I have searched the archives and am having trouble finding recent hotel suggestions that sound good to me. I am planning to visit Rome and Florence in early spring and am looking for suggestions for hotels in the $150-$200USD, ideally under $200, range. I would like a central, convenient location in both cities. I trust this site more than Tripadvisor, although I will look there too. Any suggestions?

You can search by city areas on www.venere.com

I have been a big fan of www.venere.com for a number of years but I have found it frustrating in reviewing prices for this question, and a similar question last week - - http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34556215 - - sorting the hotels by price results in listing according to prices that are not really available. No doubt the prices are available at SOME time of the year, but a database ought to work better than this, so that prices can be sorted for a given week or month.

In the above mentioned thread, I came up with Pierre Hotel for Florence; in a quick review of hotels with good locations at the price you are seeking (for early March), I came up with Alexandra (130 euro per double per night) in Rome.

I do wonder if travelocity or expedia or orbitz or hotels.com wouldn't be just as useful as (or more so than?) the "venerable" Venere. Didn't put that much effort into it...

Best wishes,

Rex

Check out
RomeBy.com and FlorenceBy.com

We loved Antica Dimora in Florence. A good location for seeing all, easy walking, great staff helped with everything, nice breakfast and nightcaps, beautiful rooms with excellent baths at a very good price. (Ask not to be in the room just off the lounge though). Same owners also have two or three additional properties nearby. One with a great rooftop garden with views of the city.

http://www.anticadimorafirenze.it/index_e.htm

Annalisa,

You might check out the Genio Hotel, just off P. Navona. Our group had five rooms there, and they varied greatly in size, so be aware.

Excellent location.

Byrd

Hi anna,

Have you entered "Florence AND Hotel" in the "search this forum" box?

I have stayed at the Hotel Pierre, and can highly recommend it. The location is perfect, IMO.

For Rome, I would recommend either Casa Howard, or the Hotel San Carlo. Both have websites:

www.casahoward.com

www.hotelsancarlo.com

They both have fabulous locations, friendly staffs and amenities in the 2-3 star range.

Buon Viaggio,
BC

Recommendation for Hotel Bellettini annex in Florence. Great location, beautiful, large marble baths (in annex; don't know about main bldg.), nicely furnished rooms. The "annex" is just around the corner from the main bldg. and costs a little more b/c it is "more 3 star than 2 star" accommodation. What with drop in dollar, it may be over $200 now, however. Check it out at www.hotelbellettini.com

Nothing wrong with main bldg., either, just aa bit less upscale. Breakfast, included, must be taken in the main bldg.

FOr FLorence check out Hotel CAsci, and Hotel Europa.

Yikes, the Antica Dimora looks fabulous. Can't believe the price, 150E. Is there a catch? Is it centrally located? I've never been to Florence and this looks ideal.

Thanks so much for the great suggestions. I agree that the Antica Dimora looks fabulous for under $200 (almost)! Bookchick, the Pierre seems a bit out of our price range although it looks wonderful. The Casa Howard in Rome looks great too. If the Antica Dimora is centrally located, it sounds perfect.

I recommend the Tourist House Ghiberti in Florence. A real gorgeous little b&b. We really enjoyed it!

www.touristhouseghiberti.com

Sally

Did you see this post on the thread I cited above?

======================

Author: rex ([email protected])
Date: 01/24/2005, 11:36 pm

Message: The added endorsement for Beacci Tornabuoni made me wonder if I had been to quick to rule out promotional rates; no such luck; indeed, I couldn't find any deals below the published rates of 220-260 euro.

But I did find a promotion on the Pierre Hotel - - available from $160 (using those same arbitrary dates of March 21-24) on www.orbitz.com - - that's 113 cheaper than travelocity and $41 cheaper than expedia or hotels.com

It looks like a solid choice to me.

Just back from Florence and Rome.

We stayed at the San Gallo Palace for 80 Euro/nt for the first 4 nights with an advance prepaid booking thru hotelclub.net and then extended for 3 more nights at a negotiated rate of 120/night. It was our third stay at this hotel and we enjoy the hotel (4 star, new and quite elegant) and location very much. We have booked there for june.

In Rome, I got a last minute rate thru Expedia of 179/nt USD for the Capo D'Africa. What a great hotel! Not my favorite location but what a view of the Colosseum from the terrace and breakfast room! The rooms are large, clean with comfortable beds and nice linens. Modern and minimalist in decor, tasteful and comfortable, and also very clean and quiet. We found the tram and metro to be very convenient in getting around when it got a bit too cold or too late to walk. And the price was a bargain.

I whole-heartedly recommend the Hotel Panda in Rome, which should be in your price range. There are 2, but we stayed at the one right around the corner from the Spanish Steps. Awesome location, clean rooms, helpful staff...what more can you ask? Check out www.hotelpanda.it. Good luck!

We're staying (for the 2nd time) at Hotel Villa Belvedere for E150 per night with breakfast. It's outside the city, but walking distance (or short cab) to the city center (we're big walkers), and the rooms are large and view is great and the garden lovely and has a pool and free parking. The owners are very lovely and helpful.
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We stayed at the Raphael last trip it was okay. The rooftop terrace was great. Not so friendly.

I would look at the Pio. Great hotel but you'll need to do a little more walking into sites. Ask for a room with a terrace.

I would highly recommend staying around the Pantheon. Hotel Del Senato with a rooftop terrace overlooking the Pantheon. Great area for shops and cafes at night.

A great restarant: Il 34 or Restarant 34 by the Spanish steps

These web sites are very helpful for pictures and or booking:

www.venere.com
www.Romeby.com

Enjoy!

Annalisa,
We loved a hotel with a greatroof top terrace over looking the Arno. Hotel Heritage was the name. The staff were delightful.
Location right next to the Ponte Veccio. Rome 401 and 402 I think were the numbers of the rooms at the top of the hotel right next to the terrace. It was like our own terrace. Most of the time we were the only ones on it.

Try this website for Florence

www.Florenceby.com

ShellyW,

Are you refering to the Hermitage in Florence? It is a very nice and well located hotel.