Any ideas for less expensive hotels in either of these places? The hostels in Florence all have curfews and lockout periods which we are trying to avoid. I'm not sure about Venice yet. Unfortunately all I have are Hilton points and there are none! Thanks.

In Florence, consider staying in Fiesole which is on the hill overlooking the city. There is a bus that makes frequent stops for $1. Venice will be much more expensive--consider making it a daytrip from elsewhere.

I have two suggestions:
Florence: Hotel Europa, Via Cavout 14
055-239-6715
Have not stayed here but a couple of UA employees that I know highly recommend it.

Venice: There's a really great Best Western on the Canal near the Doge Palace (like steps away). It's in a renovated artist's house. A total find. Can't remember the exact property name and of course the BW website is down. As four/five star 'snob', I was skeptical upon booking (during Film Festival week everything notable was booked) but I really liked this place. Clean, charming, yummy complimentary breakfast and walkable to everything. Get the uppermost room looking out three ways into Venice.

Just returned from Rome, Florence and Venice and can recommend Hotel Casci in Florence. A double with bath ran about 100 euro per day. A block or two from the duomo with very helpful and caring proprietors. In
Venice, Hotel Galleria is about the same price and is located at the base of the Accademia Bridge. Both have websites. BTW, let me know if you want to visit the best restaurant in all of Italy, IMO.

Thanks for the responses everyone! I booked the Hotel Casci for 2 nights in Florence, for 180 Euros/night for a triple with 3 beds. I had to change my reservation 3 times within a span of 2 hours and they were very helpful and quickly responded to my emails. I'm still working on Venice so if anyone has any additional recommendations, please respond. I did take a look at the Best Western a couple posts above, and I think it was 294/night. That's still a little high for us.

I would recommend the Hotel Luna Bagglioni which is right off of St. Mark's and just behind Harry's bar. Their site list specials, and I was able to get 2 nights for about 500 Euros. It is an upscale hotel, although perhaps not the equal of the Cipirani, Danielli, etc.

Another +/- 100 euro per night in Venice is Albergo San Trovaso. Seven rooms in the Dorsoduro sestier. They are an affiliate of Hotel Galleria, who can probably give you their phone number.

If you don't mind a 30 minute bus ride into Venice, I would highly recommend the Sheraton Padova. Bus stop is right in front of the hotel and they offer a full buffett breakfast with the room. If there are two of you traveling that is a real deal.

TF

The Shearton at Padova is OK but you might want to consider staying in Treviso. There are some lovely hotels and great eating places there.I stayed at the Hotel Carletto, Via Bibano 42, 31100 Treviso, tel 0422421614 fax 0422421712
[email protected]

Mestre (the first land town outside of Venice) has some nice hotels. I also like to stay in Padova or Vicenza.

In Florence:

Hotel Aline
Via 27 Aprile, 14
Tel 055 485877

One Star, Doubles with shower �35.

Venice:

Go out the train station and take a left..several one stars that are �50-60.

There's also a hostel down that direction (Casa Gerotto) that I dont believe has a lockout, but I'm pretty sure there was a curfew.

This website http://www.cross-pollinate.com has reasonable hotels in Rome, Venice, and Florence and is run by an american couple in Rome who also own a great hostel there called the Beehive. No lockout, no curfew.

I stayed at the Hotel Belletini while in Florence. It has a neat history (being a hotel for the past 300 years, and a street from the 1300's - but that's everywhere in Italy). People were very friendly, and its only 2 1/2 blocks from the Duomo. If I recall, the price was $120 US for a double. Huge double room (by Italian standards) with hardwood floors. Small shower/bath/toilet.

For anyone not concerned about curfews and hotel services, there always Convents and Monestaries. I stayed at a Convent for $75 CDN/night in Rome in 1999. Great when you are really there to see everything but your room.

If you go to www.venere.com you can find a great selection of hotels in most cities in Italy. I just used them for a recent trip for hotels in Florence and Venice. They have some photos, and reviews of the hotels by past guests. The reviews seem honest because many are not favorable. It helped me avoid the ones people didn't like. In Florence I stayed at the Hotel Boccaccio, literally a block and a half from the train station, in an excellent location. The Duomo and Ponte Vecchio were each about a 5 minute walk. The hotel has recently been refurbished, so recently the carpet in the hallway still has that new carpet smell. The hotel is 3 stars, but was nicer than all the other 4 stars we stayed at. It cost 105 euro a night for a superior room. A standard room went for 85 euro. The only difference is size. The hotel is a boutique hotel and the service is excellent. The price included all taxes and breakfast. The rooms were plushly decorated and had thick long fancy curtains like the Waldorf. They have a computer with high speed internet in the lobby. I forget what they charged me to use it, but it was very cheap, something like 2 or 3 euro for half an hour. I'd highly recommend this place.

Hotels in Venice I found to be quite expensive. I stayed at the Starhotel Splendid Suisee, which was listed as a 4 star, but I thought it was not nearly as nice as the Hotel Boccaccio, a 3 star. The rooms were tired, and in need of renovation, the bathroom was small, the furniture was awful, industrial cheap and ugly, and well worn past its useful life. The staff were indifferent and the hotel seemed to be overrun with bus tours. However, the location was excellent( located about 2 to 3 blocks from the Rialto and about 2 to 3 blocks from St. Marks, the hotel was fairly quiet, and the price 130 euro a night, included all taxes and a VERY good full american breakfast. Can't say I'd go back unless there were no better options in that price range. It wasn't a dump, but it was nothing special either.

Also worth noting, venere.com said we couldn't cancel without penalty past the penalty deadline, but when we needed to cancel one night of our two night stay in Cortina D'Ampezzo, the hotel let us cancel without a penalty. It didn't hurt that the reason we needed to cancel was because of the train strike. Your results may vary, but I just wanted to let others know that even when they say you can't cancel without penalty, sometimes you still can, so keep politely trying. There are some less expensive nice hotels on Lido Island and in Mestre, but in my opinion, both locations are far enough away that the hassle of going to and from the hotel is not worth the savings. Stay near St. Mark's Square if you can.

Just returned and wanted to follow-up. Stayed at Hotel Casci in Florence for two nights. There were four of us and it was perfect, at 220 Euros/night. We had a pretty big room that was sort of two rooms, with 3 single beds and a double. Also TV and air condition (which I've learned isn't a given at cheaper places). There was a free internet computer available to guests and as was mentioned previously, the proprietors were great.

In Rome we were at the Fawlty Towers hostel, for about 90/night for a triple. This was your typical backpackers hostel. Good location a block from Termini. Friendly people, TV in common room, and free internet PC. No A/C so it was extremely hot. Someone told me it's the hottest in Italy its been since 1782. I could believe it. About 96 in the shade. The elevator was broken for the first 2 nights, and the hostel was on the 6th floor so that kinda sucked.

In Venice I was at Pensionne Guerrato which was a one star for 115/night for a double. Not too much to brag about, but a clean comfortable place (no A/C though), and a good shower. Decent location just over the Rialto Bridge.

[This message has been edited by FlyByMike (edited 06-19-2003).]