When In Rome

I am having trouble finding time to write my blog because my hours are filled up doing the most first world task, researching travel. I hate to complain about planning a trip, but the Internet has changed travel forever. No longer do you call a trusted travel agent who you know and has actually been where you are going and she steers you to a hotel she has seen. No, now you read endless reviews from people you may or may not like and take advice from millions of unknowns.

To compound my problem Is am trying to figure out where to stay in Rome, city of thousands of accommodations. Now throw one more variable in, we are starting and ending our trip in Rome so we can stay in two different places on the trip.

I have been to Rome three times and stayed in great places, but of course they have changed hands, and names. It seems the more I research the more confused I become. I started thinking I wanted to stay near the Spanish Steps, but then when I widened the search I was not so sure.

We are going to Rome with Carter who has fallen in love with Roman history. I want to stay near the action so that there is fun to be had for a teenager right near by. I want to walk and eat good food and see old stuff. If you have been to Rome in the last ten years and have any suggestions I want to hear them. What neighborhood would you stay in? Do you have a hotel recommendation? Did you eat someplace you wish you could go back to every week? What was worth doing and what do you wish you skipped?

Please be my “travel agent”. I am happy to take advice from people I know and tired of reading what someone from Tokyo thinks about the breakfast being served at a certain hotel. I hate breakfast in Tokyo so I probably would not agree with her taste anyway. But your taste might appeal to me! So I’m looking for opinions. Send comments, please.