sara

Is there any great hotels that you love in Florence, Venice or Rome. I want to be close to the sites (in Rome near Spanish steps preferably and Venice near St. Marks). I am looking for decent 3 or 4 star places.

uhoh

Search for Hotel Due Torri (Roma) and Hotel Casci (Florence) and others will come up as well. These two are well located, affordable and comfortable, though not 4 star by any stretch of the imagination.

Thomas

I personally love the classic and refined Monaco and Grand Canal in Florence (4 stars) close to San Marco. The room and en suite bathroom were roomy and impeccably clean. The service was tops and I got an unbelievably low rate from a travel agent and not Orbitz and Expedia (both charging almost double for what I paid).

Lisa

<BR>Sara,<BR>My husband and I spent 2 nights in Rome last month at:<BR><BR>Palio Bianco Spanish Steps<BR><BR>Literally the building next to the Spanish steps. The first 3 floors are a bank and offices, the 4th is the 'hotel'<BR><BR>$125 a night. With breakfast.<BR><BR>Small rooms, but clean and newly renovated.<BR><BR>The only issue with this location so close to the steps was that it was noisy with the windows open (people 'hang out' on the steps till late at night). As it was December, we had the windows closed and there was no problem.<BR><BR>Talk about a great price and great location!

Thomas

Drrrrrrrrrrr! Sorry but I said the Monaco and Grand Canal was in Florence. I meant to type &quot;Venice.&quot; Please excuse me!

Nick

Thomas: Could you share with us the name/contact of that wonderful travel agent? Thanks. Nick

donna

Loved La Calcina in Venice.<BR><BR>Nothing like a later afternoon Proseco on their floating dock. Great views and friendly people.<BR><BR>Can't wait to go back there again!

Thyra

I always recommend the Casci in Florence. Inexpensive, friendly staff, and WONDEFULLY located. My husband and I stayed there in 1999 and can't say enought nice things about it. The only complaint I've ever heard is that the noise in the front rooms bother some people, so many request a room in the back... we were in the front and weren't bothered at all. But you need to book WAY early.

elaine

&quot;my&quot; hotel in Rome is the Santa Chiara; a search on that one here will get you mostly raves. Ditto the del Senato, which I would consider in the future based on lots of praise here. However, they are near the Pantheon, not the Sp. Steps. My personal opinion is that the Pantheon area is a better location, but that's up to you.<BR><BR>In Venice I recommend the Flora (but ask for a larger room if you can),or the Colombina (only a couple of years old) or the Saturnia Internazionale which is more expensive than those two.<BR>All are 5 minutes from the Piazza.<BR>The Saturnia has some very large rooms and lots of charm and a great breakfast, but although I might stay there again, some of the rooms definitely need brightening up.

Julie

sara,<BR>I would highly recommend the following:<BR>Hotel Flora in Venice (easy walking distance to St. Marco's, request a &quot;larger room&quot;, everyone very helpful.<BR>Hotel Villa Belvedere in Florence. This one is a bit out of the city, but the grounds and views are beautiful, staff helpful, and they have a great St. Bernard.

Kurt

Agree with the Hotel Flora in Venice. Nice rooms that surround a garden court yard. Only one &quot;block&quot; from Grand Canal but more quiet. Easy walk to San Marco. Vaporetto stop San Marco. Our room was quite large for this price category.<BR><BR>Florence: Try the Hotel Tournaboni Beacchi on Via Tournaboni (might have the spelling of Tournaboni wrong). Anyway great location near Piazza della Republica, Ponte Vecchio, Ufizzi, etc. Awesome rooms, outdoor rooftop patio with great views and flower garden. Nice living room type gathering area where you can meet other guests, read, relax, have a cocktail, etc. Our room had a great view of the Duomo. I have found it hard to get a reservation here without planning well in advance, but worth a try.<BR><BR>A little less expensive, but very nice in Florence is the Hotel Annalena on Via Romana near the Porta Romana. A converted 14th century convent. Rooms have a large covered patio (although our room you had to climb out the window to get on it!) overlooking a quiet garden space. A bit removed from the hustle and bustle of the central city, but an easy walk. Via Romana leads past the Boboli Gardens, Pitti Palace to the Ponte Vecchio and into the main part of town. Nice small place with lots of character.<BR><BR>Enjoy your trip -- wish I were going again soon!<BR><BR>

edmann

I highly recommend hotel 58viacavour de Luxe! It is clean, quiet and comfortable, and it is only a few blocks from the Termini Station! it's on the 4th floor of an office building and has a very secure entrance, and it is not a typical hotel.The rooms are with view. The owner is very kind and helpful and speaks some English. There are only 8 rooms, so make sure you have reservations - and he only takes cash - but it's worth every penny! It made our trip to Rome very enjoyable!

Rob

We enjoy hotels &quot;near the town centers&quot; so here goes our best experiences :<BR><BR>Rome = Mascagni -or- Genio<BR><BR>Florence = Fenice Palace<BR><BR>Venice = Splendid Suisse<BR><BR>Check each out and decide for yourself !<BR><BR>Enjoy.....Rob

MH

We stayed in Hotel San Carlo in Rome last Oct. It is at the Spanish Steps where we consider the best place to stay in Rome (becoz of the underground &amp; shopping).<BR><BR>You must ask for a room in their Annex block. The 1st night they put us in their main hotel block. It was small, plain, alittle noisy and extremely tired and dull. But the next night we shifted to the Annex Block. What a difference! It was cosy, relatively spaciious and quiet! We highly recommend it and would be back in a hurry. Reception speaks english and helpful as well, so there ..

lu

Hotel Lirico--not too far from Central Station but in a good and quiet location. Have you considered convents?? --read Bed and Blessings for a terrific selection all over Italy including Rome-we stayed in 2 --Casa Beata and Fraterna Domus -very inexpensive, most have reakfast included,private facilities,very simple but with character-some have curfew about 11 pm

lu

OOOOOPS--did not register the 4 star requirement--still widens your options

stephen

best place in florence is the torre guelfa

brigitta

I highly recommend hotel 58viacavour de Luxe! <BR>http://www.58viacavour.it<BR>It is clean, quiet and comfortable, and it is only a few blocks from the Termini Station! it's on the 4th floor of an office building and has a very secure entrance, and it is not a typical hotel.The rooms are with view. The owner is very kind and helpful and speaks some English. There are only 8 rooms, so make sure you have reservations - and he only takes cash - but it's worth every penny! It made our trip to Rome very enjoyable!<BR>

susan

Pensione La Calcina in Venice!!!<BR><BR>www.lacalcina.com

Book Chick

Hi Sara,<BR>Rome = Casa Howard<BR><BR>Venice = Locanda Sturion<BR><BR>Florence = Hotel Pitti Palace<BR><BR>I know the first two have their own web sites, but I think if you search out the third one on Google, you should be able to locate it.<BR><BR>Buon Viaggio,<BR>BC