Hello!
my husband and I are goin to be in Florence (May 18 - May 20) and looking for hotel recommendations in Florence. We are both in our early 30ths and looking for a nice hotel under $200 / night... Not sure if that's reasonable or not for Florence...

I stayed at

www.sanlorenzohotel.it

It was in a good location near the San Lorenzo market.
it was nice and clean, people were friendly. Not the best but very servicable.

A casual place to eat is la Canlinetta on Via Borgo San Lorenzo. You kind of pick and point to sample plates. It was surprisingly fresh and tasty.

Hotel Casci. Wonderful hotel, wonderful location, wonderful management and staff. If it's not under $200, it's very close. Enjoy, annie

I stayed at a hotel recommended on this blog, Hotel David. I loved it. While it was across the river it never seemed out of the way. You could walk along the river to get into the heart of the city (small walk)or take a bus right outside the hotel.The rooms were large and spacious, offered free internet, breakfast in the morning, cocktails in the evening, lovely staff and free parking. A landermatte down the street was an added bonus (able to travel light). Tripadvisor.com is a great place to read reviews of hotels that you find here. www.davidhotel.it/rooms.htm

I've heard very good things about the Hotel Casci...as mentioned above. Several friends, as well as son and his wife have stayed there. Apparently the location is the Best!

Google Tourist House Ghiberti. I understand that it is a very central B&B/small hotel that gets very good reviews. It should be around your price range.

Anna

We stayed at the Hotel Casci in Oct 2007 and will definitely return there. Wonderful family-owned hotel, staff is excellent. We felt like family! Great location near the duomo and very reasonably priced:
http://www.hotelcasciflorence.com/en/location.htm

They will also make your reservations for Uffize and Accademia. Pierpaulo is a dream and speaks perfect English!

Have a great trip!

(PS our best meal in Italy was in Florence at Semidivino. The Hotel Casci staff is always happy to get you a reservation and make recommendations. This one was fabulous!)

I've stayed at Hotel Casci five times. Nuff said? It is truly excellent. Immaculate, walking distance to nearly everything you may want to see, staff goes out of their way for any little thing you need. Not fancy. Not elegant. But for my personal check-list of what I need in a place to stay, it was THE best.

I can suggest another place, if you like to try a bed and breakfast....."B&B di Piazza del Duomo" is in front of Cathedral , is really charming and from your windows you can view the DUOMO ! ! this is my best experience !!
http://www.duomorooms.com

We stayed here two years ago...I cannot recommend it more highly. Centrally located, yet quiet and absolutely beautiful (without being intimidating!) We stayed in the Artist's Suite, but looked at the others and were just as impressed with their decor. The owners are on-site, speak perfect English, and could not be more helpful.

http://www.florencegrandtour.com/

I meant to specify, that we stayed at the Relais Grand Tour (apparently they now have a second pension, which I have not seen...but if it's anything at all like RGT, it's got to be super!)