friend won trip to Europe..hotels paid for cept for side trip to Florence..any suggestions...going in September..thx <BR>

We stayed at the Hotel Brunelleschi last October and it was very nice, but a bit expensive. We booked a single for one person and a double for two people, but both rooms were pretty much the same - one large bedroom and a smaller room with a couch that could have easily been a "twin" bed. Convenient to major shopping areas, but very tucked away (i.e quiet). Enjoy your trip! <BR>

La Residenza (on Fodor's site) has some lovely rooms on the top floor that let you have your own balcony (you have to climb through a window to get to it, but it's very nice). <BR>Good breakfast and a very pleasant staff.

A great place to stay in Florence is Il Bargellino, Via Guelfa 87, 011-39-55-238-2658, fax 011-39-55-238-2698. I've been to Florence 3 times and stayed here twice (didn't know about it the first time). <BR> <BR>Get rm 8, 9, or 10, they all open onto a huge and beautifully landscaped balcony and have priv. baths. Rm 1 downstairs is big, with a very large bath, tv, refrig. $60/night. The penzione is run by American Carmel Coppola (fr Boston) and her Italian husband Pino. This is 5 min from train station, 5 min from the market, and near some very good restaurants. You can't beat this price and the rooms are spotless and charming. If you go, tell Carmel hello from Sandy in Texas. You'll love Florence, it's wonderful. Have a great trip.

Don't go without considering the Morandi alla Crocetti, a converted convent about 2-3 blocks north of the Duomo - very quiet, friendly hosts, easy walk to everything and great bathrooms - in the $100-150 range depending on room and definitely worth it. You should be able to read about it in Fodor's, Frommer's, etc. It's also mentioned in some of the other threads on this Forum concerning Florence. You won't regret this choice. <BR>

Stay at the Liana.

Last in Firenze about 3 years ago. I second the motion about Il Bargellino, but if you're looking for a hotel, rather than a pensione, take a look at the Kraft Hotel (not too far from Il Bargellino). It's a four star, with large rooms, great balcony space, and a nice, but unpretentious restaurant. The view from the rooftop makes you feel truly a part of Firenze, and you can walk practically everywhere from there. <BR> <BR>Restaurant tip: the Buca dell'Orafo, on the Uffizi side of the Ponte Vecchio and very near the bridge in a little alleyway, is THE best spot for bistecca and those fabulous beans. <BR> <BR>September is such great weather. Enjoy!

Stayed at Hotel Silla, which I got out of Karen Brown's B&B book. A nice 3 star hotel, reasonable and in a quiet area across the Arno from Santa Croce. Nice terrace for breakfast. The center of Florence can be very noisy so this was a nice location. Easy 10 minute walk to the Ponte Vecchio and 15-20 minutes walk to Duomo and other major sites (there are so many in Florence, you need at least 4 full day). Concur with Buca dell Orafo, very good food at reasonable prices. <BR>