Can anyone tell me the name of the area at the bottom of the Spanish Steps in Rome? Where all the shops etc.. are.

Can anyone recommend some hotels in that area? Traveling with someone who would never make it up those once! What is that area

Piazza Di Spagna - sorry we stayed in Trastevere. Try Venere.com or Romeby.com

I stayed at Pensione Panda a couple of years ago. I thought it was great but I think the prices increased:

http://www.pensionepanda.com/

The Piazza di Spagna is the large open space at the bottom of the stairs. The swanky shopping street is Via Condotti. Two streets to the north (Via della Croce) is the location of Pensione Panda, our choice hotel in Rome. Condotti 29 is a somewhat more upscale hostelry mearby. Panda: 06 67 80 179. Both have websites.

Vita & DRJ, I also stayed at the Panda (two years ago) and, although our room was *very* small, I thought it was a great value for the location.

You might be interested in this. I recently came across Reid Bramblett's "Little Wonder Hotels of Rome" article, and he says "For the best balance of comfort, style, and price in the very heart of Rome, the Panda wins hands-down."

For entire article, see...

http://msnbc.com/news/807991.asp?0sl=-10&cp1=1

We just returned from Rome recently and stayed at the Hotel San Carlo VERY near Piazza Di Spagna. It was a great little hotel but no elevator. Hope this helps.

Just got back from Italy and spent our last three nights in Rome at Hotel dei Borgognoni on Via del Bufalo. Location was great...Spanish Steps were less than a 5 minute walk. We walked everyplace from there....Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, Colosseum, Vatican, Fontana dei Trevi, Pantheon, Piazza Navona, etc. Price was...about 260 euro/night, including breakfasts. Rooms are small, but very well set up and very clean.

BYW..there is an elevator at the bottom of the steps that goes to the top. It's in the entrance to the metro station. As you look at the steps it's to your right .

We stayed at the Fontanella Borghese which is a few blocks down the Via Condotti from the Spanish Steps. We paid E185 in October 2002 which unfortunately now converts to $230. I'm too cheap to pay that much for a hotel room, but loved the Fontanella Borghese and its location.

Pam; thank you for that info about the elevator; didn't know that! We stayed at the Ingilterra, just off Condotti, which is lovely but expensive.

Hazmarty - you walked to the Vatican? Isn't that on the other side of the river? How long did it take you?

Yes...it is on the other side of the river. It felt like about a 30 minute walk..but that is not really a long walk...is it??

I also walked to the Vatican from the Spanish Steps area. I basically walked everywhere when I was in Italy. You discover so much that way!