First time in Italy LODGING SUGGESTIONS PLS....
 

Hi all..This will be my first trip to Italy (May 2014) which I will be doing solo..and will not be renting a car..I believe I have an Itinerary that will work but now I need lodging suggestions...

Venice..4days

Bologna/Parma..3days

Siena.. as a base for the Tuscan area..w/days trips to Florence,Pisa,Tuscan countryside...5days

Perugia (opened for suggestions on the town of choice in Umbria) love what I have read about Umbria and I would love to explore it as much as possible...5days

Rome...4days
Thank you..

You need to state your budget.

Have you used the search feature at top right for these cities, it's a good place to begin. There are also hotel reviews at TripAdvisor and slowtrav.com.

I like using venere.com for Italy accomodations. If nothing else, I use to cross reference with tripadvisor.com

How much would you like to spend per night?

I visited a friend in a fine single room at the Hotel San Carlo in Rome, not far from Piazza di Spagna. Perfect location.

I think Perugia would be good for train and bus connections.

Siena for busses. 5 days might be a lot for Siena, but if you use it to get to Florence, San Gimignano, Volterra and your trip to Pisa, I guess you will use up the time.

If you're on a budget (and since you're traveling solo), do consider convent/monestery stays. Nothing fancy, but certainly clean and cost-effective.

Here is one website, but you can google and find others: http://www.monasterystays.com/

In Rome, you can also check out the recommendations from the American church in Rome, Santa Susanna. Here is the website: http://www.santasusanna.org/comingToRome/convents.html

Have a great trip!

>>>do consider convent/monestery stays. Nothing fancy, but certainly clean and cost-effective.
Here is one website, but you can google and find others: http://www.monasterystays.com/<<<

Monasterystays does list some of the convents/monasteries, but they are a reseller so if you want to book, you'll get a better price booking directly with the convent (often 10-15€ less a night for a single).

I will def be on a low end budget..not looking for anyting fancy, more important is safety and close to transportation for day trips etc/walkable perhaps to shops, restaurants, open air markets etc...
I had previously come across the monasterystays website and I personally thought it was pretty interesting ...but had not heard anyone mention it before so I pay no attention to it..Now with all your suggestions on it I will seriously consider it..
I will look into the other websites suggested here and if I see something I like I will post it here to get your alls opinion on it...
Also if anyone personally knows of any places you might want to recommend I would appreciate it... Thanks :)

If you consider Ravenna for your time in/near Bologna,

Ostello Galletti Abbiosi <[email protected]>

is quite reasonable, maybe 60 Eu with a substantial breakfast. Very safe. I walk to it from the train station (though a taxi is 10 euro if you want) and then from it to the world class/world heritage site mosaics. Food excellent and reasonable. Hotel Centrale Byron another good and reasonable choice.

I found Umbria also quite reasonable. I like Perugia (great evening passagiata) -- Hotel Fortuna might be more than you want to spend, but there are probably more reasonable lodgings. Assisi is another thought (Hotel Umbra is right on main drag).

I have traveled to all of these places solo/by train travel and occasional taxi.

Just to note- Santa Susanna lists the website for monasterystays.com on their website. So, I take that to mean they officially endorse that website for monastery/convent stays.

ky-technically, they are not a reseller. They charge a fee for the booking, but do not add anything to the actual room rates. (from their site FAQ's: "We do not accept commissions from any accommodation featured on our website, nor do they pay commissions, they are monastery and convent guest houses not 'hotels'. We charge a fee for our service, it is part of the Room Price, not extra.")