Last trip to Rome was only for three days, but we stayed in an apartment (aparthotel you may call it; had over 50 apartments) in Prati within a few minutes of Vatican Museums. Though it wasn't spacious, it had a small kitchen for preparing drinks and breakfasts (we ate out all other meals) and good air conditioning which was vital to ensure restful sleep (keeping windows shut). No minimum stay. About £90 ($140) a night for two:
http://www.residencecandia.it/

Thanks Alec, will look up that company. Has anyone used this company: http://www.rentalinrome.com
They have a few good options near the Pantheon, but I can't find independent reviews on separate apartments

We rented apartment for 5 nights in Rome.
It was close to the Spanish steps. Was in the middle of July and it had air conditioning that worked well. It was two bedrooms and two baths with a washer and dryer. The only downside to it was the that it was up about five flights.... I would recommend it and will try to find the link.
The biggest treat was that it was right by a music school which may sound like it could be a nuisance but the most magical opera music floated up from below and it was enchanting...

We've used rentalinrome.com twice for ourselves,and I've used them a few times for clients.

In all cases, they were completely reliable. Our first rental with them was very nice, but when I put clients in the same place a few years later, they said that the bathrooms were dirty. I think I would have called and asked for a bit of a clean up, but they didn't.

Our next place was in a perfect location for me, but had a bit of a shabby feel. While clean, there were a few broken things and maintenance wasn't the greatest.

As you may know, apartments are individually owned, and maintained, so it's kind of up to the owner as to how things are kept.

All that said, Rental In Rome was more reliable than another agency I have used (not mentioned here) that canceled a rental on very short notice, and tried to get us in something else that was completely out of the way of where I wanted to be. It took a couple of emails to get a refund, but it did come through.

Is that Tim Tuscan? We used sleep in Italy but looked @ some with Tim.. He was a delight.

No, not Tim, Dawn. I will look up the agency I didn't like. I just ditched their information because of the cancellation, but I'm sure I still have the name.

Found it: doesn't really fit in this thread, but the agency was The Key To Italy. I hate a last minute cancellation, and what they offered was nothing like what I had reserved.

Adding I could not find the link to our apartment in Rome :( will continue to search.

http://www.myhomeinitaly.it/lang1/index.html

Found it... :)

Thanks will check out the links now;)

One thing Donna that I did not like about the apartment - was that in the living area there was not the most comfortable seating to gather together after a long day.

The upside was it was a great kitchen, and the AC worked fabulous, and it was very spacious for the 4 of us.

We did a food crawl tour in Florence that my daughter happened to mention just this morning (we are planning a trip to Spain so talking about things we enjoyed in Europe) that was one of her favorite things. If you could find something like that in Rome your family may enjoy that.

As mentioned up thread... eating gelato twice a day is required :)

Are you going any place else in Italy?

Momddtravel2 - Yes gelato is definitely allowed twice a day in Italy! The thing I am also finding with the apartments is a lot have sofas bed which will take up the living area so I'll keep looking for a two bed, or at least enough actual beds ! at least the prices seem a lot more reasonable than Sorrento/Amalfi!

We are starting in Sorrento (Sant'Agnello) hoping to do a few day trips to Amalfi & Ravello, Capri is still undecided, I think it might be too busy/ overpriced?
We have done Florence/Tuscany//Venice/Verona and Bologna before but I love Italy and cannot wait to finally see Rome! A lot to see in 3 nights though, Did you find the Spanish Steps a good area or was it full high end of shops?

It was high end shops - it was "pretty" and our daughter's liked window shopping and all the beautiful Italians shopping. It was a good area and fine to walk around...

We were pretty exhausted by the time we got there... we had been on the move for about 12 days by the time we got there... so I think we were a little travel weary...

Our apartment was 2 real bedrooms and two real bathrooms - which was great.

Alec I like the look and price of the place you provided link for, thanks, saved it.

Rome-"difficult and painful"? I have NEVER had anyone on my flights coming back from Rome or Italy say anything but that it was the most wonderful place for a vacation!

In Pincio Park (above the Spanish Steps and in the direction of Piazza del Popolo) you can rent Segways to ride around in the parks (Pincio and Borghese Gardens) on the paved paths, most of which are shaded. These parks are a nice respite from the city below.

There are also day/night Segway and bike tours of Rome. Here are two companies:

http://www.romebysegway.com/site/

http://www.italysegwaytours.com/rometours.asp