Inn at the Spanish Steps is a pleasant alternative to the stuffy hotels in Rome that line the Via Condotti and the Spanish Steps, the ‘Inn’ has a luxury boutique feel while still managing to retain that comforting patina of old-world charm. And since it’s right in the throbbing heart of the city’s designer shopping promenade, it’s ideal for those on a retail binge. The twenty two rooms are plushly decorated with elaborate damask and animal-hide furnishings, and some have original fireplaces and ornately frescoed ceilings. The staff are helpful and there’s a civilised lounge and terrace where you can take tea and wallow in the newspapers (and credit card receipts).