My husband and I are going to Europe the end of April and quite frankly I am overwhelmed with the job of finding decent, affordable hotel accommodations in the cities we are planning to visit. Never having been to Europe I know nothing of the areas I should be looking at. Could you please help me? We are not looking for anything fancy just a clean room with a bathroom in about the $100 - $125 range. I would appreciate any specific info you can give me espcially how to contact them, phone, e-mail etc. These are the cities I need help with, Naples, Rome, Florence, Venice, Salzberg, Amsterdam, <BR>Brugge and Paris. Thank you for your help.

Hi Helen, <BR> I can help a little with Salzburg and Amsterdam. In Salzburg check out the Hotel Auersperg. In Amsterdam try the Canal House or the Ambassade. I believe these fall under your price ranges. They also have websites; check them out when you get a chance.

Helen-- Please don't panic, but the truth is time is working against you. At this time, it will be tough to find a decent, centric hotel at those rates. NOT impossible, but tougher. <BR> <BR>I recomend the following sites: <BR> <BR>http://www.marcopolotravel.com/ (select Hotels & Tours on the upper right corner. This site allows you to enter the dates, desired rate range, and it will display hotels with availability). <BR> <BR>http://ase.net/ This site has a large database of hotels. Again, the convenient feature of allowing you to enter desired dates and $$ range. <BR> <BR>http://www.natravel.com/hotels/hotelsearch.htm This site is very well laid out. They couldn't help me with a last-minute hotel reservation, but you may have better luck. <BR> <BR>Try priceline. com; who knows.... <BR> <BR>In Paris I recommend Hotel Muguet and in Venice, Hotel Paganelli. Have to say though, that the secret is out on both hotels and and both fill out months in advance.

Many of the cities you list have hotels that are connected to Best Western International. <BR>Try this web site: <BR>http://www.bestwestern.com/TravelWeb...n/reserve.html <BR>I cannot speak for other cities, but the Best Westerns in Paris are not cookie cutter US look alikes; they are French hotels that have joined the Best Western Marketing effort. The Aramis Saint Germain on rue de Rennes is a very nice place that is located close to bus and metro lines. I did not check on all of the cities you list, but Rome and Venice have hotels that participate in the BW reservations system. <BR>If you are pressed for time, you could make reservations at all of the available cities with one web stop. <BR>You can read about the hotel before you sign up. <BR>

Dear Helen: <BR> <BR>I was in Venice in November and loved our little hotel on the Giudecca Canal: Pensione La Calcina. Our corner double with private bath and a canal view was $160 but well worth it for the quiet location, friendly and very helpful staff and clean, spacious (for Venice) rooms. In Rome, try the Hotel Alimandi, just a few steps from the door to the Sistine Chapel. You can find both on the web if you do a hotel search. In Salzburg: Hotel Amadeus is simple but nice and friendly - with views into the cemetary where Mozart's wife and father are buried - across the river from the center of town but an easy walk. <BR> <BR>Good luck

<BR>Helen, a fun area with a lot of cafes, bars, and restaurants in Paris is the Bastille. We stayed at Hotel Duval- very clean, great owners, $130 usd for four of us. Metro is one block away, we walked to many sights. Loved it! In Rome I have reservations at Campo De' Fiori for early April. Highly recommended in many books but I have no first-hand knowledge.Try the Cheap Sleeps books by S. Gustafson, I swear by them. Good Luck!

We enjoyed the Zur Goldenen Ente in Salzburg - it's a great location though you cannot park your car. It's just a couple blocks from the Mozartplatz. Or, try Hotel Elefant, also a good location - we had a very nice dinner there but it looked like a nice hotel. <BR> <BR>In Venice, try Albergo San Marco. Again, great location a block away from Piazza San Marco.

Thanks so much for all your help. I have booked three Best Westerns and did find some info on the Hotel Maguet in Paris. What I am really finding frustrating is finding the web sites for some of the hotels recommended. I have tried everything and to no avail. Please help. Thanks

Hi Helen: <BR> <BR>Don't know if you've already booked a hotel for Salzburg, but I stayed at the Hotel Elefant last September and I highly recommend it! It's in the heart of Old Town, lovely rooms, wonderful staff. It's part of the Best Western International chain and you can find it on their site. Good luck!

Helen <BR>These websites have excellent Paris hotel info (and other info), including comments from past guests <BR>www.paris.org <BR>www.hotelboulevard.com <BR>www.paris-touristoffice.com <BR> <BR>These still work for Italy, as far as I know <BR>www.italyguide.com/ <BR>www.hotelguide.ch/ <BR>www.italyhotel.com by city <BR>www.italiantourism.com/ <BR>www.traveleurope.it/ <BR>www.itwg.com <BR> <BR>good luck