Take a look at the Hotel Portoghesi http://www.hotelportoghesiroma.it/
It's a few minutes walk to the Pantheon and the Piazza Navona. Personally, I like a little distance between me and those very crowded areas.

We have also stayed at the Santa Chiara. It is an austere place, but perfectly adequate. You might hear drunken revelers in the small hours.

The correct # is 411065vb. Just put the numbers, not the sign#, in the search in HomeAway. This is a gorgeous place.

We have booked Hotel Adriano in September for 2 nights.....it seems to be in a good location and received nice reviews from trip advisor. It is near Piazzo Novana and pantheon. I take spin classes with a pilot that flies to Rome once a week and he advised me that would be a great area to stay.

Sassafrass~~

Thank you so very much, from the bottom of my heart, for taking the time to look into this for me. When I am home in front of my desktop, I will have a look at all of the links. I know my parents are a bit nervous about booking an apartment per se. They feel like so much can go wrong. They prefer being in a hotel. However, it's been very difficult to find suites and apartments within hotels that are still available.

Mels~~ if you do a search of these boards, you will find considerable feedback about Hotel Adriano. It's definitely located in a great area.

Sassafrass~ that property in Campo di Fiori was stupendous! That rooftop area! Wow. Loved it. Minimum stay, however, was 5 nights. And it came to 2130euro which is still a fabulous price for what you are getting! Nothing is going to beat that two bedroom, two bath, full bfast deal that they had at Modigliani! Alas...

Yes, things can go wrong, but they can with anything. Even hotels screw up sometimes. Many people on Fodor's book apartments. I have rented apartments and houses several times with great success. They have always been better than a hotel in the same price range. I don't like BnBs, only the whole house or whole apartment. Get references or post the ones you like here and see what people say. I have not booked with HomeAway. See how the company is to deal with as you book.

I look for location and look closely at the description. Also, when looking at photos, look past the flowers and wine glass set ups. I reject anything that has cheap throws or what looks like sheets or fabric over furniture or beds, or ruffled stuff. I look carefully at the drapes or curtains. I myself might go cheap sometimes, but for the lux you are looking for, watch for what looks like thin flimsy curtains tied back or around the bed to make it look like a canopy and fabric in front of sinks, etc. or big screen TV as the focus of the living room.

The ones I posted look really great to me, but I stuck with the Navona - de Fiori area, and there are lots to choose from in other areas.

One advantage of a hotel is if it has a pool. If not, no advantage as I see it.

Check cleaning charges and extra charges for AC. Make sure the elevator goes from the street level. I assume you know that first floor is the second by US calculations.

Others can give you more things to watch for.

Best of luck. I am looking forward to seeing what you find.

We once stayed at the Forum. It was a hotel across from the Forum,
Colosseum, etc. Had an outside terrace for dining as I recall. We had several dinners in the dining room which looked out over the lighted Forum at nite. I don't recall we felt we were "out of it." But I must confess my favorite place to stay is around the Pantheon.