We will be visiting Italy this April/May & plan to spend several
days each in Rome, Florence and Venice.
I'd like to get recommendations for lodging - is it possible to find
decent rooms in these cities for around $100/night for two? Location is
more important than amenities, but I would prefer a private
bathroom.
I've looked through several guidebooks, but a first hand recommendation
is always helpful.
Thanks
Dennis

"ds" skrev i meddelandet
news:[email protected]...
    > We will be visiting Italy this April/May & plan to spend several
    > days each in Rome, Florence and Venice.
    > I'd like to get recommendations for lodging - is it possible to find
    > decent rooms in these cities for around $100/night for two? Location is
    > more important than amenities, but I would prefer a private
    > bathroom.
    > I've looked through several guidebooks, but a first hand recommendation
    > is always helpful.
    > Thanks
    > Dennis
I am not sure if I understand what you mean by first hand recommendation but
you can find an apartment for $100/night if you stay a week.
Luigi
www.scaiecat-spa-gigi.com

Been to Venice twice in recent years. I was very lucky as I found good
places to stay in each trip and would go back to them.

Stayed at B&B Locanda Gaffaro. Not centrally located, near the Roma bus
station. But it's location forces you to walk through Venice to get to
the popular tourist attractions. The B&B is located in a residential area of
Venice so you will meet plenty of locals and and hardly a fellow tourist. The
room I stayed in was quite large. They have no breakfast room, so depending
on the weather you can eat outside or in your room. Ask for American coffee
and you get a large pot of coffee.

Website address: http://www.gaffaro.com/

I also stayed at Locanda Arte. Very near the Accademia Bridge. A five minutes
walk and ten minutes to San Marco Plaza. They say five but maybe when the
streets are empty. Room was small, breakfast was good you will find many
good places to have dinner near by.

http://locarte.hotelinvenice.com/

I would stay at both of the again. Rooms were clean, had private bathrooms
and they have a large bed that was very comfortable.

Have a great time in Venice, I always have and looking to go back soon.

Bill
[email protected]

Venice: In April 2002 we stayed at Locanda Novo. It is walking distance
from the Rialto Bridge, in a very quiet little area. Fantastic room, nice
breakfast, very hospitable. I would definitely stay there again.
Their website: http://www.locandanovo.com
Enjoy. Venice was (is) one of our favourite places to go.

Rome: make your stay as short as possible. See what you need to see, then
leave. It's crowded, noisy, crime-infested, and generally not a nice place
to be (though we did have a couple of pretty good meals there!). We had a
bad experience with a "B&B" there, so I'm afraid I don't have a
recommendation for lodging.

Florence: seriously consider staying out of town, in Tuscany somewhere, and
taking a day trip or two to Florence. Much more peaceful that way. We
stayed in Certaldo at the Mugnano Horse Farm. Run by a very avid
horsewoman. Her site: http://www.tuscany.net/mugnano/index.html

Cheers,
Gordon

"ds" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > We will be visiting Italy this April/May & plan to spend several
    > days each in Rome, Florence and Venice.
    > I'd like to get recommendations for lodging - is it possible to find
    > decent rooms in these cities for around $100/night for two? Location is
    > more important than amenities, but I would prefer a private
    > bathroom.
    > I've looked through several guidebooks, but a first hand recommendation
    > is always helpful.
    > Thanks
    > Dennis

In article ,
"Gordon Walker" wrote:


    >
    > Rome: make your stay as short as possible. See what you need to see, then
    > leave. It's crowded, noisy, crime-infested, and generally not a nice place
    > to be (though we did have a couple of pretty good meals there!). We had a
    > bad experience with a "B&B" there, so I'm afraid I don't have a
    > recommendation for lodging.

having spent roughly a month in Rome on three separate trips -- most
recently 10 days last May, I think you are nuts -- a wonderful town,
lots to see, delightful people
    >
    > Florence: seriously consider staying out of town, in Tuscany somewhere, and
    > taking a day trip or two to Florence. Much more peaceful that way. We
    > stayed in Certaldo at the Mugnano Horse Farm. Run by a very avid
    > horsewoman. Her site: http://www.tuscany.net/mugnano/index.html

the absolutely worst advice of all -- why go all the way to this center
of renaisance art only to have the hassles of being a commuter. the
Tuscan countryside is fabulous -- well worth a stay and a good base for
driving to the many lovely small towns worth seeing -- but if you want
to see Florence -- be in Florence -- a great walking town.

In news:[email protected], Gordon Walker
wrote:


    > Venice was (is) one of our favourite places to go.


Mine to.


    > Rome: make your stay as short as possible. See what you need
to see,
    > then leave. It's crowded, noisy, crime-infested, and generally
not a
    > nice place to be.


Each to his own. I'll offer a contrary opinion. Rome is probably
my favorite place in the entire world, and there's much to see
and do. I'd recommend staying there as long as possible.


    > Florence: seriously consider staying out of town, in Tuscany
    > somewhere, and taking a day trip or two to Florence.


Another contrary opinion: although Florence is not my favorite
place in Italy, if you want to see Florence you should stay in
Florence. Staying out of town and being a commuter (in Florence
or anywhere else) wastes a substantial part of your
always-too-short vacation time. Divide the total cost of your
trip by the number of hours you will be awake while there, and
you can see the enormous extent of that waste.

--
Ken Blake
Please reply to the newsgroup

Boy, am I getting beaten up on my posting about Rome and Florence!

Commuting? Train travel through Italy is one of the nicest ways to see the
countryside and meet interesting natives. My advice is not to plan your
trip around the biggest cities in Italy solely so you can "check off" seeing
the major tourist attractions and museums. Get out into the country, taste
the local produce, meet the local people, and learn the pace of life that
southern Italy (outside of the cities) has to offer.

I suppose my views on Rome and Florence might have been a bit jaded: we
spent two glorious weeks in the Tuscan countryside and small hilltowns
before heading to Florence and we felt absolutely bludgeoned by the crowds,
noise, and scooters. Likewise, our trip to Rome followed a stay of a few
days in Sorrento: a stay in a lovely, peaceful, fairly quiet town with
beautiful surroundings, followed by Rome and its noise, smog, scooters, and
crime.

I guess I need to reapproach my travel planning and head to the big cities
first, then recover in the smaller, quieter towns ;-)

Whatever your approach, enjoy your vacation!
--


"Ken Blake" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > In news:[email protected], Gordon Walker
    > wrote:
    > > Venice was (is) one of our favourite places to go.
    > Mine to.
    > > Rome: make your stay as short as possible. See what you need
    > to see,
    > > then leave. It's crowded, noisy, crime-infested, and generally
    > not a
    > > nice place to be.
    > Each to his own. I'll offer a contrary opinion. Rome is probably
    > my favorite place in the entire world, and there's much to see
    > and do. I'd recommend staying there as long as possible.
    > > Florence: seriously consider staying out of town, in Tuscany
    > > somewhere, and taking a day trip or two to Florence.
    > Another contrary opinion: although Florence is not my favorite
    > place in Italy, if you want to see Florence you should stay in
    > Florence. Staying out of town and being a commuter (in Florence
    > or anywhere else) wastes a substantial part of your
    > always-too-short vacation time. Divide the total cost of your
    > trip by the number of hours you will be awake while there, and
    > you can see the enormous extent of that waste.
    > --
    > Ken Blake
    > Please reply to the newsgroup

    > > > Rome: make your stay as short as possible. See what you need
    > >> to see, then leave. It's crowded, noisy, crime-infested, and
generally
    > > > not a nice place to be.

I live in Rome and I love it!

If you're interested in ancient history and architecture then you will not
be put off by the negative aspects of Rome mentioned. One doesn't come to
Rome for peace and quiet. As far as crime is concerned, well, it's mostly
pick pockets or people trying to rip you off. Overall Rome is a safe city.
Much safer than London, New York and LA, I would say.

    > I guess I need to reapproach my travel planning and head to the big cities
    > first, then recover in the smaller, quieter towns ;-)

An excellent strategy!



--
www · http://www.cityfacts.it

"Gordon Walker" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Boy, am I getting beaten up on my posting about Rome and Florence!
    > Commuting? Train travel through Italy is one of the nicest ways to see
the
    > countryside and meet interesting natives. My advice is not to plan your
    > trip around the biggest cities in Italy solely so you can "check off"
seeing
    > the major tourist attractions and museums. Get out into the country,
taste
    > the local produce, meet the local people, and learn the pace of life that
    > southern Italy (outside of the cities) has to offer.
    > I suppose my views on Rome and Florence might have been a bit jaded: we
    > spent two glorious weeks in the Tuscan countryside and small hilltowns
    > before heading to Florence and we felt absolutely bludgeoned by the
crowds,
    > noise, and scooters. Likewise, our trip to Rome followed a stay of a few
    > days in Sorrento: a stay in a lovely, peaceful, fairly quiet town with
    > beautiful surroundings, followed by Rome and its noise, smog, scooters,
and
    > crime.
    > I guess I need to reapproach my travel planning and head to the big cities
    > first, then recover in the smaller, quieter towns ;-)
    > Whatever your approach, enjoy your vacation!
    > --
    > "Ken Blake" wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    > > In news:[email protected], Gordon Walker
    > > wrote:
    > >
    > >
    > > > Venice was (is) one of our favourite places to go.
    > >
    > >
    > > Mine to.
    > >
    > >
    > > > Rome: make your stay as short as possible. See what you need
    > > to see,
    > > > then leave. It's crowded, noisy, crime-infested, and generally
    > > not a
    > > > nice place to be.
    > >
    > >
    > > Each to his own. I'll offer a contrary opinion. Rome is probably
    > > my favorite place in the entire world, and there's much to see
    > > and do. I'd recommend staying there as long as possible.
    > >
    > >
    > > > Florence: seriously consider staying out of town, in Tuscany
    > > > somewhere, and taking a day trip or two to Florence.
    > >
    > >
    > > Another contrary opinion: although Florence is not my favorite
    > > place in Italy, if you want to see Florence you should stay in
    > > Florence. Staying out of town and being a commuter (in Florence
    > > or anywhere else) wastes a substantial part of your
    > > always-too-short vacation time. Divide the total cost of your
    > > trip by the number of hours you will be awake while there, and
    > > you can see the enormous extent of that waste.
    > >
    > > --
    > > Ken Blake
    > > Please reply to the newsgroup
    > >
    > >

In news:[email protected], Gordon Walker
wrote:

    > Boy, am I getting beaten up on my posting about Rome and
Florence!


Sorry, I didn't mean to beat you up, but rather to point out an
opposing view for the OP. The OP needs to decide for himself what
to do and where to go, and I wanted him to have both sides to
choose from.

Neither of our views is necessarily right for everyone. We all
have different tastes, likes, and dislikes.


    > Commuting? Train travel through Italy is one of the nicest
ways to
    > see the countryside and meet interesting natives.


I don't dislike train travel, but you get to see only a small
part of the countryside that way. I do use trains to get from one
place to next (usually; sometimes I drive), but that's very
different from commuting, which lets you see the same things
twice a day every day.


    > My advice is not
    > to plan your trip around the biggest cities in Italy solely so
you
    > can "check off" seeing the major tourist attractions and
museums.


I agree that there's much more in Italy than the major cities.
And what to see on and do depends on the individual's likes and
dislikes. But on a first trip, for most people, the major tourist
sites *are* what they want to see, and for good reason--they
didn't get to be major by accident.

I completely agree with you about "checking off" the major
tourist attractions and museums. I personally am not interested
in going somewhere just so I can say "Oh, I've been there," and
would never recommend that to anyone. It's what I call the "Stamp
Collecting" approach to travel. But people should go where they
want to go and see what they want to see. As it turns out, much
of that is usually those major tourist attractions and museums
that happen to be in the big cities--primarily Rome, Venice, and
Florence.



    > Get out into the country, taste the local produce, meet the
local
    > people, and learn the pace of life that southern Italy (outside
of
    > the cities) has to offer.


I like all of those same things myself, and would recommend the
same thing, but mostly for a second trip--unless you're fortunate
enough to be able to take a very long first trip. For someone
with only a typical two weeks to spend on a first trip, I can't
recommend more than Rome, Venice, and Florence--two weeks is
nowhere enough to begin to see all of what they have to offer.


    > I suppose my views on Rome and Florence might have been a bit
jaded:
    > we spent two glorious weeks in the Tuscan countryside and small
    > hilltowns


I too love many of the small hill towns and Tuscany, and perhaps
even more in Umbria. My favorite Umbrian town is Spello. But I
would never suggest to someone with two weeks that he, for
example, cut out one of his five days in Rome to spend one in
Spello. There might be someone for whom that's the right choice,
but he would be a very rare individual.


    > before heading to Florence and we felt absolutely
    > bludgeoned by the crowds, noise, and scooters.


As I said, I don't particularly like Florence either, and for
much the same reasons you cite. But there are wonderful things to
see in Florence, and I would never suggest to an art lover that
Florence be skipped on a first trip to Italy. Despite my not
particularly liking the city, I've been there four times, to see
and re-see the art.


    > Likewise, our trip to
    > Rome followed a stay of a few days in Sorrento: a stay in a
lovely,
    > peaceful, fairly quiet town with beautiful surroundings,


Many people like Sorrento. I'm not particularly enamored of it.
I've stayed there three times because it's a great base for
seeing the surrounding countryside, but that's all.


    > followed by
    > Rome and its noise, smog, scooters, and crime.


Noise, smog, and scooters, yes. Crime? No, not in my experience.

Although I too dislike noise, smog, and scooters, there is so
much else in Rome that I love that I'm willing to put up with it.
As I said in my earlier message, Rome is perhaps my favorite
place in the world. I think I'd like to live there.


    > I guess I need to reapproach my travel planning and head to the
big
    > cities first, then recover in the smaller, quieter towns ;-)


No. You should do what *you* like to do, not what someone else
(not even me) thinks you should do.


    > Whatever your approach, enjoy your vacation!


Not me. I'm not the one planning a vacation. I replied to your
message to present an opposite point of view. It's the OP to whom
you want to direct that comment, and I echo it too.

I've traveled in Italy 15 times, including two trips last year.
On last year's first trip, in April, we spent seven days in
Venice, three in Lucca, four in Florence, five in Siena, and four
in Rome. This last trip, just a month ago, we spent nine days in
Rome and five in Capri. So you can see that I like the smaller
quieter places as well as the big cities. But as much as I love
Capri, I think I'd quickly get bored living there. I'd love to
live in Rome.

--
Ken Blake
Please reply to the newsgroup


    > "Ken Blake" wrote in
message
    > news:[email protected]...
    >> In news:[email protected], Gordon Walker
    >> wrote:
    >>> Venice was (is) one of our favourite places to go.
    >> Mine to.
    >>> Rome: make your stay as short as possible. See what you need
    >> to see,
    >>> then leave. It's crowded, noisy, crime-infested, and
generally
    >> not a
    >>> nice place to be.
    >> Each to his own. I'll offer a contrary opinion. Rome is
probably
    >> my favorite place in the entire world, and there's much to see
    >> and do. I'd recommend staying there as long as possible.
    >>> Florence: seriously consider staying out of town, in Tuscany
    >>> somewhere, and taking a day trip or two to Florence.
    >> Another contrary opinion: although Florence is not my favorite
    >> place in Italy, if you want to see Florence you should stay in
    >> Florence. Staying out of town and being a commuter (in
Florence
    >> or anywhere else) wastes a substantial part of your
    >> always-too-short vacation time. Divide the total cost of your
    >> trip by the number of hours you will be awake while there, and
    >> you can see the enormous extent of that waste.
    >> --
    >> Ken Blake
    >> Please reply to the newsgroup

"Ken Blake" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > In news:[email protected], Gordon Walker
    > wrote:



    > > Boy, am I getting beaten up on my posting about Rome and
    > Florence!
    > Not me. I'm not the one planning a vacation. I replied to your
    > message to present an opposite point of view. It's the OP to whom
    > you want to direct that comment, and I echo it too.
    > I've traveled in Italy 15 times, including two trips last year.
    > On last year's first trip, in April, we spent seven days in
    > Venice, three in Lucca, four in Florence, five in Siena, and four
    > in Rome. This last trip, just a month ago, we spent nine days in
    > Rome and five in Capri. So you can see that I like the smaller
    > quieter places as well as the big cities. But as much as I love
    > Capri, I think I'd quickly get bored living there. I'd love to
    > live in Rome.
    > --
    > Ken Blake
    > Please reply to the newsgroup
Thanks everybody for your replies. I do plan on a mix of country and city
travel. I'd like to alternate between urban and rural - the current
tentative
plan is 5 days or so in Rome, a few days in Capri, down to Sicily to
Taormina and Siracusa. Spend probably 10 days total on Sicily.
Up to Florence for a week, then Venice for a week. In between Florence
and Venice I am open for suggestions.
I have a total of 6 weeks to spend there.
Any further comments/suggestions welcome.
-Dennis

In news:[email protected], ds wrote:

    > "Ken Blake" wrote in
message
    > news:[email protected]...
    >> In news:[email protected], Gordon Walker
    >> wrote:
    >
    >>> Boy, am I getting beaten up on my posting about Rome and
    >> Florence!
    >> Not me. I'm not the one planning a vacation. I replied to your
    >> message to present an opposite point of view. It's the OP to
whom
    >> you want to direct that comment, and I echo it too.
    >> I've traveled in Italy 15 times, including two trips last
year.
    >> On last year's first trip, in April, we spent seven days in
    >> Venice, three in Lucca, four in Florence, five in Siena, and
four
    >> in Rome. This last trip, just a month ago, we spent nine days
in
    >> Rome and five in Capri. So you can see that I like the smaller
    >> quieter places as well as the big cities. But as much as I
love
    >> Capri, I think I'd quickly get bored living there. I'd love to
    >> live in Rome.
    >> --
    >> Ken Blake
    >> Please reply to the newsgroup
    > Thanks everybody for your replies. I do plan on a mix of
country and
    > city travel. I'd like to alternate between urban and rural -
the
    > current tentative
    > plan is 5 days or so in Rome, a few days in Capri, down to
Sicily to
    > Taormina and Siracusa. Spend probably 10 days total on Sicily.
    > Up to Florence for a week, then Venice for a week. In between
Florence
    > and Venice I am open for suggestions.
    > I have a total of 6 weeks to spend there.
    > Any further comments/suggestions welcome.


You are very fortunate to have six weeks. Your plan looks great
to me.

--
Ken Blake
Please reply to the newsgroup

    >I'd like to alternate between urban and rural - the current
    > tentative plan is 5 days or so in Rome...

If Rome does become to much for you take a day off and head to Frascati, a
small town about 24km south of the capital, for a nice lunch and a stroll
afterwards. You can get to Frascati in 30 mins by catching a train from
Termini Train station.

Loz

"ds" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > "Ken Blake" wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    > > In news:[email protected], Gordon Walker
    > > wrote:
    >
    > > > Boy, am I getting beaten up on my posting about Rome and
    > > Florence!
    > > Not me. I'm not the one planning a vacation. I replied to your
    > > message to present an opposite point of view. It's the OP to whom
    > > you want to direct that comment, and I echo it too.
    > >
    > > I've traveled in Italy 15 times, including two trips last year.
    > > On last year's first trip, in April, we spent seven days in
    > > Venice, three in Lucca, four in Florence, five in Siena, and four
    > > in Rome. This last trip, just a month ago, we spent nine days in
    > > Rome and five in Capri. So you can see that I like the smaller
    > > quieter places as well as the big cities. But as much as I love
    > > Capri, I think I'd quickly get bored living there. I'd love to
    > > live in Rome.
    > >
    > > --
    > > Ken Blake
    > > Please reply to the newsgroup
    > >
    > Thanks everybody for your replies. I do plan on a mix of country and city
    > travel. I'd like to alternate between urban and rural - the current
    > tentative
    > plan is 5 days or so in Rome, a few days in Capri, down to Sicily to
    > Taormina and Siracusa. Spend probably 10 days total on Sicily.
    > Up to Florence for a week, then Venice for a week. In between Florence
    > and Venice I am open for suggestions.
    > I have a total of 6 weeks to spend there.
    > Any further comments/suggestions welcome.
    > -Dennis

For Florence, have a look at:
http://users.pandora.be/bernard/Oliv...l_Moro_eng.htm