sharbear,

Two years ago, the loft apartment at The Belvedere was about $550/ per night. I actually thought it was a bargain considering that it was a big apartment (living room, large bathroom, upstairs loft) with multiple windows and a very private terrace right off the living room all facing the lake. We were shocked when they asked us if we'd like to look at it because we had booked a deluxe double in the regular hotel. This apartment is in the annex to the hotel, and as far as we could tell, we were the only ones on our floor!

Only possible downside: The air conditioning didn't always work so well in the upstairs loft. But this is something that could happen at any hotel, no matter the price. And management did say they were working on it to resolve the problem.

Another favorite hotel I forgot to mention last night and how could I?? Hotel Poseidon in Positano, a 4-star that's just uphill from the much more expensive Le Sirenuse. We've stayed in jr. suites there a few times, which are simple but beautifully decorated, all with private terraces, some with amazing views over town.

This hotel is one of my favorites because guests are treated like members of the family. It's quite small, and service is outstanding. As for the views and food at the hotel's restaurant? Absolutely out of this world. Some of the best food we've ever had in Italy.

Thanks so much for all the help so far! You guys are awesome..
Just bc people have rightly said that I might want to choose the places I want to go first...places we're considering are Venice, Tuscany (definitely), and then we're not sure - maybe the Lake region, Italian riviera, or Amalfi coast (although I've been to positano and was hoping to go somewhere new since I"ve also visited Venice and Tuscany)
Am looking for luxury hotels that cost more in teh $500 a night range rather than teh $1000 a night range but not sure those exist. I love hearing all your suggestions!! Even the ones I can't afford

Check into Starwood's "Welcome to Italy" package. If you're staying at least 7 nights in Italy, you can split those nights up among a number of different Starwood properties ... with a "guaranteed US Dollar" rate that includes breakfast, taxes, and service fees.

Although it is not in the class of some of those mentioned above, I really do not think you can go wrong (and you can save some money, too) by choosing a Pantheon-view room at the Albergo del Senato for your base in Rome. Other than the fact that rooms are not huge and there is no large flat-screen tv with many foreign channels, I cannot element lacking in comparison with the fancier places.. Maybe your stay here can free up some cash for the Villa del Este! Or the San Domenico! Or even La Posta Vecchia!

Since I love luxury hotels, I did some research. The prices have gone way up unfortunately. The last few times we were in Rome, our family stayed in the Senior Suite at the Del Senato. That is a great room for a family of four, but at over 500 Euro a night, over your budget. But you can get a very nice double room in your price range. It is a great hotel in an unbeatable location, but it's no five star luxury hotel. It's a three star (because it doesn't have restaurant) with attractive and comfortable rooms.

I also checked the prices on some of the usual suspects when someone mentions "luxury hotel in Italy." The Gritti Palace has a standard double room, with twin beds pushed together, for 460 Euro a night. Over your budget. The Danieli is more expensive. In Florence, both the Grand and Excelsior have standard double rooms starting around 450 Euro a night, again, with twin beds pushed together. The Excelsior's website listed one room, at over 500 Euro a night, with a king bed. But if you want a queen or king bed in one of those hotels, it will be hard to come by. The Helvatia and Bristol is one of my favorite smaller hotels in Florence. Five star and a luxury hotel, it also starts at around 500 Euro a night.

So the point of all this is that in the cities, it will be very difficult to find five star luxury for less than $600 or $700 per night. I suggest you spend more time outside the cities where you can find a beautiful room in a charming hotel in your price range. For example, the suites at La Saracina, outside Pienza are at most 300 euro per night and they are gorgeous.

Grinisa - great research thank you! I'm not exactly sure what our budget is yet as the trip is pretty far away. 6-700 a night may be alright, for part of the trip, I just know that if my fiance hears 1000 a night he will freak out But there is definitely some leeway in there, and thanks so much for the helpful price checking!

one more thing - is it the more expensive the hotel the more likely it is to have two twin beds pushed together? I assumed this had to do with how old the hotel was but some of the hotels Grinisa mentioned are not that old are they? Not to harp on the bed thing, I just know how much my fiance hates that. He will be very unhappy if we spend all that money and then he sees two twin beds pushed together.

In Piemonte, Locanda Sant Uffizio is excellent. Their half board package is fantastic - including sparkling wine for apéritif in unlimited quantities.

http://www.thi.it/eng/benvenuto.asp?id=4

"is it the more expensive the hotel the more likely it is to have two twin beds pushed together ?"

IME nearly all European hotels do this - it makes things more flexible for them as they can use the room as a twin or a double. You can ask for "un letto matrimoniale" (which I always do) but it's still quite likely to be 2 singles stuck together to a greater or lesser degree - mostly secured in some way but occasionally not. IMO, if they are securely fastened together it can be better than a double, which seems cramped when you're used to a king (i.e. 2 x single beds = wider than 1 x double bed).

It doesn't matter if the hotel is expensive or not, old or new, the usual bed arrangement is to push two twin beds together. It can be tricky to find a queen or king mattress in Italy, even when you specify a "matrimonial" bed. Many places think two twins pushed together qualifies, so you must be very specific.

very interesting..I think I am making a bigger deal about this than I need to be. Very quickly - this is because a few years ago I was living abroad with my FH and we ended up wtih two twin beds pushed together for six months but the beds had separate wood frames and everything, and it was so uncomfortable. I do not think this would be anything like that, but just to explain why we hate it, it's those memories...certainly not anything that would stop us from loving Italy I'm sure!

all these wonderful hotel suggestions make me want to go to Lake Como and back to Positano/Capri....would it be crazy to do Venice, Tuscany, Amalfi Coast, and Lake Como (we may have as long as 2.5 weeks) - what would be the best order assuming open jaw is doable and all that?