First of all let me just say that this hotel is not located in the centre of Rome. It's in an average residential area which is not as bad as some reviewers say. Sure, it doesn't look like suburbia but then again not many European cities do. There is good transportation links to the city plus a direct link to the airport by train.
The hotel itself is pretty plain, as all of the hotels belonging to this chain, but very very clean and modern looking. We found the staff very helpful. I have to comment about the amazing complimentary breakfast, though. I have stayed at many Express by H.I. hotels and they all offer the same basic continental breakfast-which is fine. This also offers a selection of hot and cold food plus so much more. It's a full breakfast buffet and changes daily.
All in all this is a very nice hotel but mostly for the budget traveller. If you are used to staying in luxurius hotels you might get dissapointed.

Just returned from a great stay in Rome. (Oct 2 ) Holiday Inn Express was the ideal place to stay, it was clean, secure and with very helpful english speaking staff. The area around the hotel is very safe even at night but I must add we were nearly put off by the photos a previous guest had posted on to this site. If you have seen these photo`s don`t be deterred. The location of the hotel is very good for getting to see the sights around Rome. At the bottom of the street in which the hotel is situated , turn right and there is the 85 bus stop, this will get you where you want to go. The metro is also local and the quickest and cheapest way of reaching the Vatican. I would recommend this hotel to other traveller`s. Almost forgot breakfast is very good.

This hotel is neat and clean but is a bit expensive if not pre-booked at special non-refundable rates available through the hotel website only. Cheapest rates are from the hotel website and not through general hotel booking sites. The complimentary breakfast was quite decent. Hotel staff was quite co-operative and ofcourse english speaking. Television was malfunctioning and hot water supply was irreguar. But the hotel staff took efforts to restore the supply. The hotel is in a predominant residential locality and appeared quite safe even late at night. It is quite close to the bus stop and to the metro. Even from the airport the slow train stops at Roma Tuscolana station (takes about 35 min) which is walking distance from the hotel. Need not take the faster but expensive Leonardo express from the airport. You can save a lot of money on cabs. In Rome, if you get a good hotel within walking distance of any metro station, it should be good enough. Distance from termini station should not be major consideration. It hardly takes any time to reach termini with the metro from anywhere. Overall I recommend this hotel to budget travellors.

The Holiday Inn San Giovanni is in a residential neighborhood of Rome. Many reviewers have written how it is not in a pleasant area of Rome, but the neighborhood is just like every other neighborhood in Rome, unless you stay in the central tourist part. The hotel is nothing fancy, but it is clean, the staff is helpful and the breakfast buffett they offer is really quite nice. If you don't mind taking the subways and taxis, this is a good option in Rome.