I have noticed that so many you of, Rex in particular, give great hotel advice. This is for some friends who plan to go sometime in March or April: can someone recommend a hotel in Florence with a great location for about $200-230 USD per night? Thanks!

Let's see, $200-230 USD per night, that is about €35? Just kidding. (while many expect the US $ to continue to slide for awhile, I am looking for a come-back soon).

In addition to any GREAT responses you will get on this board, also check out the SlowTrav website and board: http://www.slowtrav.com/

Once at that site, click on "Italy" near the top, then "Hotels" which will give you a list of hotel reveiws by region.

--Marv

Relais Ufizzi
Morandi alla Crocetta
Orto di Medici
Loggiato dei Serviti
See if that helps.

You might also check out the Hotel Davanzati at www.hoteldavanzati

Dave

We (2 couples) stayed at Relais Uffizi and loved it! Highly recommend this hotel which has an ideal location - our rooms were large (we perhaps upgraded to a suite) with helpful, friendly staff.

My opinion hasn't changed since I wrote this - - http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34372111

=============================

Author: Rex
Date: 10/10/2002, 03:13 pm
Message: Location is not nearly as important in Florence as in some other cities. Best bang for the buck is what you want. start with Fodors rants'n'raves and www.venere.com

And review this thread:

"Best part of Florence to stay"

http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...p;tid=34368580

Best wishes,

Rex

=============================

And I haven't been in Florence in the past three years since I wrote that... even though I have posted a few times a recommendation for Beacci Tornabuoni, based solely on the large number of very favorable remarks on Fodors Rants'n'Raves for the hotel.

However, it also says there 210-290 euro (I didn't try to confirm if this is current or accurate) - - so I did do a current superficial review of hotels under 160 euro, and I came up with Bernini Palace. The comments on tripadvisor.com are mixed so I looked through some of their top choices for Florence, and Hotel Lungarno jumps out at me - - and they <i><b>claim</b></i> that its rates are $US 170-505! Alas, I could find no such rate (lowest was 350 euro) for an arbitrary choice of dates: Mar 21-24

While I was on tripadvisor I did look at Morandi all Crocetta because I believe in the advice you'll get from bobthenav on this - - it may be every bit as good as Bernini Palace - - maybe not quite as good a loaction (but read what I said earlier about location being not so important in Florence), perhaps better in other ways? Available on venere.com at 197 euro per night; rates much worse on expedia and hotels.com

Hope this helps - - nothing like doing your own searching, of course - - since only you (your friends) know what to rate as the most important features of a hotel!

Best wishes,

Rex

Another vote for Beacci Tornabuoni. We'll be staying there for the fourth time in March (38 days and counting).

Check out rants and raves where you'll find lots of reviews.

The added endorsement for Beacci Tornabuoni made me wonder if I had been to quick to rule out promotional rates; no such luck; indeed, I couldn't find any deals below the published rates of 220-260 euro.

But I did find a promotion on the Pierre Hotel - - available from $160 (using those same arbitrary dates of March 21-24) on www.orbitz.com - - that's 113 cheaper than travelocity and $41 cheaper than expedia or hotels.com

It looks like a solid choice to me.

Thanks so much to everyone for the recommendations. I will pass this information along and will continue to do some research myself, because there's a slight chance that I may be going too!

I can't recommend it personally, but I passed by the Boscolo Astoria and it looked beautiful inside and has what I consider a very convenient location. It's a four-star hotel and often has rates in your friends' range.