We'll be in Tuscany the last 10 days of June and have booked a hotel in Florence for the entire time. For the first time we've planned a trip to Europe that does not entail lugging luggage from city to city. Maybe a sign of age.

We'll not only be taking several daytrips but also a couple of overnight trips as well. We'll be travelling by train as much as possible with buses kept to an absolute minimum (let's not get into that again).

For convenience (and hotel discounted somewhat for booking the entire time) we'll be keeping our hotel room during the overnights and taking with the absolute bare necessities in my backpack.

One of the overnights is to Siena (evening and next day) after spending a good part of the day in San Gimignano.

Since I'll be paying for two hotel rooms I'd like to try and keep the Siena hotel inexpensive if possible. We'll be travelling by train so I'd like it as central as possible.

Priorities are central location, A/C, clean and comfortable. Luxury is definitely not a requirement. Plain/oridnary is fine.

Suggestions?

Didn't see your previous bus discussion, but you won't be traveling by train from San G (no train station there). The nearest train station to San G is Poggibonsi. Bus is best/fastest as the train station in Siena is not central as it is in many other Italian cities. It is at the edge of town and to get from the train station to the historic center of Siena you would have to take a taxi or bus from the train station (bus is caught underneath the mall across the street). If you take the bus from San G, it will drop you in the center (most likely at Piazza Gramsci or sometimes Piazza Sale a block or so away). The bus back to Florence is the rapido which departs Piazza Gramsci (tourist office underneath the piazza - look around for stairs/walkway to go down) and arrives Florence about 70 minutes later (travel is mostly autostrada).

A short walk from Piazza Gramsci is a budget hotel/convent, Alma Domus. It is about a 1 minute walk from San Domenico, a 5 minute walk to the Duomo and about 5-10 minute walk to the Campo. Rooms are basic with private bath and small balcony. There is an internet point (free for a certain amount of time and a charge if you want to use longer), a tv room on one floor and a breakfast room. You can see the Duomo from your room balcony.
http://www.hotelalmadomus.it/

Another option not far from Alma Domus and closer to Campo is Cannon D'Oro.
http://www.cannondoro.com/
http://www.cannondoro.com/

Several years ago, we stayed at the Hotel Duomo and were very happy with it. The location is excellent, just up the street from the Campo.

Our room had a wonderful view of the Duomo, and there wasa nice rooftop terrace hat we enjoyed.

Since our stay was several years ago, maybe you can find some more recent information.

Byrd

Fforgot to post the link:

http://www.hotelduomo.it/en/index.php

Opps. I don't think Cannon D'Oro has AC.

There are a lot of nice options outside of the city walls, but it gets pretty expensive once you require a central location.

I stayed at the Hotel Duomo about six years ago. It meets your criteria of a great central location, A/C and clean. The rooms are NOT fancy but were comoftable (if a bit dull). Price isn't super-inexpensive, but not bad considering the location.

Last summer we stayed several days at a lovely B&B in Siena, Villa Elda. It has A/C, it worked great (was very hot when we were there)I think we paid 130 Euros per night wiith breakfast. The train station is outside the city. Eventhough we came by bus from Rome and there is a bus stop near the B&B, we decided to get out at the train station because it was raining very hard and we knew the bus stop in Siena would be in the open. We took a cab from the train station to the hotel, it cost around 9 euros.

A lot of people seem to mention Hotel Duomo.

On the map it appears quite far past the Campo and Duomo and the bus station.

Is that the case.

Our experience at Hotel Duomo was not a good one. Had a room on the front and there was lots of street noise and it was quite warm (late May). We complained about the heat and were told the AC would not be turned on until it became unbearably hot due to the high cost of electricity--the AC was not controlled in each room. This hotel was not real cheap either. I would look at Alma Domus if I were you.

Thanks.
I'm looking at Alma Domus.

Villa Elda only seems to have a few expensive rooms.

How about Chiusarelli or Piccolo Hotel Etruria?

If you look on the map on the Hotel Duomo website and click the up arrow once to move the map up a tad the Campo is where the A in Siena is, the bus hub (there isn't a station) is under the via in via dei Montanini, Alma Domus would be above Fonte part of Via di Fontbranda. Nothing is far and easily walkable although you are right about Hotel Duomo being on the far side from the bus hub.

Chiusarelli (it's giving a 138€ rate for a random date end of June) is on a busy street with lots of traffic, but within sight of the bus hub. I think the other hotels mentioned are in areas where there aren't cars although I haven't been as far as the Hotel Duomo I would assume cars aren't allowed there either.

Myer,

What price are you looking for?

We also considered another B&B inside the walls called Antica Residenza Cicogna, it was less expensive than Villa Elda and had A/C as well. It only has 5-6 rooms.

I enjoyed my stay at this very central B&B-

http://www.residenzadepoca.it/

My "classic" room was large, had a nice view of the Siena rooftops and had a skylight. The hosts were very nice.

We were very happy with Hotel Alma Domus ... although one of the front-desk nuns gave my husband nightmares about being in first grade again.

I recall skipping over the Alma Domus because of their curfew. However, it looks like it's now at 1 a.m. (I could have sworn it was more like 10 p.m when I looked years ago). Without that issue, I'd choose it over the Hotel Duomo.

just27,

Am I going to have to convert if I stay at the Alma Domus?

Think they'll check . . . .?

Absolutely, they'll check! That front-desk nun will probably also whack your knuckels with her ruler when you check in. Other than that, it's a wonderful location, and has a fabulous vista over the old city, which is an 8 minute walk away. (Even my parochial schooled husband would go back in a heartbeat.) We shut down the grande place and had no curfew problems. Whenever I watch "Quantum of Solace" I remember that Siena visit, fondly. It's also squeeky clean.

I forget, sometimes, that email doesn't show when I'm kidding. Er, of course you won't have to convert ... I didn't ...

This religious stuff is making me a bit uncomfortable. I'll have to think about it.

Anybody stay at Antica Residenza Cicogna.
Very good ratings/comments on TA.