I will be in Rome early next year and would like a nice 5 star hotel that is walking distance to Spanish steps and the tevi fountain. When looking for accomadations location is very important to me. I like to be in a neighborhood that has many things close by so if I ever get bored in my hotel room I just go down and walk.

Surely one of the best locations in the city:<BR><BR>http://www.venere.com/it/roma/ghdelaminerve<BR><BR>and mentioned just yesterday - - http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...p;tid=34375754 - - in connection with the new NYTimes article on Rome,<BR><BR>http://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/27/travel/WDROME.html<BR><BR>&quot;Luxury: It does not get much better than the Hotel de Russie, Via del Babuino, 9, (39-06) 328 881, fax (39-06) 328 88888, www.roccofortehotels.com, which has not only common areas and rooms (125 plus 31 suites) decorated with a pared-down contemporary elegance but also gardens, an expansive spa and fitness center right in the heart of Rome. A standard double is more than $500.&quot;<BR><BR>Personally, I would prefer the location of the Minerve over Russie. See http://www.hotelderussie.it/map.html and http://www.venere.com/it/roma/ghdela...cation.html.en for more details. But I am not interested in those shops where clothes sell from 1000 to 10.000 euro - - the Russie is closer to those (and to the Spanish Steps). Both are about the same distance to Trevi fountain.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

Grand Hotel Hassler--at the top of the Spanish Steps--is without a doubt one of the finest hotels in the world, I think. The location is great and the view while dining in the rooftop restaurant is wonderful!

PAST POST: Date: 4/14/2001, 9:56 pm ET<BR>Message: Both are over my budget but the Minerva is my dream hotel. Historically speaking, very well placed, right in front of the hotel is Bernini sculpture of an elephant with a small Egyptian oblisk on it's back that was found a couple of blocks away (Temple of Isis). The church (S. M. Sopra Minerva) also in front of the hotel has a Michelangelo statue in it, a couple of pope's tombs, Fra Angelico's tomb, St. Catherine of Siena also died there and Galileo walked thru the last door on the left in front of the church on his way to his trial (Inquistion). The back of the Pantheon is only a &quot;stone's throw&quot; away and Julius Caesar was murdered ~300m away from the rear of the hotel. And there's alot more history just in that area. HTH Regards, Walter<BR>

St. Regis Grand is fabulous five star (member of Starwood group) located within easy walk to most sites (take taxi to Vatican City.

to the top<BR>

My vote also for the St Regis Grand. Beautiful and near everything

My vote goes to St.Regis Grand as well, but I want to try Minerve, maybe on my next trip.

The Hotel de Russie and the Hassler have IMHO the best locations by far in relation to your needs. They're both beautiful hotels--the de Russie is the newer of the two and looks absolutely gorgeous. Take a look on the website. The Hotel de la Minerve is on one of my favorite piazzas in Rome, but for your needs, it's not as well located as the other two. The St. Regis looks very opulant, but is a little out of the way relative to the de Russie and the Hassler. The Hotel de la Ville is at the top of the Spanish Steps, right next to the Hassler and is also a 5-star