Hi - we have stayed a couple times at Federici B&B in Rome. Definitely no frills, but clean, safe, very reasonably priced for Rome, and in a very convenient location near St. Peter's, with a Metro stop right outside.
As to how many days, we've stayed in Rome probably a total of 30 days now, and it's never enough! But yes, you can see a lot in 3 days. You certainly don't need a car in Rome, we typically return ours to the airport and then head into Rome for the rest of our visit.

A car is going to be a major liability in most, if not all, of those places. You don't need a car unless you're going to go touring around, say, the Tuscan countryside, and since you already have a boatload of places to get to in 12 days, I would guess Tuscan countryside isn't in the cards.

Can't help with B&Bs, as I normally stay in hotels or agriturismi.

For Italian Inns or B&Bs, try www.venere.com You can filter by price, locaton and type of accomodation.

Pisa. Go to Pisa, see tower, take picture, leave Pisa.

Cheap hotels would also be ok. We are tryng to see Italy on a budget. What is the transport like to get from Milan or Rome airports to city centres? Thank you about the going to Pisa info. Would it be better to fly in and out of Milan or inot Milan and out of Rome? thank you for all your reples so far

Better to fly into first city and out of lst that waste a day backtracking. Just get an open jaws ticket.

A car in cities in Italy is worse than useless. Centers are pedestrian, cars not allowed. So besides paying for the rental charge youwill be payign $30 or $40 a day for a garage for a car you have no place to drive.

From one city to another just hop a train.

Do you suggest we go by train to get from one place to another? would that be better? Is the transport system good in Italy? Would it be better to take backpacks or suitcases?

Can we get a train ticket that we could use for 2 weeks while we were in Italy or would it be as cheap to just get separate ones every time we go to a different place?

If you are in cities only go with the train. Check the Italy web site Treitalia (I think) but you can by passes or just buy as you go.

Trenitalia does have passes, but they can only be purchased by EU citizens, so that's out. And it's safe to say what you DON'T want is any kind of Eurrail pass. Just get point-to-point tickets. Go online to the Trenitalia site and see if you can find discounts for buying them online ahead of time. Italian trains are generally a bargain, especially the regional trains.

... thank you for your replies so far. So, hiring a car is a definate NO? Just use trains? Does anyone know how much it would cost from Milan to Lucca by train?or if there is a train that goes to Lucca??? or from Lucca to Pisa? or Pisa to Rome? Any ideas are welcome, thank you.

You can search for all your train trips, both schedules and prices, at this website:

http://www.fsitaliane.it/homepage_en.html

Use search dates within the next 7 days to see all the options, including slowest trains that wll connect some of these places--I don't think the shcedule past mid June has been completely posted yet. the schedule and prices should be about the same.

As for "cheap" B&Bs and hotels, what is your definition of "cheap?" In other words, how much do you want to spend? What amenities do you want/need? For recommendations, we need to know that. Also need to know if you'll be travelling by train or by car -- makes a difference in which B&B/hotel you want. If driving, you would want a hotel on the outskirts of a city with free parking and public transportation into the city. (We have done that) If arriving by train, you would want a hotel near the train station. If it were me, going on your proposed itinerary, I would go by train and carry a backpack or one small easy to manage suitcase. Another poster recommended www.venere.com for hotel booking. We have used them as well as www.booking.com. Both are very reliable and offer accommodations in all price ranges.

We stayed at Hotel Crosti in Rome about 4 years ago. It is close to the train station and about a 30-minute walk to the very centre of Rome. At the time the hotel had just opened, and it impressed me for its cleanliness, service and good breakfast.

I agree with others that it would not be easy for you to drive in centre of these cities. We drove into all of them, but there are so many one ways, no entry zones etc, that you can easily get a parking fine. It helps us that we always have our disabled child with us and therefore have the blue EU parking ticket, but it still is sometimes a headache to enter as we still often have to phone up and inform local police of our entry to the very centre (like in Siena). A couple of times, when we did not even have to phone and parked in the proper place, we still received a fine by post even a year after the holidy, then I had to send them copies documents as proof and they revoked the penalty.

But it does save so much time and bother by hiring a car, especially since you want to travel to several places. I would pick up car from one airport, like from Milan and drop it off at last destination in Rome (maybe Fiumicino airport) before starting your visit there. And you can catch your plane back from Rome.

Like another Fodorite commented, I would not choose a hotel in the centre of each city, but on the outskirts (like in Florence or Milan or Pisa) and if not too far walk it or else ask the B&B owner if they offer transport as close to the centre as possible. Many towns and cities in Tuscany have huge parking lots on the outskirts of the city. Then you would have quite a bit of a walk to its centre.

Some B&B or Agriturismo owners are so very accomodating and nice in Italy that they even offer a free shuttle to and from train station or airports if they are not too far like in Pisa. Hotels sometimes offer a shuttle for a fee. So if you do decide to use trains, before booking ask them if they offer transport to train station and price if it is not free (like in Pisa).

We try all sorts of accomodation, high-class hotels (when I get a good deal), small hotels, Agriturismos and B&B as long as they are brand new (I am obsessed with this - I just love the feel of new accomodation with new bathrooms etc, I only rarely make an exception like in an agriturismo with extra high good reviews for its food or ambience. Sometimes I get really good deals. I always like to check reviews from Tripadvisor and Booking.com, and then check on the website of accomodation whether it is cheaper to book from booking.com or directly from owner. Sometimes they give you a better deal, and sometimes not. We went to a relais hotel in Umbria last Christmas eve, I booked accomodation from booking.com, which was really at a good rate, and then I emailed them for cost of the dinner and since I booked the last accomodation they gave it half price, really really worth it as it included 4 whole bottles of wine, and I do not know how many dishes, must have been more than 10, best dinner ever. This relais is called Locanda del Borgo. I had never met such good hospitality. So buy finding accomodation just outside centre might make you lucky enough to get this unique experience. It all depends on what you are after.

I would gladly search for some accomodation for you if you inform me your preferences - B&Bs and hotels in centre or outside, and of your inclination to drive or take trains. It does make a whole lot of difference.

thank you for all your replies. Anna Galea - you have given me so much info, thanks. We are deciding not to hire a car as there are so many cities you cant get to easily by car. Therefore we will probably take the trains. This might sound really 'cheapskate' but we would like to spend no more than £70 a night on accommodation. Maybe if we could stay just outside of city centres it would be cheaper (within half hour walk or use local transport).

Try checking out www.eurocheapo.com for reviews and ideas. Nthat is on the low end for cities in Europe and I would recommend trying to up that budget to be closer to city centre...our biggest regrets have always been staying farther out to save a bit of money!

Inexpensive options are hostels or convents. For the latter, look at www.monasterystays.com. The only catch might be the early lock-up; that may cramp your nightlife.

Does anyone know how much it would cost from Milan to Lucca by train?or if there is a train that goes to Lucca??? or from Lucca to Pisa? or Pisa to Rome? Any ideas are welcome, thank you.

From Milan you probably take the train to Florence and transfer to a regional train to get to Lucca. There is a train that goes from Lucca to Pisa.

You might want to familiarize yourself with www.trenitalia.com, if only to get an idea of itineraries and schedules.

For accommodations, also look at www.bookingmonastery.com. We booked with them for Rome accommodation last year and paid 95 euro (about 76 GBP), air conditioned, breakfast included, no curfew, very near St. Peters Square. The monastery where we stayed is S. Maria Alle Fornaci. Although it's called a monastery -- and perhaps it really is -- there were no monks to be seen. It was just a well-run, clean, comfortable hotel. They offer accommodations in other cities as well.

I would guess then that you would like to spend around 85 euro per night. You can easily find a good B&B anywhere within that rate in a central area. For example there is the Domus Prati in Rome that has high reviews for 85 euro per night during Summer.

There are many good B&B in Pisa in that price range and even less, go toTripadvisor, and start off from the best ones with the highest reviews and go down the list. You would know what the reviewers think of the accommodations and make your homework. There are so many I am sure you will find a good one for the dates you need

The same would apply for Milan for sure. You are not at all on too low a budget for a B&B, on the contrary, it is an average rate.

Some helpful information:

www.slowtrav.com/italy/trains/index.htm

www.ricksteves.com

Have a good trip.

When looking at B&Bs be sure to check for amenities. Many modest one do NOT have air conditioning - and if it's 95 and humid - I think you might regret that. Also confirm if you are comfortable with a shared bath and stairs instead of elevators. (Since taking trains will be cheaper than a car - rental, tax, insurance, gas, tolls and parking - you might have more to spend on lodging,)

I just wrote about a beautiful and inexpensive B&B near Genoa and Milan, in case you want to take in the Italian Riviera. Wrote about it on my blog here: http://brooklynbabysocial.com/2012/05/10/latte-take-me-to-there/

thank you for these replies - What is the cheapest decent one we may get as I would like to spend money on seeing the sights rather than sleeping in a classy hotel.

Caz_Laws, I don't think any of us can tell you which one of these recommendations you should select. Several posters have offered suggestions. Look at the websites provided, read up on tripadvisor.com, and/or purchase a guide book. Then make your decisions and book according to your preferences (amenities, location, price, etc.). Good luck and have a wonderful trip!

You can also go to slowtrav.com (SlowTravel) and check their hotel and B&B reviews. Tripadvisor.com is also full of reviews.

The idea of staying outside the center of town is not so good if your are traveling by train, since the trains take you into the center. Also, you waste time going to and from the center to sightsee. Three days in Rome is barely scratching the surface, so you don't have any time to spare.

hi caz,

looks like you've had a load of good advice about using trains and finding accommodation. another good source of info about trains is www.seat61.com, and about all things Roman - roninrome.com

as for accommodation, you could perhaps usefully spend a few hours becoming familiar with trip advisor. if you put in, say Pisa, as your destination, and your travel dates, you will find that you can choose between hotels and B&Bs. you can ask for them to be put in price order [low to high or high to low] and for them to be shown on a map. places in the suburbs can be a false economy as you will spend money, and perhaps more importantly on a short trip, time, getting to and from your accommodation.

have a great trip!