My old favourite area around the Piazza Navonna is now a teaming melee of tourists and the Campo dei Fiori is a bit seedy. Monti looks good and is the new home of L'Asino d'Oro, my latest Roman restaurant find. But I cannot find a nice hotel, "characteristic," small, and not expensive (no more than 130 euro for a double.) Any suggestions? Il Palazetto degli Artisti is full during my dates.

I have just realised that people may think Rione Monti is a town - I mean the Monti area of ROME. If no one replies, I will repost my question more clearly.

I haven't made it to Rome for several years, and what you say about Piazza Navona and Campo dei Fiori is distressing.

The most popular hotel in Monti is Hotel Raffaello; I don't know whether it's within your price range. Some names that come up in a search by location in the Italian Yellow Pages: Ivanhoe, Canova, B&B Hotel Roma, De Monti, Villa Pinciana (odd name for that location...), Hotel Apollo. Hotel Artorius, Antica Locanda, Residenza Monti.

I like the Monti area and have stayed there several times. There is a nice, small hotel on via Leonina, but perhaps it's more than your price.
http://www.hotelducadalba.com/

Try using the Rome Tourism website where you can search by area. Use the advanced search tab on the right to select your area.
http://www.060608.it/en/accoglienza/dormire

While Monti has quite a few hotels, they tend to be on the busier streets. The quieter streets seems to have more apartments/B&B's.

If you aren't familiar with the area, this website has some info on the piazzas and churches. I do not recommend using this site as the owner was a very controversial poster here years ago (long banned) and there are many complaints about him.
http://www.romanhomes.com/your_roman...ti-quarter.htm

To get around in Monti to the more central areas, the electric bus line 117 runs through the area frequently to S. Giovanni in Laterano to the Spanish Steps.
http://www.atac.roma.it/files/doc.asp?r=9

When Mario Monti came to Rome to take over from Silvio Berlusconi, he stayed in the Hotel Forum. I recently had lunch there and it is a charming old world establishment, with wonderful public areas, but I didn't see the rooms. I think it is in your budget. I don't know if it is air conditioned if that matters. You'd need to read reviews on TripAdvisor.

Hotel Forum is pretty nice, though pricey. There's a great place called the "Nicholas Inn" right at the bottom of Via Cavur by the forum. It was very well decorated, ample in size, and an amazing price. I think we paid around 100eur a night, but it was off season. We had multi room apartment that perfectly fit my family of 4. It's more of an apartment than a hotel, but definitely worth taking a look at. It's owned by an Italian man and his American wife. I think we found it from the Guardian's website. I've also heard good things about Residenza Monti but it was full during our dates. Hope that helps!

Thank you all for the helpful suggestions, all of which have been checked out. Several were too expensive (this is one of several trips to Italy for us this year) and some were unavailable. At this point, confirmation pending, I have booked at the Hotel Grifo in Via del Boschetto, a recommendation from Katie Parla's excellent Rome blog.

I like that place And that blog

Last April, I had a lovely stay at the Hotel Amalfi on via Merluna. Basically, this hotel is on Piazza Sta. Maria
Maggiore so a great location as far as Termini and the buses. An easy downhill walk to the historic center which I loved as I could then grab any bus back to Termini to return to the hotel. Also, close to the Opera House - I could go on and I about the location which I thought was perfect. Very friendly, family owned. Lots of good reviews on Tripadvisor. Here is the official website: http://www.hotelamalfiroma.it/

Thanks, Margaret, I will look at your hotel. Just heard from the Hotel Grifo that our shower is outside, "close to" they say, our room, with WC and basin ensuite. Not sure my husband will go along with this.