sheri

Well, I live in Seattle, so it's not like I'm not used to cold & damp! Plus, I enjoy traveling in the off-season, and imagine that Venice will be very atmospheric (fog & mist) in the winter. However, I have been warned to take rubber boots because of flooding. It would be great to hear from anyone who has traveled to Venice in the winter.

Dona

Yes, Venice in February is cold and damp - and magical! If you're dressed right, the fog during the day often lifts on a pink sky at dusk... It's beautiful. <BR> <BR>As for upscale hotels in Venice and Florence, in Venice, I like the Europa and Regina. It's very elegant and hidden away and yet, very centrally located and on the canal. I found the location of the Danieli too frenetic. Many like the rooms at the Baur Grunwald and I've never stayed there - but the lobby feels like a business hotel to me. The Gritti is also beautiful. I've stayed at the Excelsior which I absolutely loved - but it's on the Lido and you have to be willing to take their water taxi back and forth to centro. <BR> <BR>I just returned from Florence for the 6th time - and did a lot of scouting for very nice hotels for a friend. While the Excelsior and the Grand are "grand dames", they're formal and did not give me a real warm feeling. My second choice is the Helvetia and Bristol; but my first choice happens to be the place I stayed - the Lungarno - with a room on the Arno. It's the only hotel in Florence directly on the Arno, with no traffic between the hotel and the river. Waking up with a view of the Arno was fabulous. <BR> <BR>Have a great vacation... <BR> <BR>Dona