Hi. I am researching B&amp;B's as an alternative to a hotel in Rome and Venice for our honeymoon. We are looking for a place &quot;off the beaten path&quot; so we can indulge ourselves in the local culture. We'll still see the sights, but want do not want to stay in hte middle of them.<BR><BR>If anyone has any recommendations, I would love to hear them! Thank you!

I can't offer advice on any specific place, but we used a company that offers both B &amp; B and apartments. Their website is here:<BR><BR>http://www.b-b.rm.it/index.htm<BR><BR>They were extremely helpful and friendly - they helped us find a fabulous place with a reasonable price in a central location at the last minute!<BR><BR>We stayed in an apartment, which you might want to consider, particularly if you want some privacy and to indulge in the local culture. We stayed off the Campo de Fiori, which is very central but not too busy (it's ref #1), and it was fun to buy food for the apartment in the local markets and to go to our apartment - made us feel like real locals!<BR><BR>Good luck - and congratulations!

Hi Mere. Like Andrea, we also used the Bed &amp; Breakfast Association of Rome. Two years ago, in Rome, we had a very nice, and inexpensive, B&amp;B in the Prati district (between the Vatican and the Tiber) for seven nights. The older woman whose apartment we stayed in spoke very little English (and we spoke very little Italian) so it was disappointing we couldn't converse with her about Rome but, other than that, no problems. <BR><BR>While we liked staying in that district -- and liked the particular B&amp;B a lot -- it wouldn't be my first choice of an area in which to stay. If I were you, I'd look for a B&amp;B in the Centro Storico or close by. However, if you're interested in the one we stayed at, I'd be glad to re-visit that website and find it for you. Please let me know.

For what it's worth, I looked ours up anyway. We stayed in Ref. 22 - &quot;Libert&agrave;&quot;. Currently 82 euros/night. Huge room with large private bath across the hall. <BR><BR>http://www.b-b.rm.it/accommodations/bb_nw.htm

Andrea and capo:<BR>Thank you both for the information. I took a quick look at the website and it seems like it will be very helpful!!! I will take a closer look this weekend and hopefully will get a idea of what we want. <BR><BR>I have a feeling that I am spending way too much time researching!<BR><BR>Thank you again for your responses!!<BR>Mere

Venice-La Calcina.

I second La Calcina,,,ask for a corner room with a view of the canal.<BR><BR>We were there last June. Dinner there was quite good and reasonably priced.