Hi, <BR>My wife and I will have three days in Florence in September. Any recommendations for relatively inexpensive lodgings? It must be clean and quiet. Charming would be nice, but we are on a budget. We are open to a B&B, hotel, whatever. Thank you.

Jeff: The Hotel Aldini is 1/2 block from the Duomo, and it was a very good value. The room we had was very large with big, airy windows. The room was very "Florentine" with sparce antique furnishings. Breakfast was included, and, although it was not anything exceptional, it was enough to get the day started. We had room 105, and it is the one featured at the website. It had a very charming old pink ceramic heating stove. The location is excellent, and the price was a little over $100 with the discount that they give for cash. www.pronet.it/hotelaldini

Another hotel--same area--is Medici. Last summer I paid 170,000 per night for 2, breakfast included. <BR> <BR>www.promhotels.it/home/medici <BR> <BR>Deborah

Hi there, <BR>Just spent the winter in Europe leading a study abroad program and had the chance to stay in Florence twice. Highly recommend the Hotel Torre Guelfa (search for their website). They are only a few blocks from the Ponte Vechio but have their own medieval tower to climb and get away from the masses. They serve cocktails up there! Rooms have old world charm with marble baths. THe hotel is run by a very nice english speaking family. Make sure you have them book gallery reservations for you a week or so in advance to avoid hours of lines. Have fun! We paid 300,000 - worth every penny. <BR>

I hate to be negitive but I did not like the Torre Guelfa! They had bad plumbing, thin matresses, small rooms and was very noisy. <BR> <BR>The elevators wan't always available and sometime in the middle of the night I would wake up to someone ringing the front door beell trying to get in. <BR> <BR>I can rough it sometimes, but that place was a bit much. <BR> <BR>They do offer good rates and are in an perfect location. The staff is friendly but not great at restaurant suggestion or sightseeing info. <BR> <BR>I suggest you do a search for them on this sight because I have heard a few others mention rooms to avoid.

One more thing... <BR> <BR>I wouldn't call this hotel clean.

Would recommend the Hotel Splendor near the Accadamia. Clean, nice rooms, good staff, walked to everything. Nice breakfast, old world charm, and backyard terrace to relax from the noise of Florence. Rates were good, but can't remember off hand. My daughter needed a room at the last minute around Easter and booked the Hotel Nuova Italia(sp?). They are in Frommers. She said it was nice and clean. Right near the market and close walk to the train station. Looked nice from the outside when I walked by. They have screens in the windows and the area was nice. I remember the rates were low. <BR> <BR>Denise

Pension Ferreti was where we stayed two years ago. And from there we walked to all major sites in florence - we were there for four days. <BR> <BR>We paid something like L120,000 for a double room with attached bathroom. <BR> <BR>Please send me an e-mail if you need more information or you can do a search for them on the web.

I recommend the Pensione Sorelli Bandini in Piazza Santo Spirito and the Oltrarno district in general--prettier, more real and less tourist frenzy. I stayed there 10 years ago, but the place has a good rep and I was in Florence this week and noticed that is still there. It's a great location.

Thanks all for the suggestions.

If you are into B&B or Agriturismo why not try Fattoria Pagnana ( www.fattoria-pagnana.com ) which for a price less than most Florentine hotels gives you a large apartment, tennis court, swimming pool etc etc