Can anyone suggest the easiest way to get from Ciampino Airport to our hotel (by the Spanish Steps)? We will be arriving around 9:30 am on a Wednesday(if that makes a difference)

Based on many recommendations here, we arranged a car through limoservicerome.com, and they were excellent. Prompt, very nice car (a Mercedes) and the price was very reasonable (price is now 45 Euro, just checked their website). You can also take taxi or train, but I think having the car waiting for you is the easiest.

Buses are all over that airport and are very cheap!

The Easiest way is to get a local bus - this goes first to Ciampino railway station, from where it is about a 1€ trip to Rome Termini. The advantage of this route is that you get to see some intresting ruined aqueducts on the way.

If you stay on the local bus, it ends up at the Metro station, and you can then take the underground into Central rome and the Spagna stop near the Spanish Steps.

willit gave a good method, and that's the cheapest.

Another possibility is to take the Terravision coach to Termini, and then take the metro Line A to the Spagna stop, or you could take the appropriate local bus (whatever number that is). http://www.terravision.it

We are also arriving at Ciampino airport - how long should it take by limo to Rome central as this does seem by far the best way.

Also, what are the chances that if we arrange for a private car, that the driver may be somewhat of a "tour guide"? I think a private car may be the best thing for our "sanity" at that point !!

It may depend on the company you use, but our driver from limoservicerome simply met us, drove us to our hotel and that's it. No tour guide. We used them based on the recommendations of the many Italy experts here and they were excellent. It was very nice after the overnight flight to simply get our luggage, see the driver with our name on the sign and get to the hotel quickly.