I'm looking for a hotel rec for the Duomo area in Florence, for two nights in January. I don't need 5*, just something simple, clean with a bath ensuite. My budget is minimal (since I just got back from 10 days in Italy last week!), I'd like to stay around $100 per night.

Am I being too optimistic?

After my two nights in Florence, I'll be off to Venice for 3 ngihts and then home. I'm not too worried about the Venice stay, as my new hot Italian friend will be recommending a place!!

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!

Happy Travels.

Relais Grand Tour, a 5-minute walk from the Duomo.
http://www.florencegrandtour.com/tariffe.htm

87euros/single. We stayed in a double last month & totally loved it. One of the highlights of our trip -- absolutely beautiful. I can't say enough good things about this place!

Thanks LucieV...I'll check into it!

Fenice Palace (don't recall the Web site address). About three steps from the Duomo. Ask for a street-facing room and you can open the wooden shutters, lean out, look to your left and there it is! Small and simple, but not sparse, rooms. Used to have an excellent breakfast (included), but it's been a few years.

Ninna Nanna b&b on Zanobi. We stayed thaere a few weeks ago. A very pleasant place, about 7 mintes from the Duomo. There is a small back yard for relaxing, and the owner is a very helpful and accomodating lady. About 75 Euros with a light breakfast and a private bath.

Casci Hotel, on via Cavour 13. Check out the tripadvisor reviews (more than 200 of them). We just recently returned from our FOURTH stay there. During off season we paid 70 Euros for a single, 100 Euros for a double. About 1.5 blocks away from Duomo, sterile-clean, super helpful and friendly family that run it (small place, about 20-something rooms), excellent full breakfast including eggs, wonderful location. Can't say enough great things about it. Nothing fancy but the best buy in town, IMHO.

WOW...thanks for the recs, I was worried that I'd have a hard time finding a place to fit in my limited budget for this spur of the moment trip!

Yo can also check on:
http://www.tuscanweb.com

Just got back from Florence, Rome, etc.

We LOVED our hotel in Florence. It is withing walking distance of every where, and we arent that young anymore, so if we can do it anyone can.

It is quiet, reasonably priced , nice modern big bathroom with plenty of room in the shower/tub and always hot water, includes a huge breakfast , they have a lovey lounge area with a bar, and you can get a room like we had with a window that opens onto a secluded garden, it is very clean and comfortable and pretty too!

It is called Pensione Annalena. I encourage you to look at their website.

We also loved this lovely bed and breakfast - really more like a small boutique hotel. Very easy to walk to the Duomo, excellent staff, delicious breakfasts, afternoon tea, and nightcaps. The staff set us up with a lovely young art/history student who took us on a great tour of Michaelangelo's art. Highly recommend. They also have several additonal properties in Florence in case this particular one is booked.

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

Here is the link for their additional properties which are a bit less expensive, but just as charming.

http://www.johanna.it/struttura.php?...e&leng=eng

Hotel Colomba very nice, great breakfast, great owners, in the heart of the historical center. I was there back on May and found it very convinient.
www.hotelcolomba.com

Hi Pantelia,
Here's my input on the cheap sleep in the city center. When I've gone to Firenze, both times I stayed at Hotel Dali. It's about a block from the Duomo on Via Dell'Oriuolo. I stayed in the single room (no in-room WC) but, it does have a sink and is only 4 or 5 steps from the bath down the hall. I like to spend my money on other things instead of a high priced bed. I love the location and the owners are so very nice. The single room is 40 Euro while the double room (with in-room WC) is 80. It's no big star hotel but, it is a little gem. You can read reviews about the Dali on Trip Advisor.com. Have a great time, you can't help it in that beautiful city.

Kim

Oops, I forgot to include their web address, which is pretty straight forward: hoteldali.it
-K

Thanks so much for the replies. I've already contacted the Hotel Dali and they have a single for 35 Euro. Once I finalize my days off and book my tickets, I'll email them back to book the room.

Italy twice in 3 months...I can't wait!!!

Thanks again, happy travels!

If your gong to Florence I recommend the Hotel Casci they have a web site hotelcasci.com. We stayed there and found it to be quite quaint and friendly. They serve a very nice continental breakfast which is included in the room rate. You can find reviews for it on Venere.com