Budget Hotel Recommendations For Italy and Spain
 

My five friends and myself will be traveling to Italy (Florence, Rome) and Spain (Madrid, Barcelona) Fall' 2013. I have been told that there are good budget hotel chains in both countries. I have been given the names Formula 1 and ETAP, anyone familiar with these names and do you any other recommendations.

The budget piece of this is important because our trip to Africa this year is sooooo expensive and we need to pare expenses if we can do so without jeopardizing safety, living environments etc.

I have been told that visiting both countries may be too ambitious for a 15 day trip but do not be concerned by that because we can increase the number of days if necessary.

You don't need to stick to a chain hotel, there are a lot more independent small hotels, or family owned pensiones (like a guesthouse or B&B) that will be budget priced. Look at www.tripadvisor.com or www.venere.com

Kay

www.booking.com has hotels, hostels, and apartment rentals listed.

I find a lot of the budget chain hotels are located closer to the outskirts/highways. This is fine if you have a car, but makes trekking there from the train station or center of the city a lot trickier. Will you have a vehicle?

Hey El,

I can highly recommend www.bedinflorence.it

((I))

Yikes, 2 countries in 15 days! You guys are ambitious. With this many people have you considered renting an apartment. I've done this in all 4 cities you've mentioned in your itinerary. Most apartments will have a minimum required number of nights stay.