I've about settled on a hotel in each city--any real issues with these choices? (Sept-Oct trip)

Residence Corte Grimani (or La Locandiera) in Venice
Hotel Casci in Florence
Hotel Lancelot in Rome

Thanks!!

Jeff, we're staying in Hotel Casci for our May trip. I will post a report once we get back.

In the meantime, I choose it because of the great reviews both here, and under www.tripadvisor.com.

Sorry, I can't be more specific.

Hotel Casci and Hotel Europa in Florence (across the street from each other) are both very much budget hotels -- clean, very basic, and very budget. I think my expectations were a little off because the general reviews and praise were so glowing -- but just remember that means these are good budget hotels. I prefer Casci to Europa because Casci had a tiny bar area to de-compress and review your plans, etc. The rooms aren't pleasant enough where you want to do much more than sleep and shower in them, so having a public area is a benefit.

In Florence, I'd stay in an apartment in a second. We were able to talk this woman down to 100 E/night but we ended up not staying here and at Europa instead. That was a mistake.

http://www.perfectplaces.com/7606

Try Tourist House Ghiberti in Florence. Lovely small (6 rooms)ab couple of blocks behind the duomo. Has large rooms, a sauna and hot tub for use.

In Rome, try Hotel Santa Maria in Trastavere. Across the river in a quaint part of Rome, but easy to get everywhere. (See reviews in Tripadvisor)

Another recommendation of Tourist House Ghiberti in Florence, with one proviso: This is a B&B and not a hotel.

The front desk is manned for about 18 hours a day, and the staff is helpful with inquiries, reservations, etc. There is a nice breakfast, a small outdoor terrace but no real lobby. You let yourself into the building, the hotel and your room by using a card key. For people who like/need the atmosphere and amenities of a hotel, this might not be the best place.

On the plus side, the rooms are large, and the bathrooms are huge. Each room has a large flat-screen TV, desk-top computer with free internet access, a safe and good lighting for reading. There's a bus stop immediately in front of the building and a good pharmacy across the street.

try to go on www.nycerome.com; www.nyceFlorence.com and www.nycevenice.com: there are a lot of pictures and maps, it'ss better to choose your accomodation, and the help desk staff of the sites is very efficient, you can ask for more information and they will quickly help you... I experienced that by myself, it works!

we had planned to book hotel Lancelot in Rome also, until we saw a post by FRANCO saying that the only area that is unsafe in Rome at night is area between Colesseum and St.John Lateran, which I believe is where Lancelot is located.

Jeff-Hotel Lancelot is a wonderful choice, as I said previously, particularly because they serve home-cooked dinners, where you have the opportunity to meet fellow travelers, and the dinners are very reasonably priced. I think you'll like it a lot-and given that as a solo female I've walked all around the Colisseum area at night and have had no problems, so I'm quite sure you won't either! In fact, there is no place in central Rome, including Termini, that I haven't walked around at night, and even late at night, by myself, and had any problems whatever.

Casci is a great choice, with that frescoed ceiling, it may be budget, but it's a very nice budget hotel, and it could not be better located.

As to your Venice hotels, I would go with Residence Corte Grimani over La Locandiera-La L is not quite a 3 star hotel, even though it is billed as one-there is no reception area whatsoever, you come into a tiny hallway and then there is a front desk and a tiny breakfast room. That's it-and then a staircase leading up to the rooms. It's very close to San Marco, but I would go with the Residence-much nicer overall than La L-although the staff at La L are very nice.

I dont believe the statement about "the only dangerous area in Rome." We stayed in the Caelian for a week last year, and walked all around that area without seeing anything that gave us pause. Via da Capo di Africa is up the hill from where we were (Via San Quattro Coronati), and the neighborhood is quite nice, as well as containing some amazing historic churches, some nice little places to eat and a good small street (fruit and veg) market. Its also extremely easy to get around from there. Good choice.

re the Venice situation, the Corte Grimani residence looks like its right about on the Frezzeria, the most heavily tourist impacted street in Venice. If youre going there (personally I wouldnt want to be staying in that area, I much prefer getting out to one of the quieter parts) make sure you get a quiet room. The La Locandiera looks like it might be a little more peaceful, based on its map location.

Hi Jeff.

We stayed at Hotel Lancelot last September. I also saw that mention by Franco in his Rome report about the area and was a little concerned but went ahead with my original plan.
We loved the hotel and its location and at no time did we feel unsafe walking in the area.

I guess the important thing to remember is that is just one person's opinion and when you look at the reviews of the Lancelot on this forum and on Trip Advisor you get many opinions and almost all are favourable and none mention anything about the area being unsafe.

Have a great trip.

We stayed at the Corte Grimani last summer and loved it! The location is close to St. Mark's, but is far enough back to provide a respite from the hustle and bustle.

In addition, the staff (Guido and his sister who's name excapes me) are wonderful. They were so nice, so helpful and so friendly -- they added to the enjoyment of our stay.

There were 14 in our party, and we would all go back in a minute.

Let me post this on the appropriate thread:

Author: Girlspytravel
Date: 04/15/2007, 03:17 pm
Uh, Via Capo d'Africa is a "dangerous" area? Sorry, but FRANCO doesn't know what he's talking about. It's really a ridiculous statement. I think if you look at the many positive and recent reviews of Lancelot, you'll see that everyone gives the LOCATION very favorable remarks.

I think in 26 years of going to Rome I ought to have a pretty good idea about what areas are "dangerous" and what areas aren't. And the truth is, I've roamed all over, by myself, late at night, (certainly this last September-around the Termini/Esquilino area at night). Never given it a second thought, never had a problem. While Rome is not the place it was several years ago, it's much more the big impersonal city than previously, there is NOTHING to be afraid of anywhere around the tourist centers of central Rome, and particularly the area around the Lancelot-sheesh!

Reassuring posts. We'll be staying at Hotel Lancelot in November.