Just booked hotels in Rome, Florence and Milan. The first Thing I do is pull out a detailed map of the area and decide where I want the to spend most of my time. I try to find a hotel within my price in that area.

But I always end with a really nice hotel. It's a nice way to end a vacation.

What specifically is your itinerary...starting in Rome or Venice? How many days in each location? We can much better make suggestions if we have a better idea regarding this. Which locations will just be the two of you?

What, specifically, is your budget (in dollars or euros) per night?

Thank you Challenger for your response. We are looking at where we want to spend the most time, which is clear in Florence, but it is a bit overwhelming in Rome. I like the idea of ending with a really nice hotel, thank you.

Our itinerary starts in Rome for 3 days, then Florence for 3 days, then Florence for 4, Lake Como for 3 days, then 3 days in the five little villages on the italian Riveria. At the end we fly out of Milan, so there will be one night there. Our budget in in the 100 to 200 euros, preferably the lower end of that range, but there is leeway.

Hi Venus-Maher,
We stayed in a great 2 bedroom apt this year in Rome. It is right next to Campo dei Fiori, although not right on the square. It is 135 euro a night. The open air market is held daily in the Campo. It is fun to roam around and pick up some fixings for a few meals.

http://www.sleepinitaly.com/rome/campo-dei-fiori/apartment-balestrari

In Bellagio on Lake Como, look at staying in an apartment:

http://www.residencelalimonera.com/