Hi, I am looking for accommodation in Milan, Florence, Rome, Santa Margherita, Positano and Bellagio/Varenna for the month of September. I am looking to spend about 100 to 150 euros a night. I like smallish boutique hotels (with a pool preferably in the beach side towns). Can anyone recommend any nice hotels for that price?

I can't give you any specific recommendations.

But you can get specific recommendations by Searching this forum.

A search on Cheap Rome (or similar) should come up with several possibilities.

I don't blaim you for starting a new thread- let the others argue about the increased cost of traveling. They certainly did't address your concerns.

I'm also traveling in September (north, including the lakes, Dolomites, Venice, and Milan), and we had trouble finding lodging less than 100 euros. I htink that's because we wanted lake front and mountain views. In addition to searching this forum, try www.tripadvisor.com., www.venere.com and http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/. All rate all sorts of hotels throughout Italy. I also use Karen Brown books, which I find helpful, but she has become increasingly popular. She ahs a web-site at www.karenbrown.com.

September is a very busy month, and I suggest you try to book as soon as poosible. I'm sure that you'll be able to find lodgings. Hoping that others can give you more specifics. It's been a few years since we traveled in central/southern Italy, but I'll check my records and see if I can come up with some ideas

Good luck,

Margret.

Hi, thanks for the tips. I will look at those websites. I am finding researching hotels so tiring. I haven't been to Italy for 7 years so all the hotels I used to love and be able to afford are now ridiculously expensive.

In Positano, try: Hotel California, Villa Franca, Villa Rosa.

If you're willing to go a few miles away, try LE SIRENE in the town of Praiano. It's often recommended by a frequent poster here named IRA. He says that it has nearly the same views as the very expensive LE SIRENEUSE in Positano, but for about a fraction of the price, I think 100E/night.

Also check his recommendations for Florence, which include B&B Peterson.

As another poster mentioned, try to book your hotels ASAP! September is a very busy month in Italy.

You can also check the website slowtrav.com, which offers personal recommendations by travelers, some of which should fit your budget. Good luck!

There is a website which lists hotels by location and star rating. I would not consider it to recommend/ endorse any hotel but it is an extensive list. Buyer beware. Buyer Beware.

CioaCioaItaly.com

Hi S,

Have you looked at www.venere.com?

At the risk of stating the obvious, have you tried the budget guidebooks and websites?

There's a BB called The Thorn Tree at lonelyplanet dot com with tons of shoestring travelers posting. Or maybe www.ricksteves.com. Also AF Budget Travel magazine has a brand new site at BudgetTravelOnline dot com

And series guide books like Rough Guides, Let's Go, Lonely Planet, et al.

Suki,
I was very happy w/ Tourist House Ghiberti, in Florence www.touristhouseghiberti.com there are many positive reviews on this board. I wrote an extensive review you can do a search under: I left my heart in Italy.And Trip Advisor . In Venice la Calicina and in Positano Villa Rosa or La Tartana.
Best of luck
Fluffy

Doble, I couldn't access the website for ciaociaoitaly. It kept saying error.

I believe the hotel Fluffy mentions for Venice is Pensione La Calcina? www.lacalcina.com (I am not being picky, but correct the spelling only because it will make an internet search possible.)

It's a lovely hotel and depending on the room (single, double, view, no view) may or may not fit Suki's price range.