a friend asked me today to suggest hotels in both florence and venice in the $300-400 range....this is out of my usual range...can you loyal fodorites make suggestions....anyplace with a story or a literary history would be appreciated...i.e. hemingway killed himself there....thanks

i should have added that they want to travel in may...thanks

Hemingway didn't kill himself there, but he wrote while sitting on the terrace overlooking the Grand Canal at the Gritti Palace. A double is in the 400+ range. In Florence, I like the Helvatia and Bristol although I'm not aware of any literary connections.

Lots of good options, but let me suggest the Metropole in Venice and the Lungarno in Florence and be sure to do the Vasari corridor.

In Venice, the Hotel des Bains on the Lido was the setting for Mann's "Death in Venice" but that would require that your friend stay on the Lido. Some people like it, it is necessary to take a boat back and forth from the Lido to the main part of Venice.

19th century art critic John Ruskin stayed at a Venice pensione that is now the often-praised La Calcina, but it's still more a very nice pensione than a luxury hotel.

Henry James stayed at places that are now the Hotel Wildner and the hotel
Europa-Regina, a very fine hotel.

The Gritti Palace was once the Doge's residence.

Hemingway died in Idaho I believe, but before that he had drinks at Harry's Bar in Venice.

elain beat me to it, but great suggestions. I would add the Danieli Palace in Venice and the Villa San Michele in Fiesole (outskirts of Florence) filled with Michelangelo statues and loads of history! Breathtaking.

Hotel Cipriani is a very nice, upscale hotel in Venice. However, I think the rooms might start at over $400. It's worth checking into, though.

Hotel des Bains on Lido was also the setting for the hotel scenes in The English Patient...

If I had that budget and wanted to splurge, I would choose the Savoy on Piazza della Republica, the Westin Grand Hotel, or the Westin Excelsior. The Westins are located right on the Arno. I've heard wonderful stuff about each hotel from people I know who spurged there.

For Venice, they're putting up my boss and a few others at the Hotel Danieli and the Hotel Gritti.

Unfortunately, your friends will not be able to get a room at the Gritti in May for anything close to $400USD.

We had a magical stay at the Westin Europa Regina. Ask for a room overlooking the Grand Canal.

Hi, rhkkkmk!

May I call you rhk? Both my suggestions have already been mentioned.

Last March we stayed at the Danieli in Venice and loved it! It's an old converted palazzo, so I'm sure there's at least <i>some</i> literary anecdote to it. I think I remember reading about parties there with Cole Porter or Somerset Maugham or someone. Anyway, it might have to be a rather small room for that range, as it is rather pricey.

In Florence, years ago, we really enjoyed the Helvetia &amp; Bristol. I don't know about any story to the place, but the rooms are great!

Happy travels to your friend, and to you!

Going back a little in time to literary figures at the Danieli, George Sand stayed there with Fr&eacute;d&eacute;ric Chopin.

Hi. Three years ago we stayed in a lovely upscale B&amp;B in Florence that was converted from a palazzo that I would highly recommend. It is right on the Piazza della Signoria so the location is fantastic.
There are about 10 spacious rooms - beautifully furnished - many with original frescoes, all with luxurious baths, etc. The hosts &quot;Sonia &amp; Alessandro&quot; are charming and they take a real interest in their guests comfort.
The breakfast is served in a lovely room that still has some of the original frescoes and in one area behind the wall they uncovered a small shoe, so some interesting history here. Breakfast is cooked to order and is great.
This is a &quot;special place&quot; and we had a wonderful stay there for 3 nights. The website is www.inpiazzadellasignoria.com
Do check it out.
Have a wonderful trip.

On the Danieli:

There seems to be a less stunning wing, where they put people patting themselves on the back for getting a good deal. Mrs F + I stayed there a few years back in a seriously underwhelming room with the general air of a slightly seedy American chain hotel. It was back in the days of funny money, and only a few hundred thousand a night.

We felt we'd got better value for twice the price at the Gritti Palace. Which is worth breaking rhkkmk's friends' modest budget for.

We stayed at Londra Palace in Venice,
which I highly recommend. Tchaikovsky was a guest and wrote his 4th Symphony there, among other works. The 4th was written in Room 108. Hotel Helvetia &amp; Bristol in Florence, where we also stayed, hosted De Chirico, Pirandello, and Enrico Fermi, among others. I recommend this hotel, as well.

Anybody else notice that the initial request was posted about two year ago!?

Oopsies. Apparently not me. :-B

topping again for more info on upscale hotels!