Am taking my mother on her first Italy trip for her 70th birthday this coming September. We are going to Florence and Venice and I am really hoping to get some typically great mid-range (charming rather than big) hotel recommendations in each of these cities. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

I stayed fairly recently at two hotels that might fit the bill for you:



In Florence, the luxury B&B In Piazza della Signoria has about the most ideal location in the city; it is a renoved historic house:

www.inpiazzadellasignoria.com

In Venice, I usually stay at Pensione Accademia in Dorsoduro:


http://www.pensioneaccademia.it/

Thanks so much for your suggestions! We made a booking at the Piazza della Signoria Alas, the Pensione Accademia was booked - as were most other places we checked into

The Venice Biennale is on in September (a big international contemporary art exhibition) which might account for the difficulty in getting a hotel, I think there is also a film festival.

Could you possibly move the trip forward to November, the finishing date of the Biennale is 21st November.

What do you consider mid-range? Locanda Orseolo is very charming, but will probably run around 150-250 Euros a night. Extremeley convenient...just off St. Marks Square, but tucked away off a small isolated courtyard.

Gets excellent reviews and I would stay there again. If that price range is not too much for you...check it out at Trip Advisor. It may not have availability though!

Breakfasts are included and they're awesome. The staff greets all visitors by name and will make suggestions and reservations for dinner and sightseeing. Five star service in a little B&B.