pjjcm

Hi all,

We're planning a trip to Florence 2-3 days, Siena 2-3 days and then Rome for the rest of a nine day trip in mid October.

Just looking for some hotel and restaurant tips , particularly for Florence and Siena as we have been to Rome before , albeit only once.

Many thanks.

Pjjcm

annhig

Pjjcm

There are several threads here about hotels and restaurants in Florence, not so sure about Siena.

if you use the search function, you will come up with quite a few ideas about which you can ask more detailed questions.

to be able to give you any decent advice, we would need to know your budget, what you are looking for [hotel/pension] what level of establishment you want [basic/medium/delux] and how near the centre you want to be.

to give you an idea of what is available for your dates, TA or a hotel booking site like booking.com can be very useful.

good luck!

nytraveler

Also we need to now who "we" are. An older couple, a honeymoon couple, a family with kids, a bunch of young friends???

Besides the budget (and how many rooms) this will hel pmake recos.

pjjcm

Annhig, Nytraveler

Thanks to you both.

My failings as a newby contributor are exposed for all to see..!

We are a couple c 50 years old - no kids with us.

Physically no real limits on usual tourist things.

Budget is probably 200 - 250 euros per night , hotel preferred but apartment , esp in Rome is an option.

City centre for all locations.

Thanks for the help so far.

bobthenavigator

This may help for Florence:

BOB’S FAVORITE HOTELS IN FLORENCE---2014

SMALL B&Bs Prices from 140 to 200E for a double room
• http://www.touristhouseghiberti.com/ Nice B&B near Duomo

• www.ilvillino.it Nice people and good value

• www.ladimoradegliangeli.com Lovely B&B—great location

• www.residenzailcarmine.com/ Well priced apartments


MID –RANGE HOTELS: Prices from 150 to 300E by season

* www.hoteldavanzati.it Great location and amenities

* www.hotelcasci.com Good family hotel in centro location

* www.hotelsilla.it Across the river with less noise & people

* www.ilguelfobianco.it Hard to beat for location and service

* www.hotelburchianti.it/english/ Great location---historic hotel

BETTER 4 STAR HOTELS: Prices from 250 to 350E by season

• www.hotel-pierre-florence.com Very central elegant hotel

• www.monnalisa.it An elegant historical palace—Santa Croce



BUDGET HOTELS---BEST VALUE: Priced from 90 to 120E for double

* www.hotelfiorita.com/en/home.html Great value near station

* www.hotelnizza.com/en/ Also near station---basic but nice

annhig

Hi pjj, thanks for taking my remarks in good part! we are trying to help, honestly.

really even with a poss 4 nights in Rome, that's probably not long enough to warrant an apartment, especially for 2 of you. IMO it's not worth the hassle of buying supplies, keeping the place clean and tidy, and then having to decide what to do with everything you haven't used. a week, yes, but for less time, no.

The Albergo del Senato in Rome, near the Pantheon, is just about as central as you can get could be just about within your budget especially if you book several nights, and it has got consistently good reviews here:

http://www.albergodelsenato.it

if you want something cheaper and don't mind a bit of a walk/using buses, the hotel we stayed at round the back of St Peter's [some rooms have a view of the Dome] is good value and in a nice neighbourhood.

http://www.hotelgravinasanpietro.it/

dwdvagamundo

tt for Florence hotel list. Thanks Bob.

For the OP, agree with annhig on impracticality of apartments for this short trip.

I would advise you to do what I always do: start with tripadvisor.com to see what's available where. Albergo Del Senato has gotten a lot of really good reviews on this board and I plan to stay there next time we're in Rome, so see if you can get a room there, and then try tripadvisor for the other cities. Sort of late to book, though.

pjjcm

Bob - thanks. Really comprehensive info.

Annhig. thanks Good point on the short term issues with an apartment. I'll check out that hotel , especially as the Pantheon was my favourite building in Rome. Just breathtaking in its scale and condition.

Dwd. Thank you.

annhig

pjj - don't get me wrong. for families and/or longer stays apartments can be great but on a short trip for a couple it's rarely worth it. il Albergo del Senato is a bit expensive for me but had I the cash, I'd definitely be aiming at staying there, could I drag DH to Rome, which i love and he is indifferent to. Though perhaps if we'd stayed there.....

good luck with finding places you like at a price you can afford.

sandralist

I have to disagree about apartments for a couple your age for 4 nights. They usually offer more space and for your budget you could have a terrace or other features that could be really charming. I also much prefer to have breakfast alone and to eat things other than typically offered at even the nicest Italian hotel on its breakfast buffet. Otherwise I don't use the kitchen to cook and I don't have any trouble keeping anything tidy. In fact I prefer not to worry about keeping my stuff out of the way of daily housekeeping. But I just like more space than most Rome hotel rooms offer.

This is a rental agency I like to use for Rome. You can reserve with a credit card and the places I have had came with good heating or air con as needed and wifi and good customer service.

http://www.romeloft.com/

Last time I looked the prices at Albergo del Senato would not be within your budget (in particular for October). I have stayed there more than once and stopped after a poor experience of too much late night noise in a room overlooking the piazza. But you should look and also look on booking.com for well reviewed hotels that are more solidly within your budget.

sandralist

I meant to add that for Florence I highly recommend Tourist House Ghiberti. You can find it reviewed and prices on booking.com. In general the reviews on booking.com are most trustworthy than TripAdvisor because the only people who are allowed to post reviews there are people whom the hotel confirms stayed there. Anybody can register on TripAdvisor and write a wonderful review of a hotel even if they never stayed there.

pjjcm

Annhig and Sandralist

Thank you both. I'll do a report once the trip is over.

pjjcm

Hi all

Just thought I'd do a short report on the trip.

Stayed in Florence at the Hotel Pendini as none of the B and B's we looked could accommodate our late arrival. In a very central location within walking distance of all the major attractions. Would happily recommend it - helpful staff , spotlessly clean. Rooms perhaps a little small but overall pretty decent for a 3 star hotel.

Took the train to Venice (which we decided to take in instead of Siena) and stayed for a couple of nights in the Aqua Palace Hotel which we loved. Very boutiquey but with great staff and very reasonably priced - really nice touch was a complimentary bottle of fizz on ice for our anniversary , which was brought to our room on arrival . Good location about halfway between St Mark's Square and the Rialto.

First time in Venice and we were blown away by it , especially at night when the Cruise tourists have gone and , during the day, off the beaten track a bit.

Then stayed in Rome for 4 nights at the Albergo Del Senato (thanks Annhig)which we really liked.

The location is simply incredible , with the rooftop bar looking over the Pantheon and the hotel front door opening straight on to the Piazza in front of it. It IS a bit expensive for what is inside the hotel and the breakfast which isn't wonderful(although our room was quite large)but , for me, it's location is worth it.

Thanks to everyone for their help above.

PJJCM

annhig

Glad that the trip was such a success, pjjcm and that you liked the Albergo Del Senato.

Now that you've got the Italy bug, where next?

pjjcm

Annhig ,

Thanks. Not sure where next. Won't be for a while yet!

I'll log in for more good advice when I'm going out again.

What about yourself?

annhig

pjjcm - I've signed up for a trip to Venice with my italian class next February. We will attend language classes in the morning and explore Venice /take excursions in the afternoon. I've been to venice several times but never in Carnevale so that should be an interesting experience!

Apart from that we have nothing planned as such, but DH keeps talking about Cuba. [easier and cheaper for us brits to get too than it is for americans but i'm not sure that i'm that keen]

dwdvagamundo

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bvlenci

My husband and I once went to Venice for a few days during Carnevale. I have to say that I have an aversion to crowds, but I loved Carnevale. Certain places and events were very crowded, but it was very easy to get away from the crowds and find squares where neighborhood festivities were in full swing. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did, Annhig!.

annhig

thanks, bvl.

i'm really looking forward to seeing Venice en fete but I have a sartorial dilemma - do I take my cloak?I have a floor length black cloak which would fit with the carnevale theme very well but if we hit aqua alta it could be a bit of a millstone round my neck. Thoughts anyone?

michele_d

Sure sounds like the cloak would keep you toasty warm. Just head to the raised planks if the water starts to rise.