I am planning a trip with my wife to Rome, Florence and Venice in June. Can someone tell me what the difference is between a 3-star hotel and a 4-star hotel? If I am looking for a clean, quiet and safe hotel for the purpose of sleeping and showering will a 3-star hotel be OK?

Dear Patrick,<BR><BR>DO NOT STAY IN A 3 STAR HOTEL UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.

We are booked in a 3* for May and although I haven't seen it yet it got good reviews from the rants and raves page at Fodors

BECAUSE... they do not have toilets. If you want a toilet you MUST stay in a 4 * hotel. Also, they will not give you any sheets or towels. You will have to supply your own, and they can be a pain to pack--especially when wet. If you or your significant other/s have bladder control problems, both the lack of toilet and sheets could pose a real problem. Good Luck, and be prepared to fork out the bucks. <BR>God bless.

I disagree with Sam. Admittedly, when I stayed in some two star hotels I had to bring my own sheets, towels, and butt tape, but never in a three star hotel. They have everything you need, except the doors do not lock. That's the biggest drawback, but if you're feeling lucky, I say go for it!

Obviously the high school sophomores are trying very hard to be amusing on this thread. All three and four star hotels are en suite. The only difference is the price. Even two star hotels can be charming and yes the sheets,towels are included.

I generally stay in three star hotels and am very happy. As far as I know the main difference between a three and four star is that the four star must have room service and a full restaurant. If those things are important to you, do not stay at a three star.

As the last Patrick says, three stars can be very nice; so can two stars. <BR>If you're choosing between 3 and 4, I often think in terms of value to go for a top 3-star rather than a tired 4-star. These government ratings are complicated. They have nothing to do with location for example, but can be affected by factors such as the size of the lobby, number of hours the front desk is staffed or the bar is open, etc.<BR>An explanation of the government star ratings for hotels: www.umbria.org/eng/turismo/legenda.htm<BR>I think ratings from past hotel guests such as appear on this message board and<BR>elsewhere on this Fodor's website in the hotel sections, can tell you a lot more specifics about a hotel than just the gov't rating.

Patrick:<BR><BR>The star ratings for Italian hotels do not consider several of the elements that a patron may think important. For example, cleanliness & quality of customer service aren't factored into their equation. As you state, you're seeking clean, quiet & safe accommadations --- all can be found in 3-star rated hotels. In addition to looking at commentary on this board, also check the Rants & Raves section.<BR><BR>You can ignore the ramblings of sam. His commentary is incorrect.<BR><BR>

I got mixed up. I was thinking that the stars rating meant something like sleeping out under the stars.<BR><BR>Sorry.<BR>