The Relais Il Cestello is a 3* reasonably-priced hotel, right on the south bank of the Arno. It gets good reviews on SlowTrav.com and also from someone I know personally. You can get a view room there, but possibly for more money.

Bluedingo,
I'm sure the hotels already listed would be more adequate than my 'humble' submission; Locanda ORCHIDEA, Borgo Delgi Albizi, 11 - Florence - which is situated near the Duomo. Dante's wife (not Beatrice) was born in this 12th century palazzo - and it is authentic. Ask for a 'garden view' room - no breakfast, but next door to bakeries, restaurants, and a nearby grocer. Really suitable if you are out all day, and early evening for a meal and want to go to bed immediately thereafter. I think there is one only ensuite room (7 in all), and as is common in Italy, no shower curtain. But for atmosphere, economy and convenience, can't be bettered. Owner speaks English and can answer any of your questions. Cheeers, Jay.

>...on a budget of 100 Euros...
>...not sure if I want to stay in a 4 or 5 star place.

This does not compute.

Re: >B & B Peterson in Florence ...has a/c but it has a preset low ...<

Mrs Ancillotti responds to my email:

"...the temperature of a/c can
be set by the client, it is still the same, besides we have called a
technician last week and he has removed them in order to clean them
completely and now they work better.

Thank you so much for this message, it
helps us to improve and amend where there is a mistake, please continue to
send us all comments if we do not disturb you."

((I))

Just stayed last month at this B&B in Venice: Ca'Turelli, in the Dorsoduro district. Our triple was Euros 120, but I believe doubles start at 90 or 100, so check it out. Found it on the veniceby.com site, but if you can contact Ca'Turelli directly, probably you could get a slightly better price. Sorry, don't have that information (their email) handy but if you are interested, I can look for it.

Great location, quiet and clean room with a few pieces of antique furniture and a Venetian glass chandelier, (so, a bit less "charm" than other places I have stayed in Venice but much better price!), cereal, juice, and yogurt along with the ususal breads for breakfast, and friendly owner...I would stay there again.
have fun and good luck
annabelle

So, Blue Dingo, have you had any luck? I've been following this thread because I'm looking for the same thing - only just in Rome.

I looked up one that was suggested to you as being in your (our) budget - Hotel Apollo Rome - and was blown away by the price of 480 Euro for 3 nights!! s is just a little walk up hotel -

I do agree with Isabel about Venice - it is totally depended on *when* you are booking. We also stayed in the Canal and Walter - but it was like the 29th day of August - right before the prices went back up. Our prices were below 100 E - the prices nearly doubled in just a couple of days.

When are you planning to go, anyway?
Carol

Hi Ira and Bluedingo,

Ira, you wrote:

">...on a budget of 100 Euros...
>...not sure if I want to stay in a 4 or 5 star place.

This does not compute."

I think the OP was referring to using Priceline for Florence. I actually think PL could be worth it in this case, even if the location isn't ideal, in order to get really good AC and a decent room in September.

For PL, I would check to see what people on biddingfortravel.com are reporting. I'm not sure what hotels they use in Florence, but I'm guessing they use the big business hotels just ot the west of the center. This isn't an awful place to stay, but for a comfortable room with AC under 100 USD, I might give it a go.

Hi Carol,

I'm planning to be in Florence and Rome around mid-September and I was planning on booking the accommodation way back when but got a bit caught up in other things. I've booked everywhere else but these two cities because I started noticing some last minute specials - just doing a google search with special offer, the month, and the city. Fingers crossed that this will work.

Have you thought about an apartment? We booked one in Rome in early June and loved it. It was 120 Euros (at the top of our budget) but had a lift, AC, and was charming. It was located right in a neighborhood - with a pizzaria next door and a great osteria right down the street where we ate twice. I would love to the find the same quality for less money, but it will probably go UP! We too look for cheap and charm and it's harder all the time.
Good luck,
Carol

We loved our apartment in Venice. Here's a link to see pictures of it. http://www.venere.com/templates/go.p...4535&lg=en

Contact the owner directly for the best pricing however.
[email protected]

If you go go be sure to take Sonia's suggestions on where to eat locally. We loved the little restaurant she suggested.

Cheers, the turnip