We stayed in a funky little hotel in the Trastevere..hotel of the same name...easy walking distance to everywhere (if you are walkers). Not the nicest place we've stayed, but clean and lovely management, good breakfast...and the location made up for all the down falls...ask for a room not facing the a.m. market.

For me personally, the only reason to stay at an airport hotel is if you're arriving late at night and leaving at an ungodly hour of the morning. And the only reason to stay at an airport hotel in Rome/Fiumicino is if you plan to spend your day sightseeing in Ostia Antica.

I can't recommend a hotel in central Rome, however, without knowing your price range. Why don't you look on Venere.com, my favorite web site for booking hotels in Italy? http://en.venere.com/hotels_rome/?ref=755393

We have had a lot of happy clients at Albergo al Sole al Pantheon, with an exceptional location right in the piazza with the Pantheon. Our strong recommendation is to stay in the city where you can walk everywhere and take in this most accessible of cities. The previous comment is absolutely correct, the airport Hilton is fine but only for a very very early departure. The Rome airport is a manageable hour from the city. From Albergo al Sole al Pantheon Piazza Navona, Campo dei Fiori, Via Giulia and the Spanish Steps are all interesting and manageable walks. Mara Solomon, Director, Homebase Abroad.