Can anyone recommend a well-regarded hotel in Venice for 250 Euros or less with an elevator or with one easy flight of stairs? Otherwise I will see if any of the hotels will guarantee a room on their second floor (which I know they call the first floor).

Thanks.

Well... I think that "well-regarded" is the tricky word here. And do be aware that an elevator in a centuries old building can be just slightly larger than a telephone booth.

I am not negative on Florence, mind you (though the only hotel where I hve actually ever stayed does not, IMO live up to the phrase "well-regarded", in most people's eyes). Not that it was actually bad.

Still, for 250 euro I think you will have a decent array of choices. If details about the elevator are important to you - - just ask.

Best wishes,

Rex

Hi sun,

We stayed at the Hotel Capri one year.

It is a pleasant hotel across the Grand Canal from the train station on a small, quiet square.

It has an elevator.

See http://www.hotelcapri.net/index.htm

PS, in Europe the second floor is our third floor.

Our first floor is their ground floor.

"Well-regarded" depends on one's individual opinion. I'm not fussy when it comes to European hotels (I actually WANT the Old World experience.I can get new, Western stuff here in GA).

Daughters and I loved Ambassador Tre Rose, about a block from San Marco's. Small elevator...one person and a suitcase. Great staff, excellent breakfast..even brought to our room during acqua alta...I did mention it's near San Marco's!!

Have a wonderful, memorable trip!

sal

Could you tell us when you are going? That's important. People ask for hotel recommendation with their budget but forget to say when they are going. For €250 or less, we can recommend very nice hotels in low seasons in Venice. It would be harder in mid-high seasons.

Thanks for all your great answers.

I will start checking out these leads. The trip is scheduled for May...making it "high" season...another difficulty.

I am helping friends plan this trip and because of health problems they cannot manage more than one flight of stairs.

Thanks again.

Hi, I hope you will read this. Since I know the month when you want to go, I took a look at the prices of Hotel Foscari Place from where I came back 2 weeks ago. Their standard double is between €240 - 255 in May. Opened less than 2 years ago hotel with a modern mid-size elevator, helpful courtious staff and VERY good buffet brekfast included. 2 minute walk from Ca'd'Oro vaporetto stop. And this a 4 star hotel of almost 5 star standard.

You can check the rates and reserve thru the following site :

http://foscari.hotelinvenice.com/main_en.htm?source=

Or book directly wiht the hotel by e-mail/fax/tel (that's what I do.).
http://www.hotelfoscaripalace.com/eng/foscari/home.asp
(Don't ay attention to the rates here. They will give you the lower rates in your budget.)

I stayed at their Gozaga Suite with less than your budget (€237 p/n)at low season rate.

Forgot to add. This was my 2nd stay at Foscari Palace and I can recomend it to you without hesitation.

We like the Hotel Ala very much and it has an elevator. The breakfast room is located down a short flight of stairs from the ground level but shouldn't be a problem. The Ala is nicely located on a small canal and a pleasant piazza about 10 minutes walk from San Marco and very near a vaporetto stop. It is a 3* hotel within your price range.

A small quaint hotel close to San Marcos Square is Hotel Flora. It is simply charming, and the staff is wonderful! You CAN"t go wrong! We spent 2 nights there in September.

Sorry I misread Florence for Venice. I do think that the Ala would be a good choice if available for 250 euro - - the way all other hotel rates have gone up in the last few years in Venice, I don't know what is available in that range. My comments about an elevator still apply for Venice - - I do not that the Ala has a "substandard" elevator.

I can recommend Palazzo la Scala, where I stayed in Sept. They are showing a range of 150-310E for a double in May. Elevator, nice buffet breakfast, rooms are small as expected, nice but nothing fancy. It's between Rialto and San Marco, closer to Rialto. If you take a vaporetto, it is a short walk with one small bridge (around 6 steps on each side). Or you can take a water taxi and then there is no bridge (their website tells you what to ask for if you take the taxi).

This 3* hotel is well under your price range, and it has an elevator. I'm not sure if it's in the same luxurious league as some others mentioned here.

http://www.laforcolahotel.com

Just a comment. If you're traveling to Venice during high tourist season -- about April through October -- I don't think staying close to San Marco or the Rialto bridge is desireable. This is tourist central and just getting to and from your hotel through the crowds will be annoying.

On our last visit we were happy to be staying in Dorsoduro and hung out even further away from the crowds on the Zattere. (Well, yes, the gelato at Nico's had something to do with this.)

Wandering around quiet residential neighborhoods is one of Venice's charms for me.

Once again, thanks to all for contributing ideas and suggestions.

I presented all these possibilities to my friends and gave them the websites to peruse along with some additional suggestions and information. But I left the final decision up to them.

They decided on the Hotel Ala and have made their reservation.

They are very excited about the trip and thank one and all for helping out.

Even though I am not going to Italy this year, I am getting vicarious thrills helping my friends plan their trip.

Thanks again to Fodorites for helping with the "fine tuning."