I have been reading the forums about hotels in Venice. I don't see any comments on the Hotel American-Dinesen in Dorsoduro. Has anyone stayed there?

It seems a fine hotel but I have no personal experience. You can look at Tripadvisor's reviews. Also post your question on its forum. It is a favorite hotel of a "local expert" Robert. If I return to Dorsoduro, I will stay at Pensione Accademia or maybe la Pensione Calcina again.

My wife and I stayed there in May of 2001 and loved it. We had a canal-view room with a tiny balcony (top floor on the left as you face the hotel) and thoroughly enjoyed our stay there. The location is good and the staff was very helpful. We did not see any of the interior rooms (another guest complained of their room being small and dark) but if you can get one of the rooms on the canal we would recommend staying there. I think Tripadvisor ranks it 25th out of 497 hotels. Enjoy your trip!!!

Thanks so much for the info. I ended up booking La Calcina because so many people on these forums raved about it. I am now onto Florence. Any suggestions on hotels to stay at here? Something under 170 euros, close to the highlights? I can't seem to find much on hotels in Florence on the forums.

Sorry, we stayed at a wonderful villa near Panzano for a week when we were there in 2001. We did spend one night at a hotel in Florence but I do not remember the name nor would I recommend it. We had dinner reservations in Florence and did not want to try to get back to Panzano afterwards so we just found a cheap hotel near the train station for the night. Thank goodness we did because we had a great meal with way too much prosseco, wine and grappa and didn't even get back to the hotel until well after midnight, much less trying to get back to Panzano. Good luck finding something in Florence!!!!

My recommendation would be Porta Rossa in Firenze. Perfect location in the heart of the city. But alas! When I went to check their website for current rate, they are closed for renovation.

We've stayed a few times at Tourist House Ghiberti in Florence and can recommend it highly. THG is not a hotel in the traditional sense. No lobby to speak of; only five guest rooms. Amenities include free internet and computer in every room, largish rooms and bathrooms, sauna, jacuzzi, small outdoor terrace. It's two or three blocks from the Duomo, and there's a bus stop just outside the front door.

www.touristhouseghiberti.com

Many other Fodorites recommend the Hotel Casci, so you might check that one out too.

BTW, we've also stayed at La Calcina a couple of times. Our rooms/bathrooms were typically (for Venice) small, but the common/lobby area is very comfortable. Really nice views from the lobby and outdoor dining tables. The only down-side for us is the longish walk to/from Piazza San Marco in the evening.

> BTW, we've also stayed at La Calcina a couple of times. Our rooms/bathrooms were typically (for Venice) small ..

That really depends on the rooms, I suppose. The room I requested specifically facing the Giudecca Canal and actually stayed was ok, even largish size even its bathroom with bathtub was ok size too. It was a corner room and had 2 windows on Giudecca side and one on the side-canal side (where Pensione Seguso is located). Plainly decorated with not much amenities but average to larger size in comparison with other 3 - 4 * hotels I have stayed in Venice.

We rented two very well furnished apartments from La Calcina (and around the corner of the side canal) last spring. Our family thoroughly enjoyed taking breakfast in the hotel; the staff was extremely helpful and friendly and the housekeeping was immaculate.