gillybrit

I think I have decided to stay in pisa for my short visit to tuscany in May, mainly because of easy access to the airport (we have an early flight home) but also because it seems like a good bard to travel from using public tramdportation. Hoping somebody could recommend a hotel or B and B centrally located but not too close to the hoards coming to visit the tower. Hoping to keep to a budget of about $100 per night,so needless to say nothing fancy. Just clean, with friendly staff a and a decent breakfast. I will need wifi to keep in touch with my family. Any restaurant suggestions welcome too, as well as day trip suggestions. Thanks!

Andrew

A couple of years ago, I spent two nights in Pisa; they were consecutive nights but I changed hotels (mostly being frugal). The two places were around the block from each other, almost directly in the center of Pisa (if you look on a map, right on the Arno river). One was a budget B&B/Hostel that was OK but not particularly memorable.

The other was the old Royal Victoria Hotel, which I chose because I wanted to enjoy a faded classic hotel (this was 2011 - not sure the hotel has been renovated; it sure needed it then). I knew what it was but still wanted to stay there, just to imagine what it must have been in its heyday. Even if you don't stay there, it's fun to walk up the marble staircase, see the public spaces, etc. and imagine what once was.

This part of town is kind of gritty, a lot of students, but it also doesn't feel touristy, even though it's not too far from the Field of Miracles where the Tower is. It is worth walking up and down the Arno if you have time, just to check out some of the interviewing buildings.

A lot of people will suggest you stay in nearby Lucca, which is in many ways much nicer but a different kind of town. Lucca felt like a bit of a maze to me - I liked it but didn't love it. Pisa feels like a more "working city" other than the area around the Tower.

dfourh

Yeah, definitely stay in Lucca. Pisa is a neutral bit of sun-blanched monotone nothing except for the tower. Lucca you can master with a bicycle - - riding completely around the town on the city wall - - delving into the gorgeous center, on streets where the tourists don't go (there is a bit of a tourist ant stream from the bus park west of town to the amphitheatre - - but outside of that it is pure medieval wonderland).

dfourh

Here's some Lucca piccies (they start about mid-page at this link - - the top pix are Viareggio): https://www.flickr.com/photos/dougla...4102329/page2/

I stayed at the Hotel Rex, which is steps from the train station (perfect for ease of arrival and easy daytripping), great rates but still super quality, free bikes for guests.

rbciao47

In 2012 we flew into Pisa from JFK and we stayed at the Hotel Bologna. If you book through their website they provide free shuttle service to and from their location. We easily found their van at the airport and were taken to the hotel. When we departed they took us to the train station. Easy, easy and the property is very nice with an extremely friendly staff.

Buon viaggio,

gillybrit

Thanks. Is the hotel bologna in pisa? If so what did you think of pisa itself? I'm hearing some negative stuff..

Andrew

Around the central train station in Pisa is pretty dirty (like many cities). Between there and the river is kind of a nice shopping street. Along the river as I said it's a bit gritty and sometimes dirty, with a lot of students from the nearby university. There are some interesting buildings along the river and on the way from the river up toward the Tower. And the area by the Tower is super touristy.

I wouldn't call Pisa "nice" but it is an interesting town. It's certainly not a tourist's idea of an idyllic Italian town. Lucca is much more "idyllic" if you want to call it that.

sandralist

I once booked here, but then had to change my plans, so can't give a personal recommendation. But you should be able to find reviews online.

http://blogs.channel4.com/paul-mason...-finished/3395

There are many people who like Pisa and many people who don't. Likewise Lucca.

sandralist

Sorry! I gave you a link to a news story I was reading instead of the hotel in Pisa!

Here is the right link:

http://www.relaissassetti.it

sandralist

also, if you do decide to stay Pisa, here are some tips

http://www.europeanbestdestinations....inations/pisa/

Belinda

Pisa is so much more than a leaning tower. If you take the time to explore, you may be richly rewarded.

stevelyon

Belinda, I will have to revisit as I absolutely hated the place and found very few redeeming features. What have I missed?

RosieCharb

We also made a quick trip to Pisa during our trip to Italy. Trying to avoid large, hectic cities, we decided to stay in Lucca. We absolutely loved it! It's a walled city and a quick train ride to Pisa. We stayed at the Hotel Universo which was barely a 10 minute walk to the train station, and after a busy day it was nice to get back to the quaint little town of Lucca to walk around, relax and eat dinner.

klondike

We have stayed at the Hotel Bologna in Pisa before. It is a very nice hotel in the historic center but on the opposite side of the river from the more "happening" Tower side. It was a 10-15 minute enjoyable walk to cross the river to Piazza Garibaldi and the heart of old town. For Service/comfort I would choose Hotel Bologa again, for location I would be willing to try Hotel Victoria right on the river...the river is very Romantic at night. We have stayed at a B & B on the Borgo Stretto that is the main little street that runs up from Piazza Garibaldi...wouldn't stay on Borgo Stetto again, especially on a weekend--Waaay to noisy with the party-hearty people but great fun if you want to party, I guess.

rbciao47

gillybrit,

Hotel Bologna is in Pisa on a very quiet street a block from the river. It is also very close to the university section. The Torre and Campo are located about a 15 minute walk.

Pisa is a very quiet locale and it seems it closes around 9 in the evening. We are in our 60's and it was nice place to recover from a transatlantic flight. We went to the Torre and browsed around awhile and spent the other days doing whatever.

We did take a train day trip to Le Cinque Terre to see Vernazza and Monterossa AlMare, both of which were jammed.

Buon viaggio,

annhig

stevelyon, once the tourist hoards have gone home, Pisa becomes a different place, particularly the Campo dei Miracoli which really lives up to its name, especially at night when all the monuments are lit up, and stay open till quite late too.

here are the opening times etc:

www.opapisa.it

Even one evening is very worthwhile - i can never get over the fact that at a time that most Brits were living in mud huts, someone was creating these "miraculous" buildings.

Byrd

I agree with other suggestions that you consider staying in Lucca, which we loved. We took the short (not much longer than half and hour) bus ride to Pisa.

This was several years ago, but at that time we were very pleased with Hotel Palazzo Alexander.

We did spend a night in Pisa on another trip, and would not staying overnight there.

Byrd

Byrd

The Palazzo Alexander is in Lucca, not Pisa, in case I didn't make that clear!

tarquin

Lucca has more charm than Pisa and transport to the airport on the train is very easy from Lucca.

sandralist

Lucca is a really boring place.