out stay at Hotel Rex on via Torino. Excellent hotel and pretty centrally located.

http://www.hotelrex.net/eng/home_eng.asp

Another vote for the Albergo Del Senato. We've stayed there quite a few times, always in the Senior Suite which has two bedrooms and a large balcony overlooking the Pantheon and Piazza della Rotonda. Any of the rooms would be nice however and the hotel is exceptionally clean and the staff friendly and helpful. You can't get much more central.

You can't go wrong with the Albergo del Senato, but if you are on a more limited budget, my mother and I absolutely adored Residenza Canali. Their website says it all:
www.residenzacanali.com/01english.html

Both are well-situated for walking to many sights. The Canali does not have an elevator, but the friendly staff will carry your luggage up.

I loved the Albergo del Senato as well. The location cannot be beat and the rooftop bar should be lovely in May. Very good staff, too. Don't worry-the bathroom was sparkling....

Anita:

Thanks to this forum, I read about the Albergo del Senato as well as the Locanda Orseolo in Venice and the Hotel Florence in Bellagio. This forum is an absolute wealth of information, much of which is never found in guidebooks. Have fun with you planning.

If you can swing it, try to stay at the Albergo del Senato. It is truly lovely and so close to everything. You look out your window at the Pantheon and that in itself is amazing, but then go up to the roof terrace at night and be truly impressed. We were just there a few days ago and I would go back in a second. On that same recent trip, we stayed at the Hotel Due Torri which is also very nice and comfortable, just a whole lot cheaper. It actually was quieter than the del Senato and the breakfast buffet was better. It's just down the street from the Spanish Steps in a little hard-to-find alley. I definitely would recommend it as well.

The Due Torri and Portoghese are within a block of one another. It is a good location. A little less money than the del Senato. I think the P. has more stylish rooms that the d. Torri, but would stay at either again.

Thank you all for the wonderful replies.... you have helped tremendously.

We stayed at the Portoghesi about a year and a half ago and liked it quite a lot. Also stayed at the Albergo Santa Chiara, somewhat closer. Got a bit noisy at night, though.

The best hotel in the area, although it is quite pricey, is the Grand Hotel de la Minerva, across the square from the Santa Chiara.

Funny, we also stayed at the Santa Chiara and found it to be very quiet, situated as it is on a tiny side street just around the corner from the bustling Piazza Navona. Perhaps the location of the room makes a difference. Also as it was early June and hot, we had the windows closed and the AC on.

Ah, ours was in winter, windows closed. There were often loud groups of students larking about, and then, in the early morning, refuse trucks collecting trash, nearly all of which seemed to clang and crash and splinter.

Still liked the place.

My sister, daughter and I are visiting Rome next month and wanted to stay at the Albergo Del Senato but nothing was available. AFter a lot of reseach I've booked the Navona Gallery Suites. http://www.navonagallerysuites.com/
It gets excellent reviews on Tripadvisor and I found the rate very reasonable given its location (next to the Piazza Navona).

Again, thank you all so much! I read your posts on all the topics religiously!

http://www.leonardihotels.com/Genio/index.jsp

I would use an apartment. Mine was right next to Piazza Navona and I got it for under 100 Euro a night. It was fantastic and a lot more room than a hotel! www.rentalinrome.com

Hi Anitajane,

Whatever you decide, apartment or hotel room near the Pantheon, (Raphael is one of our favs of course!) I would start my day with a macchiato at one of these local caffes:

http://www.webvisionitaly.com/category.php?id=220&ref_genre=&ref_item=188

Sunset at the Rahpael hotel is always fun:

http://www.webvisionitaly.com/category.php?id=220&ref_genre=&ref_item=195

If you have a need for the hair or nails:

http://www.webvisionitaly.com/category.php?id=220&ref_genre=&ref_item=190

And for the latest Romans fashions, check in at these boutiques near Piazza Navona:

Arsenale:
http://www.webvisionitaly.com/category.php?id=220&ref_genre=&ref_item=138

Saint Ledger:
http://www.webvisionitaly.com/category.php?id=220&ref_genre=&ref_item=137

Nabiz:
http://www.webvisionitaly.com/category.php?id=220&ref_genre=&ref_item=136

Have a wonderful jounrey with your daughter.

For comparison you might like to check out Hotel de la Russie - on via Babuino between the Spanish Steps and Piazza del Popolo. for some this is too far north, others find it central.
Rather elegant boutique hotel, a superior room will be about $400 a night.
http://www.hotelderussie.it/?source=1004

Look at the Hotel Forum, directly across the street from the Forum. Rooms and suites, from about $300 up. they also have a rooftop restaurant that can be great for a dinner one night, with a view of the lighted forum below.

http://www.hotelforumrome.com/

For 6 nights, why not get an apartment? We had this one: http://www.sleepinitaly.com/files/apt_giulia-gold.html Since i have bad knees, i think I can say this apartment would be a good one for you.

We liked it because it was very attractive, it was on the ground floor, it was quiet, we had a huge living room with comfy sofas, a pretty good kitchenette, a place to sit at a table and eat, a good-sized (for italy) shower in the bathroom, and lots of storage for our clothes and luggage. there is a concierge or doorman who can help you with things.

It is on Via Giulia, two blocks from Corso vittoria Emmanuele, which is a main street with lots of bus lines on it. It's about halfway between Castel St. Angelo and Campo de'Fiori (more like 500 meters from the Campo, not 50 like it says in the web page.) There is a good little grocery on the Corso, and a friendly, inexpensive little restaurant there. Also a coffee bar. It's VERY clean and light. It opens onto an interior courtyard, and sometimes children from the apartments upstairs play there. But it's not a problem.