Is there any webistes available for the hotels in Florence? <BR> <BR>Is that possible that I could bargain with hotel for the rate as the published rate is quite high. <BR> <BR>Thank you.

Lily I'm afraid hotels in Florence are always expensive. This is because it's a very popular destination all year round. Try the Florence website. www.florence.ala.it/ then press hotels. <BR>However, we have never paid the going rate because I only use the web to see what the hotel looks like. Then I book through a travel agent. They can usually get you a much better rate. We use travel agents much more over here than you do in the States, because they are free to us, but I would have thought that it would be worth paying an agent to get you a reduced rate.

Lesley <BR>Just to clarify, I live in the States, rarely use a travel agent, but when I have done, I've never paid one. The ones I've dealt with earned their commissions from airlines, tour operators, hotel chains, cruise lines, etc. When I do use one, I've already done my research, and I am just asking them to book what I know I want. <BR> <BR>Lily, not sure what you mean by "published rate." If you mean a guidebook or website, you can certainly always ask a hotel via phone, fax, or email if a lower rate is available. Often it is. <BR>Try these websites as well <BR>www.hotelguide.ch/ <BR>www.italyhotel.com <BR>www.italiantourism.com/ Italian Govt Tourist Board <BR>www.traveleurope.it/ <BR>www.itwg.com hotels by city <BR>www.ciaoitaly.net network of B&Bs <BR>

Try http://www.venere.it/firenze/firenze_Z5.html. It's great because it shows where the hotels are on a map. So if you want to stay in a particular part of the city, you can see what they have to offer, then click on the hotel name and it takes you to the hotel website. Very useful. I used it for Venice and Rome as well.

Thank you all. <BR> <BR>I will look into them. <BR> <BR>Grazie.