Celine

Hi there. Has anybody stayed at any of the following hotels recently and can provide feedback? I'd appreciate it...travelling to Italy for two weeks in July and still have time to change reservations, if needed. PLease advise. Thanks! <BR> <BR>Venice: Hotel San Marco (Best Western--located near Piazza San Marco) <BR> <BR>Florence: Residence San Luigi, in Monteriggioni, Siena (supposed to be rated ****) <BR> <BR>Rome: King Hotel (travel agent said it's a tourist hotel, in a great location)?? <BR> <BR>Positano: Villa Franca (tried pulling a thread on this, but didn't get much feedback at all)

Chaka Kahn

Venice sucks. Tuscany is ugly and Rome is too crowded. I think you should just stay in Canada where you belong.

jane

Goodness; previous response to your message was a bit over the top.... We enjoyed Tuscany! Here's my two cents worth, cut and pasted from last year's itinery. The place in Florence was "fine" (read rather expensive--but everything there is-- and the place outside Sienna was really just fine- inexpensive, had a kitchennete, really lousy location, but who cares?-- it was clean, friendly people, and pizza next door! Best wishes! Here's our itinery: <BR>26-27 May Florence <BR> Name: Hotel Select (a Best Western) <BR> Address: Via G. Balliano 24 <BR> Price and Amenities: $160 King, quiet location, full breakfast, parking, to be arranged in advance <BR> check in 2pm, out noon <BR> Phone: 055 330342 <BR> <BR> Then: <BR>28-29 May: Near Sienna (another Best Western-- and no, I don't work for them!) <BR> Name: La Residenza delle Badesse <BR> Address: 67 Localita Badesse, Monteriggioni/Sienna <BR> Price and Amenities: Miniapartment, $93 (?- less?), 2 twins and kitchenette, full breakfast <BR> Phone: 0577 310000 <BR> <BR>PS- we loved a drive through Chianti! Stopped at a winery, and to be polite and appropriate after tasting, I tried (w/o knowing the Italian language) to convey that I'd like to buy a bottle, and I wrote $10 US $ on her note pad, she indicated that was good, and then she proceeded to fill a 4 L bottle w/ their wine! Goodness! I could barely carry it to the car. Needless to say, I drank their wine for about 2 weeks! (Hubby is a Jack and Coke person). The wine was young and fruity, but nice. I'll never forget that huge "bottle." <BR>

celine

Thanks for the information, Jane. I think I'll definitely take your advice on the drive through Chianti! <BR> <BR>As far as the response from Chaka Khan, I think more and more people like him are logging on and contributing to the maliciousness that has been invading this site. Obviously this person knows absolutely nothing, or else they wouldn't offer such unhelpful advice. The reason I'm researching this site and asking questions is that I'm going to Italy in July for my honeymoon, and I want to make certain that it is a wonderful experience. By the way, I'm not from Canada...I live in Ireland. <BR> <BR>

elaine

Hi Celine <BR>I have files on Venice and <BR>Florence/Siena; if you'd like to see them, email me

debbie

I had just started using this site yesterday and was feeling great @ it... til I saw that incredibly rude response to you. I'm sure the rest of us wish you a wonderful time, and hope that you meet many wonderful travelers on your trip.

Lexma90

Celine - I haven't stayed at any of those places, but if Residence San Luigi is actually in Monteriggioni, then you're staying in a picturesque, gorgeous, tiny village just north of Siena. There are several restaurants in town (one may be the Residence San Luigi); we had an absolutely delightful lunch in the garden of their outdoor restaurant there. It's not the kind of place where you can wander the streets in the evening - or rather you can, but there are only about two short streets, so your walk will be over quickly! If you want peace and quiet and beauty, you'll enjoy Monteriggioni, but if you want more nightlife, you might want to consider a hotel within Siena (though the downside of that is if you want to do daytrips from there, you'll have parking problems). Buon viaggio!

igor

Lexma90, <BR>We are considering honeymooning in Italy too. What are some of the best <BR>hotels in Siana where we can stay? <BR> <BR>Thanks, <BR>Igor.

Len

Anyone ever stay at the Hotele Farnese in Rome? I heard good things about it so I reserved rooms there for May. I am a bit nervous though because I have never stayed there. They say 4 star but we all know that the star measure doesn't really help. Any opinions?

Dan

Len - not familiar with the hotel you mentioned, but we stayed at the Hotel Morgana in Rome in '99 and enjoyed it. Clean and not terribly expensive, and close to the Termini (train station). Some would say that this was not a positive, but it made it easier to get around. E-mail me if you want more info.

Len

Thanks Dan for your response. I appreciate the recommendation, but I am taking my mom back to Italy for the first time since she came from there when she was 12, 42 years ago. So I want something really nice witha terrace and views, but not more than 500,000 lire per night. Fodor's had recommended FFarnese but I just need some back up on this one. As far as room quality how do you rate the Morgana?

Ger

Don't know the hotels listed but I was in Rome in November and can recommend the Jolly Hotel by the Villa Borghese. I have always had great success with this chain (even in Paris!). The room was large and the service extremely attentive. Price was resonable and well worth the money. <BR> <BR>Regards

celine

Thanks to ALL OF YOU for your ideas and help! <BR> <BR>Elaine, I got the files you sent to me. They are wonderful and contain so much information...thanks! <BR> <BR>Debbine, Welcome to the site and enjoy. <BR> <BR>Igor, How are your honeymoon plans coming along? <BR> <BR>Lexma90, Thanks for your Tuscany info...will research this a bit more. <BR> <BR>Take care everyone.

igor

Celine, <BR>We are still in the process of doing research. I think we'll stick with the <BR>central Italy because traveling in the South will really require us to rent a car. I looked at the Farnese Hotel recommended on this board, and it looked <BR>very appealing. <BR> <BR>Igor.

Len

Thanks to your responses about the Farnese. It is near the vatican, and supposedly pretty quiet, do you recommend I stay downtown instead? Someone on another message board said really great things about the Farnese so I may stick with it.

carol

Celine: I'm also looking at the King Hotel myself. A friend that I work with stayed there in November and said it was fine and in a good location (Spanish Steps.) I'm planning on staying there or at the La Residenza.

celine

Thanks, Carol. I hadn't heard a thing about The Hotel King, in Rome, until you replied. My travel agent said it would be fine for us, since I advised that I didn't expect to be in it very long, except to shower and sleep. If I hear of anything further, I'll keep you posted. Take care...