Hello all,

It's gonna be my first trip to Italy (Rome / Florence / Venice) in Nov. I'm planning to visit the following places:

Rome
(1) Vatican + St. Peter's Cathedral
(2) Colossuem
(3) Forum
(4) Circus Maximus
(5) Arch of Victory
(6) Trewi Fountain
(7) Pantheon

Florence
(1) Piazzale Michelangelo
(2) Pazzale Signoria (pastry and coffee)
(3) Duomo
(4) Galleria dell Academia
(5) Mercato Centrale

Venice
(1) Canal cruise
(2) Vernona + Juliet's Balcony
(3) St. Mark's Cathedral
(4) Roman Arena
(5) Doge's Palace
(6) Bridged of Sighs

Could you please recommend a few hotels that are within walking distance to these places, or within bus/metro network. I'm looking for 3-4 stars, clean, modern hotel, $100-$150 US per night.

THANKS.....

Start with www.venere.com - - you may not need any other resource.

Best wishes,

Rex

You can try doing a search on the Italy board. Just type Rome AND Hotel and it will bring up some results. We are staying at Pensione Accademia in Venice, Hotel Regno in Rome and Soggiorno Battistero in Florence. Good luck!

www.lacalcina.com for Venice

Ummmm, miffy,

You are going to visit Juliette's balcony?????????

Have you ever read "Innocents Abroad" by Mark Twain?

I commend it to your attention.

Give Locanda Antico Fiore a try in Venice. It was 140 Euros and we loved it..just got back!

I second the recommendation for La Calcina in Venice. It depends on when you are going, but we had a gorgeous room with a terrace and a partial view of the Guidecca canal for 125 euros (room 38.)

My best friends went to Verona a couple of years ago and they went to see Juliet's house.... they were bummed the entrance ticket was way too high for what the place had to offer. However, if this is your plan just be aware that the entrance fee is high. Also don't forget to look for Juliet's bronze statue and, as other zillion people do, touch one of her tits and make a wish... you will see that one of her bronze tits is totally discolored and polished because lots of people do this! whatever!

Venice Pensione Link: http://www.lacalcina.com/

Pensione La Calcina is really a lovely place. Easy to get to from the train station by vaporetto, nice breakfast included in the room price, great atmosphere and furnishings, good rooms (I've stayed in a double canal view room, and a single without a view but private bathroom). There is a rooftop patio that you can reserve at the front desk. It's a little slice of peace but very close to all the buzz of Venice.

I liked Orto de Medici--it's cheap (though the furnishings are a bit banged up) and 5 min. from the Academy and 15 min. from the Duomo and 30 min. from the Arno and the Uffizi.

As for Rome, I would not stay near Vatican City--too far from the "action"--this was one of the primary reason why I would not recommend the hotel we stayed in (Hotel Isa) while we were in Rome. There was a decent Chinese restaurant around the block from the Hotel Isa though where you can get decent stir fry. FWIW.

Lil

Here's the hotels we stayed in. I would definitely stay at any one of them again. Most were around 150euros/nite, except for the Venice hotel which I think was around 170/nite.

Venice: Hotel Campiell. It's right off St. Mark's Square and down an alley. Decent breakfast. Very small rooms.

Florence: Residenza Johlea. It's about 6 blocks from the cathedral. Very lite breakfast.

Rome: Hotel Lancelot. It's by the Colisseum. Beautiful hotel. Great breakfast.

Hi miffy,
My sister and I stayed in the Sofitel Firenze hotel in Florence. THE BEST location. If you go outside and walk straight to your left you'll immediately see the Duomo. The staff were wonderful. The place was immaculate (4 star). I would recommend this place... We went to 4 out 5 sights from your Florence list and it is NOT a problem just walking from one place to the next ...I mean leisurely pace but for Piazzale Michelangelo? Get ready to do some uphill walking but it's worth the climb