Looking for your favorite hotels in Venice, Florence and/or Rome. Looking for nice hotels (but doesn't have to be 5 star!) that are in good location and give a good feel for the city. Thanks!

It's hard to make recommendations without knowing your price range.

Nonetheless, last summer I visited both Rome and Florence, not my first trip to either city. I enjoyed these hotels, both are small and quiet:

Florence:
http://www.xeniahc.com/it/hotel/palazzo-guicciardini

Rome:
http://www.hotelnerva.com/

I have a couple of lower-cost options in Florence and Rome that I could recommend, but my stays weren't as recent.

>>Looking for nice hotels (but doesn't have to be 5 star!) <<

Which covers most hotels. What is you budget -- a real number?

Somewhere around $200/night.

There is a reason we ask for price range as your figure only gets you into 5 star quality somewhere in Southeast Asia.

I should add that I'm thinking about traveling off season. Ideally I'd like to go in late September but family weddings have caused me to have to look at mid October or early November.

Hotel Pendini in Florence has a good location for a first, short visit.

http://www.hotelpendini.it/eng/index.html


If you're still thinking of going late September/early October, don't wait too long to book something in each city. It's one of the most popular times of year to visit. Reserve hotels that you'd be happy with but could cancel without penalty if you found something else you liked better.

www.booking.com is a good search site. You can book through the website or directly with the hotels at their websites.

I was being alittle facetious but you must do a little more research on your proposed travel. October is not low season but high season for your destinations in Italy. Prices do start dropping for hotels in November but generally not significantly, if last year is anything to go on, until past early November.

You can include rate parameters in your search on booking.com, but, as mjs mentioned, even late October is considered high season for the cities you're contemplating.

With that budget, I reiterate my suggestion to book ASAP.

http://www.lacalcina.com/

For Venice, I've stayed here twice and thought it was pretty much perfect.

I think it's going to have to be early November. I'm thinking the 3-12... anyone have any reason I shouldn't travel then?

I can second suze's recommendation of La Calcina in Venice, but it's not in the most central location. While it gets more sunlight and, to me, feels less 'claustrophobic', a first-timer who's only planning a couple of nights in Venice might feel a bit far from the main sights.

November weather will obviously be colder and possibly wetter, and the sun will set earlier. By the 12th, sunset will be at 4:45p. In Venice, the risk for acqua alta is higher, especially in the days around the full moon on the 4th.

In Venice, Ca' dei Dogi

http://www.cadeidogi.it/

In Venice Palazzo Barbarigo is perfect. Situated on the GrandCanal there is a wonderful balcony where you can take your breakfast and watch Venice come to life.

http://palazzobarbarigo.com

It's in the charming San Polo neighborhood and it's easy to walk anywhere. A lovely hotel with caring staff.

>>Palazzo Barbarigo<< - is great - but not near the OP's budget. Their smallest room will run maybe €300 a night.


>>nice hotels (but doesn't have to be 5 star!)<< $200 is about €175 so you can certainly find something decent but it definitely won't be 5 (or 4) star.

As suggested above, I'd plug your dates into booking.com and see what you can find.

Years ago we stayed in Hotel Flora in Venice. It was moderately priced back then, and very charming. In Florence we stayed in Hotel Casci, which is probably below your budget. It was very basic, but run by a lovely family, in great location.

and this one.

No keeping secrets, suze... Spill it!

Jean, Only bringing back up the other couple threads by akvaughn, since one of them is being ruined by off-topic bickering.

We stayed st the Hotel Nazionale in Rome and loved it. Very secure and right by Pantheon staff wonderful could walk to many sites and good breakfast

http://www.hotelnazionale.it/en/