My best friend and I have just bought plane tickets to Rome and we are leaving in a week! This is a last minute, we both need a vacation trip, but neither one of us have been to Italy before and do not know what to expect.

We are flying in and out of Rome and will be in Italy for 8 days. We would like to see Rome, Florence, and Pompeii. I'm not sure we would have time to see another city.

I am struggling with where to stay in Rome and Florence. Can anyone recommend nice but not to expensive hotels in both cities? There seems to be so many choices I don't know where to start!

This will be the first of many questions to come-Thanks!

First of all, congratulations on going for it!

Don't try to fit in anything more, you have enough to do for 8 days.

try the Nicolas Inn B&B:
www.nicolasinn.com

The owner & her husband speak fluent English (she is American) and are super nice and helpful. It is popular, so may be booked.

If you type in Rome (or Florence) hotels in the search box you will get some great suggestions. Just read a bit and start contacting them ASAP.

Now, meet your friend at a bookstore after work today and sit down and start going through guidebooks. For a first trip, Rick Steves Italy would be helpful. I also like the Top Ten Guides. You can get one for Rome, one for Florence (or Tuscany). Small, useful and easy to pack and carry.

Then come back to Fodors and read everything you can on Rome and Florence!

Pompeii is a little more out of your way, but if you love ancient sites, it is fabulous.

Try this website: www.italyby.com

I've stayed at the Hotel Picasso (which is not listed on this site). I paid around 40 euro/night when I stayed three years ago this February. It's clean, safe and centrally located. What price range are you looking for and what type of neighborhood do you want to stay in?

I would reccommend that after you arrive in Rome you head immediately to Florence that same day. Take the train--airport to Rome, then Rome to Florence. Stay in Florence 3 nights. Then take the train back to Rome for 4 nights. If you think you really MUST see Pompeii, you can do it as a very long daytrip from Rome.

Hi MH,

What's your hotel budget?

Here are a few day trips to Pompeii that have been recommended to me for an upcoming trip but I haven't tried them personnaly. http://www.enjoyrome.com/vastours/index.html

http://rome.city-discovery.com/rome_...from_rome.html

Just my two cents -- if you're going as far as Pompeii, DON'T MISS AT LEAST SOMETHING ON THE AMALFI COAST. Just gorgeous there. We visited Pompeii while we were staying in Positano and while I found Pompeii very interesting, it was pretty touristy. I much preferred my time strolling through Positano, Sorrento, Amalfi. They're less than an hour from Pompeii so if you're in the area...

Stick to only Rome and Florence. That is more than enough for a short trip. While the Amalfi Coast is beautifual. This is not the best time of the year to visit. Additionally, you will be spreadin your time to thin and for one day it is defienitely worthwhile.

I agree that you should stick to Rome or Florence. You may want to try to get into a hotel through Last Minute--I once had some days in Florence and found my hotel there though this site:
http://www.lastminute.com/

From personal experience, I can recommend the Hotel San Carlo in Rome, and faxing them is the best way to get a fast response from them:
http://www.hotelsancarloroma.com/

In Florence, you may want to try:
http://www.hotelporcellino.com/

This time of year in general is a good time to get a decent rate on hotels.

Buon Viaggio,
BC