jan

This has been posted once today, and I topped it twice, but no response. I am looking for feedback on these hotels;<BR><BR>Hotel Casalta in Strove, north of Siena<BR>Albergo Tenuta Torciano, outside San G.<BR>Hotel la Vecchia Cartiera, in Colle V. d'Elsa<BR>Hotel Tony, in Lido di Camaiore<BR>Cavalieri Del Mare, near Massa<BR><BR>If you know and don't like any of these, which ones in those general areas and price ranges (appr. $75-100 for a double) DO you like? Please, I'm running low on time to arrange for these!

ttt

topping!!!

explanation

maybe if you put Italy or the cities/hotel names in your title someone who knows something might read it. <BR><BR>as it is there is no indication WHERE you are talking about and most people ignore those type of threads.

jan

Well, I am sorry for not following decorum. On my intitial thread I did say Italy, but no one responded to that one either. I will have to say I've seen plenty of non-specific threads, many of which have absolutely NOTHING to do with travel get a lot of response. When I say it was posted once before and topped twice, I am referring to that other thread I put out which is now living somewhere in the netherlands.<BR><BR>Now that you have opened it, you see I am VERY specific. Do you have nothing to add other than scolding?

xx

You have somehow managed to find five very obscure little hotels all out in the middle of nowhere. Obviously you had to find them somewhere? What were the original recommendations. It is doubtful that you will find anyone here who has stayed in these obscure places. What makes you doubt their quality if you picked them in the first place. If they were recommended and the price is right and you like out of the way places, then go for them.<BR>Now if you were asking about major hotels in major cities, you'd have a right to post and beg PLEASE, but here you should understand that people aren't answering because they don't have any information for you.

jan

These are NOT recommendations. We want to stay in these areas, I did a search on my search engine for hotels in the respective areas, and these are some of the ones that came up. I whittled down to them after availability, price, etc. You know, the usual way of finding things on the net? <BR><BR>I don't quite understand why you have taken such a tone with me about this. A lot of people ask, or beg as you put it, for help with travel choices on this forum. Isn't that what it's supposed to be for, getting advice?? Or are bras hanging out the window just more intriuging?<BR><BR>I know these hotels are not themselves well-known, as in all the travel books, but I certainly wouldn't say that San Gimignano or Siena or Lido di Camaiore are obscure places. Lots of hotels are off the beaten track but close to well-known spots, and therefore are stayed at by travelers who are looking for just such a location. Why wouldn't I ask for recommendations?

BOB THE NAVIGATOR

Jan, Let me try to help. I am not sure how you found these properties--they do not seem to follow any pattern other than perhaps price. The Tenuta Torciano is a rural farm--The Vecchia Cartiera is a modern hotel in town. Now, if you want a good place to stay near San Gim. at a good price then let me suggest you go to www.sangimignano.com and find the Hotel Pescille--3 miles south of town. Also, the Casanova Pescille is a farm B&B very close to the above--both will be less than $100. Good luck !

jan

Thank you, Bob!! I will look into those suggestions.<BR><BR>I found these hotels in what I thought was not any kind of unusual manner. When I asked for a search for hotels or B&B's in those areas, this was part of what I came up with. There are 4 of us, so I AM trying to keep the cost down since we will need 2 rooms each night, and we'd like to avoid a quad option so we can have a little privacy...the kids as well as we parents!<BR><BR>Do you know anything about the Lido area? A lot of them appear to be closed mid-March. Hotel Tony was one of the few I could find that was even open.<BR><BR>Once again, thank you, and your constructive advice is greatly appreciated!!

anon

maybe others don't like the whiny way you feel you are entitled to opinions - even if no one out there, currently viewing this, has stayed there?<BR><BR>begging usually doesn't involve scolding on the part of the beggar.

xxxx

seems a lot of people have awakened on the wrong side of the bed this morning. what a tussle. i thought she was simply asking for some help. maybe the "please" in caps was a bit strong, but i don't think it calls for the kind of response that's posted here. lighten up, people!

jan

Thank you, xxx. I will concede that the "please" in caps may have come on too strong, so I apologize for any I offended with that. But I've seen it used many times in other threads and I've never seen anyone be accused of begging by using it. And really, any scolding on my part was in response to the scolding I got.<BR><BR>I'll admit this whole thread was borne out of frustration. I had put another thread up that sat there all day and was eventually lost, buried too deep to have a chance of getting any response at all. If the way I worded things was perceived as begging or scolding, again, my apologies.

just curious

I do not know the area or the hotels you have listed but to make you happy, I have responded to your thread.<BR>Are you upset that no one responded, or that know one knows about these hotels, or do you think that people are withholding information from you?<BR>Just curious.

BOB THE NAVIGATOR

Jan, I do not know the Lido area, but I do know Lucca. The Villa Romantica is a nice B&B just outside the walls and a good option with a car. For the Colle area, you have to look at the Villa Belvedere---a bit more but nice.<BR>Look at tuscany.net. Good luck !

helper bee

Jan: Search came up with addl options for accommadations in Siena.<BR><BR>Inexpensive hotels in Siena<BR><BR> Author: Mariarosa ( -- )<BR> Date: 12/13/2001, 03:26 pm<BR> Message: Hi! We prefer hotels that cost less than $75, but we are willing to spend up to $120 if the <BR> hotels are worth it. We are going in the low-season (Feb 25 - 27). <BR><BR>Requirements: Must be centrally located (not more than 15 minutes from the Duomo) and have private baths. Any comments on these or other hotels?<BR><BR>Minotel Piccolo Palio - really cheap (about $50-55) but it is about a 15-20 minute walk to the Campo. Located near the bus stop (we are arriving and leaving by bus).<BR>Piccolo Etruria - cheap (about $55-65), located near the Campo.<BR>Hotel Duomo - about $90-100. Have heard little about it and it has been mixed. <BR>Palazzo Ravissa - a splurge, but they don't require the dreaded half-board in the winter, so this might be our opportunity to stay here. About a 15-minute walk to the Campo, but farther from the bus station.<BR><BR>Any input? Thanks!<BR>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<BR><BR>Author: Julie ( -- )<BR>Date: 12/13/2001<BR>Message: I believe the following is in your budget and you might want to consider:<BR><BR>Albergo Bernini (Budget &acirc;?“ Single w/out Bath was 80,000 lire in 1998)<BR>Via Sapienza 15<BR>Siena, Italia<BR>577/289-047 phone/fax<BR>Rick Steves&acirc;?™ recommendation. Small (9 rooms), clean, family-run pensione that is about a 10 min. walk from Il Campo. This was perfect for me and the family running this place were a lot of fun.<BR>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<BR><BR>Author: joe ( -- )<BR>Date: 12/13/2001<BR>Message: Stayed at the Duomo. Great location, very close to the Cathedral and the Campo but away from heavy day-tour traffic. Try to get a room with a view, they can be super.Cozy, vaulted breakfast room in the cellar.<BR>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<BR><BR>Author: Sue ( -- )<BR>Date: 12/14/2001, 12:07 pm<BR>Message: Stayed at the Duomo early June and would recommend it highly for reasons listed in previous post. It is evidently very popular; they told me they were booked thru Oct. at that point and already had some reservations for Xmas holiday. <BR>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<BR><BR>Author: Millie ( -- )<BR>Date: 12/14/2001<BR>Message: I, too, have stayed at the Hotel Duomo and would not hesitate to recommend it. The location is terrific, on a quiet side street, but a five-minute walk to the Duomo and Il Campo, and some rooms have a wonderful view of the Duomo. Have a wonderful visit in a wonderful city. <BR>-----------------------------------------------<BR><BR>Author: Joe ( -- )<BR>Date: 12/14/2001<BR>Message: I stayed at the Duomo in October and can confirm what others here are saying. It was the nicest of the ca. $100 hotels we stayed at, and the bathroom was high style - - Phillipe Starck modern. As in all hotels, the views vary with the rooms, and we had an uninspiring view of the front street. Overall, however, it's a good deal and a very good location.<BR>------------------------------------------------<BR><BR>Author: Barb ( -- )<BR>Date: 12/14/2001, 01:42 pm<BR>Message: I stayed at the Hotel d'Oro in October. Very close to everything - 5 min. to Campo and just a short walk to bus station. Staff was very helpful with recommendations and directions. It was under $100. I would stay there again.<BR> -------------------------<BR> =========================<BR>

helper bee

Hello again, Jan. More ideas for your stay around Siena. P.S. I dearly wish I could edit and cross reference this forum, so visitors wouldn't have to go thru its' convoluted & wacky indiosynchrises --- and where's the darn spell check !!!<BR><BR>============================<BR> <BR>OTHER HOTEL SUGGESTIONS for SIENA --<BR> (from thread titled ' Siena hotels - inside or outside the town walls? ')<BR><BR>Author: Katherine ( -- )<BR>Date: 10/15/2001<BR><BR>http://www.sienanet.it/hsc/ <BR><BR>I really liked Hotel Santa Caterina, just outside of the Porta Romana. It was an easy walk to the city center, has parking, great views and a wonderful garden for breakfast (included). Just down the road is Fuori Porta, a fabulous trattoria.<BR>------------------------------------------------------<BR>Author: Monica ( -- )<BR>Date: 10/16/2001<BR>Message: Hello everyone, <BR><BR>Thanks for your comments and suggestions. I talked with my cousin and we have decided to stay outside the town walls of Siena at Piccolo Hotel Oliveta. I'll report back when I return and let everyone know how we liked it. <BR>------------------------------------------------------------<BR>=============================<BR>Hotel Oliveta in Siena<BR> <BR>Author: Kandus ( -- )<BR>Date: 07/10/2001<BR>Message: I am having difficulty finding a hotel with availability for early Oct. in Siena. There is room at the Hotel Oliveta, but I would love feedback from anyone who is familiar with this lodging.<BR><BR>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<BR><BR>Author: tom ( -- )<BR>Date: 07/11/2001<BR>Message: Hotel Oliveta is one of two highly recommended hotels in Siena on this board. The hotel is about 10-15 minutes walk from the center of the town where everything is. It is a three-star hotel. Small rooms like any other Italian hotels, but there are not that many choices in town. I would recommned it. Staff is very friendly. They have a parking spaces if you are driving. breakfast is included, but you have pay for coffee or capuccino. <BR><BR>

Rex

Jan,<BR><BR>I think you and I have exchanged a few messages here on this forum - - and here's why the header of this message is an "etiquette breach". It just sounds like you are complaining about "US" - - instead of making a concerted effort to post your message so that it gets people to answer - - people who are knowledgeable about hotels in Siena, and the other places for which you want info.<BR><BR>I do not have any info about these hotels, nor similar nearby hotels.<BR><BR>But I urge you to try posting - - one hotel at a time - - with the name of the hotel and the city in the header.<BR><BR>Top each one, once every 24 hours for 3-5 days.<BR><BR>And as has been suggested - - you may never find anyone with personal experience with any of them. You have gone from "novice" (here on this forum) to quite capable (information seeking on the internet in general - - perhaps you already were that) - - in a short period of time.<BR><BR>It isn't THAT hard to go off into territory where the info you have found is at or beyond what anybody can offer you personally.<BR><BR>Yo aren't being ignored "personally" - - but this header might get you a little bit of disdain.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

jan

You know, I don't want to start anything up again here. If I offended anyone, my sincerest apologies. Nothing was intended. I wrote that late last night, tired, exhausted and frustrated. I feel a little like a criminal here with some of the responses I've gotten.<BR><BR>But THANK YOU to everyone. I am searching out some of those suggestions. Thank you, helper bee and Bob the Navigator, and anyone else I'm overlooking. You too, Rex.

observer

Jan - your post was fine and YOU DIDN'T BREAK ANY FORUM "RULES" - don't listen to these Miss Manner freaks

Leslie

Jan, I didn't find anything wrong with your post or title either. It might have helped to have included Italy in the title, but that's my only suggestion. I thought you were polite and it wasn't necessary for you to apologize. I hope you find what you're looking for.

Diane

jan, I hope you haven't given up on this thread yet. I was unable to reserve a room at Hotel Casalta in Strove last May, but they gave us a room for the same price in CastelBigozzi. It was extraordinary. The Hotel C, it turned out, was closed to the public due to the wedding that weekend of their chef. It is a really interesting little town, about five minutes from Monteriggioni. One of the best restaurants I've ever eaten in is in Strove (or actually, a couple hundred yards down the road in Abadia Isola). Leggenda dei Frati. The location is fabulous and a good spot for a base to tour Tuscany and Chianti country. We walked around the little town (not much there, really) and I'd consider it. But try the CastelBigozzi for off-season rates and you will be REALLY pleasantly surprised. We had a double room with an amazing view, and a huge bath with a jacuzzi, and it was in your price range. <BR>Recently refurbished as a hotel and just awsome. Good Luck!