Venice: Locanda Orseolo - can't beat the service for the price.

Florence: Another vote for Residenza Il Villino. This place is VERY popular so book ASAP.

Rome: Nicolas Inn. Superb hosts.

Adventure seeker, I keep hoping to see a trip report...?...?...

Cindy

Hi Cindywho...

I'm working on that trip report and sorting through 2000+ photos.

My goal is to have it done by next week.

How's your trip planning coming?

to annhig - I also like the idea of staying outside Florence for a few days, but my husband is dead set against renting a car, and the logistics of doing this without a car seem difficult. But I don't want to give up Florence to do it - instead, I would stay one day less in Florence, and add my 13 th night (previously unassigned) for 2 nights in Tuscany or Umbria. This is a totally different area of planning, and I know nothing yet about transportation other than the trains between the major cities. I'm open to it though. Another issue though is that I was trying to keep this trip simple for DH, who does not have the same enthusiasm for travel as I do (although - he does seem to be perking up a little).

to SusanP - I have been reading all my responses thoroughly, including those about the travel agent. My questions do sometimes overlap previous responses, but they have brought me much added info each time. I am getting very leary of using the travel agent, especially after my last conversation when I expressed my preference to small hotels and B&Bs that are solicitous of their guests. She responded that those places are in the countryside but I won't find them in the major cities. Red flags went up all over, since there are so many of them and I found them so easily. I think she has very nice places where she gets her clients good rooms and service, and she doesn't seem open to other places. I'm very disappointed, because I wanted to use her, not so much for the hotels, but for organizing my days, my tours, my trains, etc. I may just consult with Bob the Navigator after all.

To everyone - you have all been helpful. In Rome, I was leaning toward Hotel Lancelot, which is closer to the Colosseum, because I like the dinner option. I know that would mean a trek to the Vatican area, but other than that, is it a good location? Or should I instead choose a place by Piazza Navona? And can anyone tell me the best way to map out my potential hotel choices to see where they are in relation to the places I want to see in each city?

Anyway - please keep it coming. I can't believe I have gone from planning to take a tour to planning my own trip, which I said at the start of my posts that I would never do. Thanks to all for making it possible.

Congratulations! And sounds like you will have a much nicer trip for your efforts. Welcome to the club
;-)

I think you're smart to question the travel agent. Unfortunately, they are only interested in booking hotels that give them a commission, which the smaller B&B's and family-run hotels won't do.

When you say you are considering Hotel Lancelot because of the dinner, do you mean you would get half or full board and eat dinner there every night? Please don't do this! There are so many wonderful restaurants in Rome, it would be a shame to eat at your hotel every night. Plus, I would still choose the Piazza Navona area, just my opinion.

Go to Barnes & Noble or Borders and buy a Streetwise Rome map. (Actually, get one for Florence and Venice as well.) Then you can see where things are located and get a better idea of where you want your hotel to be located.

With 13 nights, and your first trip to Italy, I would stay with Rome, Florence, Venice, for the most part. But for your final two nights, you could go to the Cinque Terre or thereabouts. We loved Santa Margherita Ligure, a small- to mid-sized town with a pleasant harbor and plenty of restaurants, markets and shops to make it a good home base. From there, we day-tripped to both the Cinque Terre and Portofino. Highly recommend Cinque Terre! (You can do all this by train.)

I think you're wise to question and/or dump your travel agent. This forum will provide all the advice you need, and from people with nothing to gain by recommending a hotel.

We stayed in the Spanish Steps area, which we were happy with. But you don't need to break your budget to find a nice hotel in Rome.
>-

Agree with the others that you should forget the travel agent she obviously is not listening to what you want.

Re the Hotel Lancelot and its area the only time we took a taxi was the morning we went to the Vatican as we had early tickets for the Scavi tour. We meandered back on foot later in the day. We like to walk so getting to all the sites on foot posed no problem for us.

As SusanP suggested don't eat all your meals there as there are many other good restaurants in the neighbourhood. However, do plan to eat at least one as it is a fun experience.

Do get a good mapbook and plot out your areas of interest as this will help you with your decision.

Re eating at Hotel Lancelot - it was not my plan to eat there nightly, but rather to sample what sounded like a wonderful dinner and dinner experience at least once during our stay. Also, when we started talking about taking a trip, my husband was all for a tour with all dinners planned for the tour group. I refused to even consider that, anticipating huge touristy venues with steam table quality food. But it would be nice to give him the option of dinner at the hotel after an exhausting day of sightseeing, especially when so many people have commented about the good food on Tripadvisor.

Hi again,

well, as you anticipate, touring tuscany without a car would be difficult.

one alternative would be to pick somewhere with bicycles to rent or good walking nearby - you could easily spend a couple of days like that, and then make for Florence. Alternatively, spend two nights in Florence and two in siena, which has a completely different atmosphere. [and a station for your onward trip to Roma].

Dare i ask why he's so against any driving? - just a few days in the countryside would be a good introduction, IMO.

regards, ann

Here are two more suggestions for hotels in Rome. The hotel Del Senato, located on Piazza della Rotonda with a terrific view of the Pantheon. Ask for a room with a view of the Pantheon. Great hotel in an excellent location within walking distance to almost any place you want to go. Even located on a major piazza, the rooms facing the Pantheon are quiet. The breakfast is OK, but nothing to write home about.
The Forum hotel, located across the highway from the Roman Forum, within easy walking distance of the sites that might be too far to walk to from the Del Senato. It has a breakfast to die for and a rooftop sunset view of the Roman Forum that brings joy and enlightment into the hearts of both the first time visitor and the grizzled historian. A room with a view of the Forums will be a little noisy, but you nothing you won't get used too. Have a great trip. Lee

Congrats on your 1st trip to Italy! My first to Italy(Rome/Florence/Venice)will be June2008. We picked areas of the cities first based on location to sites/activities and now we are picking hotels/B&Bs/Convents.
Rome-Pantheon Area
Florence-Oltarno /Boboli Gardens
Venice-Dorsoduro /Guggenheim
The posts you are receiving are giving me info too so thanks and good luck!

Butnot - I am sorry to throw yet another option into the pot but I cannot believe no one here has yet suggested the Hotel Casci in Florence. I have stayed there FIVE times to date and would never consider any other place in Florence.

It seems to fit your request exactly. This is a small B&B of about 20-something rooms, run by a fabulous and most accomodating family I have ever met. They will literally bend over backwards to make sure your trip and visit is the best ever. (Check out the hundreds of reviews on tripadvisor).

The rooms are not luxurious by any means. BUT they are spotlessly clean, you can literally eat off the floors, it is centrally located (about 2 blocks from the Duomo and a block from Accademia), they have double or triple glazed windows so it is quiet. They are in a non-descript building with an elevator to the second floor.

Their breakfasts are huge and offer much more than the typical Italian fare (i.e. eggs, fruit, etc. along with the regular breads, cakes, toasts, spreads, etc.).

They have a computer for guests free use in the lobby, and offer free Wi-Fi in the rooms. I cannot recommend this place more highly!!!

Good call on ditching the travel agent. Honestly, I think travel agents are good for lesser-known locations when the lodging options can be questionable, but for cities like Rome, Florence, and Venice you can do so much better doing your own research here and on Trip Advisor.

I'm still going to suggest that you stay closer to the Pantheon and Piazza Navonna. If you want to splurge, stay at the Albergo del Senato with a Pantheon-view room as another poster suggested. I was there for 6 nights over Christmas 2006 and it was spectacular. Even if you are tired at the end of the day, you literally have to walk 100 feet to get to a nice restaurant, whereas over near the Colloseum you don't have nearly as many choices.