planning honeymoon to venice, tuscany (siena, chianti, montepulciano, montalcino, san gimi.) and cinque terre. please recommend some great places to stay. not cheap but not expensive. comfortable and clean. with nice views. near transporation. for early june 2006. thanks!!!

I'm heading to Cinque Terra in 3 weeks and I'm staying at Al Terra di Mare. 4 star, newly renovated, 140 Euro/night with ocean view. I'll let you know what I thought when I get back. Their website is www.alterradimare.it
Looks pretty nice.

Porto Venere...not actually in Cinque Terre...but on the boat route and just as good. The hotel is Royal Sporting. Great pool and lovely restaurant. The town also has some great restaurants...will look in my journal for recommendations if you choose it. Only a few minutes to first Cinque terre village.

Venice. Hotel...Londres Palace...ask for a room with a view.

Cinque Terre Hotel recommendation: Hotel Villa Steno in Monterosso. Up the hill in the old part of town. Amazing views. Clean, comfortable rooms. Nice breakfast. Siena Hotel idea: Hotel Santa Caterina. Right outside one of the gates (forget which right now). Great views (ask for a room with a view, in back). Good breakfast.

www.lacalcina.com for Venice is lovely. book early since it is extremely popular. request a front corner room with a view over the Guidecca canal. nice breakfast included. private rooftop deck available for reservation.

After 4 trips to the Cinque Terre, the Hotel Villa Steno in Monterosso is by far my favorite. We stayed there on our own honeymoon in June 2004 and on our anniversary trip in 2005.
We prefer room 4 - double with terrace with sea view, private bath, great a/c, tv, telephone, minifridge. Breakfast is served in either their breakfast room or their delightful sea view terrace. We brought food back to our room terrace a few times as well.