Spending one night in Lucca 13 Nov. Can anybody recommend a nice (Not too expensive) Hotel or B&B. We will not have a car so prefer something in village center.

I went to Lucca in October and was bored. Had to go back on another trip in July and gave it another shot. Still bored. Town is dirty and not that much to see or do. I go to Europe frequently and am still amazed when people mention Lucca as a place to go or stay. My recommendation is to drive through and check it out and then leave town. Don't stay there.

Lucca--dirty and boring???? What an inaccurate comment! Have been there more times than I can count as family lives nearby. Is walking on 16th century walls boring? Is climbing a tower that has a tree on top boring? Is Puccini boring? What about della Robbia and Lippi--they're boring too? The remarkable history of how Lucca evaded the de Medicis--is that boring also, and Napoleon sister, Elisa, Princess of Lucca, well she's not worth much either. It's OK, Bob, if you didn't like Lucca, don't return. It will make more room for the rest of us. My only question is why recommend someone drive through and check it out and then move on? Why would you detour to a city that is boring and dirty that you really can't drive through as most of it is pedestrian? Perhaps we're not talking about the same place! For the original poster, please visit Lucca and try to book at the Celide, La Luna (in the very midst of things) or the Piccolo Hotel Puccini--named after you know who! Have a beautiful meal at the Michelin starred Buca di Sant'Antonio or coffee and a pastry at the charmng Cafe Simo. Have someone tell you the legend behind the Volto Santo. Enjoy--you will, I promise

I've replied privately to Terry to answer his question, but I can't resist seconding Kam's comments. We just spent 3 nights in Lucca in June and thought it was charming, delightful, less touristy than many places, not at all dirty. We highly recommend the Piccolo Hotel Puccini, and in addition to the restaurant Kam mentioned, be sure to eat at Da Giulio. I'm looking forward to returning some day. To each his own.

Thanks to all of you for the info. Lucca does sound like a place we would enjoy but you never know (Different strokes etc) We went to Ireland last year and thought it was very nice but we both liked England, Cornwall, Wales, the Cotswolds, much more - Much more quaintness, thatched houses, great pubs etc. Everybody else seems to think Ireland is better. oh well!! <BR> <BR> <BR>

Trust me on Lucca. Read above. I have lived in Europe and made 20 plus trips to Europe. There are better towns to enjoy in Italy than Lucca. Better sites and more enjoyable. We were just there again on a planned tour. Everyone on the tour had the same comment. No big deal.....better towns, not worth three nights.

I agree wholeheartedly with Bob - we were in Lucca three weeks ago and found <BR>it to be the dirtiest Italian town by <BR>far - to be fair, we went in a Sunday <BR>and everything was closed up tight plus <BR>it was 38deg.C! Even so, we were very <BR>disappointed - I'd chose Volterra or <BR>San G. over Lucca.