My family of 6 is traveling to Italy in April 2009 - can anyone give me a recommendation for an inexpensive nice hotel in Milan, Venice and Rome? Thank you.

My husband is in Venice right now with a party of 5. I chose a nice apartment for them on Lido Di Venezia which is one of the islands off of Venice. I liked this location for a few reasons. Venice can be crazy and crowded. Lido is a beach town, it's very green, and much more calm and serene than Venice proper. Also, it's a quick 10 minute vapporetto ride to the main island (the station is a block or so away) we did this several times a day when we stayed there last time, it was convenient and easy. Also, the price is a lot less on Lido and you get more space for the money if you take an apartment, especially with that many people in your party.

For 210 euros a night, I booked them a very nice apartment with 2-double bedrooms, 1 twin bedroom, and a sofa bed. It's completely outfitted and there is a grocery store about a block away. It's only a couple blocks from the beach and it's right on the lagoon.

A typical hotel room, say a triple, in Venice proper will run you about 200 euros and that would be a ok place. With a party that large, I would definitely go with an apartment. Also, if you have children in your party, I like Lido better for kids, there's the beach, arcades, it's just very kid friendly, at least in the summer time it is.

Here's a link to the apartment, this company was very easy to work with.

http://www.oasis.ve.it/main_en.htm

It is very hard to find an inexpensive hotel in Milano, let alone for six people.

How many rooms do you need? What is your budget?

Do you really need to stay in Milano?

2 ROOMS IS O.K. SOMEWHERE CLOSE TO MILANO MAY BE O.K.

Smeraldo in Rome was a small, nice hotel in a great location--best price we could find with AC.

I also should have asked if any of your family is children, and whether you are flying into Milano on an overnight flight.

If you are flying into Milano on an overnight flight, remember that you won't be able to get into your room until noon at least. (You can leave your luggage in the lobby.) So it can make sense to press on a bit out of Milano on the train line.

In between Milano and Venezia is town on Lago di Garda called Peschiera del Garda. It can be reached by train about one hour beyond Milan. It might be especially nice if you have children, since it is very much a family place, with lots of family-sized rooms. (There is a popular amusement park on the lake). It can be rather inexpensive.

Adults (but even children) may enjoy staying in Stresa on Lago Maggiore, which is a simple bus ride from Malpensa airport, or a one hour train ride from Milano. The lake has many nice activities (although April may be rather chilly). Stresa is not as inexpensive as Peschiera del Garda. Another town on Lago Maggiore you might consider is Arona, which is even closer to Milano.

Staying the night in Verona is another possibility, although hotel rooms are sometimes scare there. But it is a fascinating place to see. Try to find a B&B.

You can use the website Venere.com to try to locate a hotel right in Milano. However, do check the user reviews both on that site and on Tripadvisor. Inexpensive hotels in Milano are notoriously bad -- some of the worst in Northern Italy. I'm afraid it is a costly town when it comes to hotels.

In all your locations, also consider staying at bed-and-breakfasts. They are often extremely clean and family run, and a bargain. With six of you, you might end up occupying an entire small b&b, and it would work out just fine.

Hope that helps. Fortunately you have plenty of time to plan. If you are traveling at Easter, you can expect high prices everywhere, and crowds.

In Milan I like the Hotel London. Excellent location, clean and well organized rooms, and good rates.
http://www.hotel-london-milan.com/

For Venice, try Locanda Fiorita. It's a 2-star hotel, but is very comfortable. Just off of Campo San Stefano in San Marco, it's far enough away from Piazza San Marco to be quiet. Easy access to just about anywhere in Venice.
http://www.locandafioritahotel.com

Although lately I stay in apartments in Venice (great idea, GP), I would never stay on Lido ... There are CARS there!

I also recommend you avoid the Lido.

Don't be afraid to take private car transfers to and from the airport in lieu of trains. By the time six of you buy all the necessary tickets, taking a car service, even to another town, may be cost effective or worth it.

After you have done your searching for hotels' reviews, locations, amenities at venere.com, try checking out your choices at eurocheapo.com.

We had booked a hotel in Milan 6 or 8 months prior to our departure. Somehow I came across eurocheapo, did a search on our booked hotel and found a room for almost 1/2 the price of our original booking. It didn't take me long to cancel the first and make a reservation for the second quote.

Toni,

What is the name of the hotel? Have you stayed there yet?

Just curious for future reference.

zeppole,

It was Hotel King Mokimba and we stayed there August 2005. In most respects it was a wonderful place. Perfect location - we walked everywhere. Lovely room although a little small but no worse than others we have stayed in. Amazing breakfast! But the rudest front desk staff I have ever encountered. It got to the point where you almost dreaded asking for your key! And it wasn't just us; I observed similar attitude directed at other guests. I don't know how they kept their jobs!

In Venice, try the Hotel Riva and the Casa Rezzonico. In Rome, try the Domus Julia, the apartment annex to the Hotel Julia, so you have the benefits of both a hotel and an apartment.

In Venice I like the Hotel Antico Capon. When I was in college I found it searching on a hostel website, but they have private rooms with their own bathroom. It's not fancy, but it's in a great location, has excellent service (24hour reception), and they will hold your luggage if you arrive early or depart late. We booked there again this summer and can't wait to go back! For August, we're paying 75 euros/night for a double bed - although we are sharing a bathroom - but we did this last time, too, and the hotel is very small so the bathroom does not get much traffic and everything was very clean, quiet and comfortable.

We booked the mini-Hotel Aosta in Milan for a good price. I read good things about it but I haven't been yet!

Thanks, toni.

I know where the hotel is. It's a great area for everything. Sorry to hear the hotel staff is bad, but I think I'd put up with that for a good room in that neighborhood if the price was good.

Can I ask a few more questions?

Was the room quiet? (Lots of traffic over there.)

What did you pay -- and at what time of year?

Oh sorry. I just saw you said August. But I'm still curious about the cost and noise.

Imschmale - I've stayed at the Mini Hotel Aosta, but it was several years ago. It's across the street from the main train station and there are several bars/restaurants in the area. The rooms were nice with AC, mini-bar and a good size for Europe. They had an elevator, but I do remember something weird about the stairs. Odd-shaped and seemed outdoorsy (off the courtyard I think).

zeppole,

It cost 80 Euro per night in August 2005 and noise was not a problem for us even though our room was on the front, 3rd or 4th floor, I think - with a view over the rooftops to the Castle and Duomo if you lean out the window.

And we thought the same thing about being able to put up with a little rudeness for the right hotel (some people before us mentioned it on venere.com reviews). I don't expect front staff to be my next best friend but a couple of these guys, if they are still there, took rudeness to a new level. In fact calling them rude is being generous; mean might be a better adjective. Hope your experience, should you go, is better. I'd gladly return otherwise.

Thanks -- 80 is a great price, even for August, I think.

Maybe the staff was just depressed they didn't get off August off, like everybody else in Milano!

I don't usually put up with bad service anywhere, and I've never had it in Milano -- but I often feel like a beggar trying to find a good hotel room in Milano at an affordable rate. So if I had to compromise anything, it would be that.

We stayed in the Residenza Cellini in Rome and thought it was a very good value. It's just a few rooms in an older building off Via Nazionale but the rooms (large by Rome standards) and the common areas are extremely well-maintained and the service couldn't be better. We got a map and a wealth of information about the area and the busses the evening we checked in. The staff also helped with restaurant reservations, if needed.
There was even a laptop in the breakfast room that was available for free.
The only "problem" is that the hotel gets such a good rating from Trip Advisor and Rick Steve that you need to book far in advance.

In Rome - Hotel della Torre Argentina (has a/c and elevator.)
In Venice - Hotel Al Piave(no a/c, no elevator.)
Both are reasonably priced, good location, pleasant staff and clean, comfy & spacious rooms. Spent several nights at both with kids in 2006. Very happy with both.