Special hotels in Florence and Venice

Here you go. Each of these are fantastic. Different shades and different tastes each one.

Florence:
http://www.villacora.it/
http://www.palazzomagnaniferoni.com/
http://www.jkplace.com/
http://helvetiabristol.warwickhotels.com/

My husband and I had the most fantastic time here last April and didn't break the bank either: http://www.italiancollection.com/en/la-casa-del-garbo.html

Thanks Dobermina. WebmasterTV - Almost all the hotels you mentioned are in the Euro 500 or up category....

Topping...

My favorite hotel experience in Florence over many visits were my two stays at Antica Torre Tournbuoni. Large and lovely rooms with private terraces (select rooms), breakfast room with a view and great location. Not full service but we do not need it.

We love Grand Hotel delle Minerve in Rome. Rooftop lounge is delightful as is the inside lobby bar. Rooms are good sized and comfortably appointed.

We also have a wonderful stay 18 months ago at Sofitel Roma. Rooftop terrace is great for a bottle of wine.

Thanks kfusto. Yes, have shortlisted the Tournbuoni for them already.

Any ideas on Venice?

Hello Deepa, Here is my Venice list--hope it helps:

BOB’S FAVORITE HOTELS IN VENICE:

BEST MID-RANGE 3 STAR HOTELS: Prices will vary from 140 to 250E

• www.locandaorseolo.com Rave reviews in good location

• www.lacalcina.com Popular hotel in Dorsoduro on Zattere

• www.pensioneaccademia.it A Venice standard on Grand Canal

• www.cadeidogi.it Small hotel in Castello with decent prices

• www.cortegrimani.com Diverse family apts. in good location

SMALL B&Bs: PRICES VARY FROM 100E TO 220E AND BY SEASON

• www.locandabarbarigo.com Love this location—only 5 rooms

• www.corte1321.com Helpful hosts in San Polo area

• www.guesthouse.it Great value but not my favorite location

NICER 4 STAR HOTELS: prices range from 250 to 500E—vary by season

• www.ponteantico.com Lovely new place at Rialto on Grand Canal

• www.capisani.it Boutique hotel near Accademia Bridge

• www.liassidpalacehotel.com Lovely amenities in Castello

• http://hotel-venezia-metropole.com/ Fabulous location but pricey

WILD CARD OPTIONS: Hotel & apartment options with good prices:

• www.hotelmessner.it Well priced rooms & apts. in Dorsoduro

• http://www.palazzettodaschio.it/ Apts. in a real 16th century villa

We love the Pensione Accademia ini Venice, which used to be the Russian Embassy. It is quiet, with a lovely garden to lounge in in the back and a front terrace area where you can eat outside in good weather. It has a great location, is elegant and has never disappointed us in 5 stays there including our honeymoon some years ago.

Pensione Accademia above is great (where I stayed 5 times in the past - somewhat smaller rooms, especially standard rooms) as is la Calcina. Both got more expensive in recent years but easily within your budget. Great locations but they are 3*, great but no luxurious if that's what you are looking for.

For a bit more luxuary, I recommend Foscari Palace 4* across the Grand Canal from the Rialto fish market. You might be able to get a deluxe double with Grand Canal view with your budget. I'm just guessing but a few years ago we paid € 165.- for such a room and it was a deam stay. It was November low season rate. Don't miss the roof top terrase for free access the guests. The following year we returned and stayed at their best huge Gonzaga Suite, what a room it was, 3 windows with standing balcony facing GC. €240 again for low season rate. That was more than what we usually pay but it was so worth and considering Venice, Grand Canal view and the room size (bath room was huge too with tub and separate shower booth), it was really a bargain. End of October may rather be middle season than high, so you better ask for both categories for the rates. I always reserved sending emails, they usually were quick and responsive.

http://www.hotelfoscaripalace.com/eng/foscari/home.asp

You can check reviews on tripadvisor.com, Myself I posted two with lots of photots.

We stayed in October at Hotel de la Commedia in Venice. It was recently opened and was lovely with large rooms and wonderful bathrooms. Location was very good. Beds were hard though.

I also enjoyed the Monaco and Grand Canal several years ago. I am not a fan of the style of the older grand dame Venetian hotels like the Danieli (stayed there in 2002) and prefer a hotel that goes easy on the brocade - not too easy to find.

Locanda Orseolo gets great reviews.

I loved the Al Teatro B&B - the Amber Room with Balcony. Lovely to sit on the balcony and listen to the gondoliers serenading their customers as they pass by the balcony.

www.bedandbreakfastalteatro.it

Melissa

Thanks very much for all your very useful replies. Nice to see you Bob.

I took my wife to Hotel Guelfo Bianco for our anniversary
http://www.ilguelfobianco.it/
It's in the historic centre of Florence and really cozy, it's like an "art hotel"...

Hi,

In Venice I highly recommend the Metropole. It has a lot of character and the rooms were lovely. Location is great, on Riva degli Schiavoni facing the lagoon.

We loved the Ca dei Conti in Venice. The location is good, and our pretty room overlooked a lovely little canal.

http://www.cadeiconti.com/

Byrd

I will sing the praises of Hotel Abadessa. http://www.abadessa.com/en/ It was simply an amazing place to stay on our second visit to Venice. Like most, we opted for close to San Marco on our first stay and found a perfectly fine place then. But the second time around we opted to go further afield - Cannaregio. Who knew it could be so central? It seemed like none of the main attraction were more than 15 or 20 mins walk in any direction. And the Ca d'Oro stop is hardly two "blocks" by States standards. But the hotel itself is incredible - friendly staff, lovely room with good size bath, sumptuous breakfast in the garden weather permitting, and back to the garden in the evening for a complementary apperitivo. I want to go back - NOW!

So, why not Ca' dei Conti?
It's an 18th century palazzo, the atmosphere is really romantic and it's in the historic centre of Venice, near Saint Mark...
http://www.cadeiconti.com/

In Florence, we stayed at the Hotel Montreal. Book on laterooms.com or other website. Directly, they can cost more. Air conditioned, lift for the first 3 floors, ask for floor 3, decent one star. 10-15 minute walk to the train station. Only bad thing was the doors are locked at 12:00, midnight, but we are not night owls, so no problem for us.

Bookmarking. Thanks!

I recommend Hotel Torino http://www.hoteltorino.com/
It's elegant and romantic and it's very close to city centre, Saint Mark Square and Rialto.

This thread goes back to 2009 and the couple took their trip to Italy in October 2009. I sometimes don't notice the date of a thread either, sybilvane.

Hi Deepa,

In Venice I recommend you Hotel Ai Due Principi http://www.hotelaidueprincipi.com/

It's a 4 star hotel really near St. Mark's Square in the Castello District, one of the most typical in Venice.
All junior suite has a splendid view of the canal.

Bookmarking...