cbgetaway2015

Hello again,
For those of you who have been following/helping my plan this is a new post for the next step in the planning of our 2015 trip to Italy
For those of you just tuning in... My husband and I (29 and 32 at time of travel) are taking a three week trip to Italy May of 2015. Our flights are now booked and we have a base itinerary. My next step is to book our accommodations. (Hence this post)
This will be our first international trip, so I've been researching every chance I get. Fodors has been a favorite resource. I am also using Trip Advisor, Google Maps, Rick Steve's guide book, Slow Travel, and a few other sites that have been recommended by some of you For accommodations I have been searching mainly on trip advisor based on ratings and our budget. (Average of €100 per night...planning €200 max for Venice) then I have been checking location on google maps. We would like to be in walking distance to the major sites in Siena, Florence and Rome or at least not too far, and as long as the area is not too sketchy. As far as the Cinque Terre we are leaning toward Riomaggiore or Vernazza.
In this thread I will be posting my questions and findings as I continue my hotel/b&b research. I am totally open to your suggestions and recommendations.
One more little note. I know several of you feel strongly about renting a car for the Tuscan stretch of our trip but after much consideration my husband and I have decided to avoid that this trip and have adjusted our plans accordingly. We realize that this will limit us a bit but with the expense and the potential stress we have let that idea go.


Original post:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ional-trip.cfm

Itinerary:

1. Sunday: leave Seattle
2.Monday: arrive Venice (Marco Polo)
3.Tuesday: Venice
4.Wednesday: Venice
5.Thursday: Venice
6.Friday: Venice
7.Saturday: train to 5t
8.Sunday: 5t
9.Monday: 5T
10.Tuesday: train to Florence (day trip stop in Pisa)
11 Wednesday: Florence
12.Thursday: Florence
13.Friday: bus to Siena sleep Siena
14.Saturday: day trip to Volterra by bus (sleep in Siena)
15.Sunday: Siena
16.Monday: travel to Rome
17.Tuesday: Rome
18.Wednesday: Rome
19.Thursday: Rome
20.Friday: Rome
21.Saturday: fly/arrive
22. Sunday: recovery

cbgetaway2015

These are my four Venice front runners based on their reviews, locations, and price. I have emailed each of these on this list and have gotten prompt replies confirming price and availablility for my needed dates. Please tell me of any experiences you have personally had with these hotels or neighborhoods. Thank you.

Albergo Marin: near the train station. (Lowest price and plainest of top 4)
Domina Home Ca' Zusto: near train station
Hotel Galleria: near the Accademia Bridge with canal view
Ca'San Trovaso: also near Accademia Bridge with canal view

cbgetaway2015

My favorite Cinque Terre accommodation I have found is Alla Marina in Riomaggiore. When I inquired about 2015 prices they promptly replied and requested that I check back in October because they do not know yet.
In your experience of booking the Cinque Terre is it wise for me to wait? Obviously I will keep a plan b, c and possibly d just in case, but I would like reassurance that waiting til October still allows plenty of time to book other places in Le Cinque Terre for May.

caze17

I stayed here in Venice last year and thought it was a great location with a good continental breakfast. Modest accommodations but great price and wonderful owner.

http://www.aitagliapietra.com/

It was originally recommended to me by jamikins, I believe.

In Rome, we booked an apartment in Trastevere, which was a nice change to have some more space and have a small kitchen. Not sure if you are going the apartment route, but might be worth checking out.

http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/rentals/rome/110408

kakt

Try Tourist House Ghiberti in Florence. Just behind the Duomo. Lovely B&B. Great location.

cbgetaway2015

Thanks for the suggestions.
@caze I actually looked at and liked aitagliapietra!
@kakt the tourist house shows potential! Great location!

I would absolutely consider an apartment if the price was right, and the location was convenient and safe.
Holidaylettings looks interesting. I will definitely check into that option.

RonZ

Forence: The Hotel Pendini. Nicely run, perfectly located.

jamikins

Was going to recommend
http://www.aitagliapietra.com/ but caze beat me to it . Glad you enjoyed it caze!!

jelena11

I can reccomend you Vittoria rooms in Vernazza (http://smart-travel.hr/en/holiday/ro...-cinque-terre/). In Venice I stayed in agrotourism around Venice (Altrove) and it was great.

desro

I stayed at Albergo Marin a few years ago and enjoyed it very much. Location is great, and as you stated,
close to the train station, which made it very easy to walk to.

cbgetaway2015

Great feedback! Loving the looks of all of your suggestions. Does anyone know anything about the Hotel Dali in Florence? They seem to be a good location with decent ratings and a good price.

cbgetaway2015

Update: based on suggestions (thank you again), reviews, budget (average €100 per night with a €200 max), and location here are my top choices for each of my stops. The "*" indicates one I'm favoring for one reason or another. If you have personal experience with ANY of these places and would like to share I would LOVE the help making my final decisions. Note: the prices I've listed are rough (tho most are confirmed) and do not include city tax etc.


VENICE:
-Albergo Marin: Near train station €130 per night
-*Hotel Galleria: Near Accadamia Bridge €170 per night with canal view
-Dominia Home Ca'Zusto: Near train station €180 per night
-Ca'San Trovaso: Near Accadamia Bridge €180 with canal view less for no view

CINQUE TERRE:
-Alla Marina (Riomaggiore) told to inquire back later for 2015 price
-Vittoria Rooms (Vernazza) €120 for "sole" but €180 for whole apartment with both rooms. I am interested I the "Luna" room with the private bathroom but somehow did not get a price for just that room.

FLORENCE:
-*Hotel Dali: Very centrally located €85 per night
-Hotel Pendini: €131 per night with 10% VAT (see question below please)
-The Tourist House Ghiberti: No 2015 prices yet. 2014 price €150 per night

SIENA:
-Hotel Garden: 20 min walk from center. Waiting for rate.
-Albergo Bernini: located in Center €85 per night

ROME: As I expected The Eternal City has been the most overwhelming when it comes to lodgings. There are so many options, prices, neighborhoods. I don't even have a top list yet for Rome, and the prices are based on trip advisor and not confirmed (hence they are in $) so here are some that have stood out to me...
-Conte House: Near/between colosseum and train station. Very basic $76 per night?
-Aldebaran- Near train station $136 per night?
-B&B I Racconti di Roma: Centrally located $134 per night?
-Casa Di Silvia: Near center/train station $123 per night?
-Hotel Golden: Central location €140ish per night based on website

VAT? 10% Should I expect this everywhere?

Pepper_von_snoot

You do know that you have to pay a tax (must be played in CASH) to sleep in Venice don't you? Tax is PER PERSON, not room.

Thin

cbgetaway2015

Yes I am aware that it is per person, per night. It looked like it was 2-5 euros per person, per night depending on the city. This is the city tax I was referring to in the beginning of my last post.

My question is about VAT. One hotel said an additional 10% would be added for this. I didn't see it in the fine print of the other places. So again... Should I expect this everywhere?

cbgetaway2015

Or is VAT just good old fashioned tax and I am making it out to be more than it is?

tuscanlifeedit

cb: we stayed at Tourist House Ghiberti in March and I liked it very much. I thought it was a good value and well located.

It's very clean, there is a computer in the bedroom, lots of extras including tea and coffee maker, fine breakfast spread (typical in any case). I would stay there again.

The owner is very quiet; very quiet. He won't chat you up and if you're looking for a more personal touch, I think the Hotel Pendini would suit: they are much more likely to be friendly and helpful, although the rooms at Tourist House G are nicer.

If you can go to Florence with all your plans made, reservations, maps, etc. you would be fine with THG. I've stayed in several budget places in Florence and I thought it was by far the most pleasant in terms of accommodations.

kja

For the Cinque Terre, have you considered La Torretta in Manarola?
http://www.torrettas.com

tarquin

For VENICE, look into Corte 1321

www.corte1321.com

I would eliminate the Hotel Galleria from your list - our room there was abysmal, and I am not that fussy.

cbgetaway2015

Tuscanlifeedit... Thanks for the info I will keep that in mind.

Kja... I have considered La toretta. It looks amazing but it is a bit more pricey then my other two choices. However I have not ruled it out.

Tarquin... Corte1321 looks great! Can you please give me some specifics about Hotel Galleria that you didn't like?

cbgetaway2015

Also I heard back from Hotel garden in Siena. Their rate is €97 per night .