Hello!
I am planning a beautiful trip to Italy with my 22 year old daughter! We will start in Venice and end in Amalfi for 21 days!
The hotel process is a little overwhelming. So many choices!!! I was wondering if anyone can recommend a hotel ( yes I do have the Rick Steves book) that you have stayed at that is at the heart of each location for ease of walking around the towns.
I would appreciate it!
Thank you!
Lisa
In Rome we've stayed at Hotel Fontanella Borghese a number of times and have always been pleased. It's very nice and the location is great. You can walk to The Spanish Steps, Pantheon, Nuvona, even Vatican City. The staff is friendly and helpful. Ask for a room overlooking the courtyard as rooms overlooking the side street can get noisy. Check them out at their web site which is www.fontanellaborghese.com. If they can't accommodate you they have a sister hotel closer to the Pantheon called Hotel Due Torri.
In Florence we've stayed at Hotel California (yep, that's the name) and really liked it. Very nice and within walking distance of all the places you’ll want to go.
In Venice we really like Pensione Guerrato and have stayed there several times. The location is very close to a vaporetto stop, but far enough away from Rialto Bridge to not be in the mob scene. Iit does have some stairs to climb. If you book there let us know and we can give you directions that will eliminate a lot of walking with the luggage.
With all of the above we send an email directly with our request for a booking and get an answer in 24 hours or less.
Cinque Terre: La Spiaggia, Monterosso:
https://la-spiaggia-it.book.direct/en-us
For reviews: https://www.booking.com/hotel/it/la-spiaggia.html#tab-main
They book up fast and early before shoulder and high seasons and, unless things have changed, are closed for a couple of months during the winter. Terrific location: short, level walk from the train station, sea views (must request), and has an elevator. Rooms & bathrooms are small and simply furnished but very clean. Locally owned and managed; very friendly staff (owner Maria is a 10!!!) who are very knowledgeable about the area; breakfast included in the tariff.
Obviously this is located in just one of the 5 small-to-tiny Cinque Terre villages (the largest) so you'll need to use the trains, ferries and your feet to explore ALL of them. :O)
In Rome my favorite place to stay by far is Hotel Smeraldo. It's just a couple minutes' walk from Campo de Fiori, and maybe 10" from Piazza Navona. It's also an easy walk the other direction (maybe 20") to the Forum, Jewish neighborhood and so much more. It's just a lovely hotel, with rooftop bar/relaxing area, and (some are small but) quite comfy, clean, even plush modern rooms. In Venice, I've stayed at Pensione Guerrato several times and like it a lot. However, I don't like the several long flights of steps necessary to access many of the rooms. My new favorite (stayed there 3 times) is Hotel AL Ponte Mocenigo, just steps from the San Stae vaporetto stop, and an easy stroll to the Rialto Bridge, the Frari church, and then onward to San Marco. However, it's on a quieter street but with wonderful restaurants and shops very close by. Beautiful old building, lovingly restored, and very nice folks who run it.
Jmauldinuu - We are staying at both Hotel Smeraldo and Hotel al Ponte Mocenigo in September.
Lisa, note that the star-rating system in Europe is based on hotel amenities, not on a quality/luxury basis as it is in the states. So comparisons are trickier.
Thank you! This is most helpful!!
Cinque Terre( note Terre, ends in e, plural for lands) Hotel Porta
Roca, Florence Hotel J & J, Venice, La Calcina. I do not pay attention to stars in Europe due to reasons given in earlier post.
Yes, yes, YES to Hotel al Ponte Mocenigo in Venice! The features listed by a previous poster are accurate. We appreciated its proximity to the San Stae vaporetto stop and the train station. Breakfast is served in a lovely open courtyard. The rooms have absolutely everything you could possibly need. Walking away from the hotel and the Grand Canal you will discover wonderful campos like Campo San Giacomo. At the edge of the campo is Majer, a cafe that has the most incredible food prepared by an incredible chef--- Alesandro. Close to the hotel is Boresso, a cosy cicchetti bar. Across from it is Fontego delle Dolcezze--- a great place for gelato. Really, this to us was more memorable than the crowds at the Rialto or St Marks Square.
thank you all!! Any other ideas for Cinque Terre? The two that were suggested are booked already!
Monterosso in the Cinque Terre, Villa Steno. When are you going? In the fall? I ask since you say the hotels listed were full.
In July- got a room at Hotel Porto Roca. Looks amazing!
It's a little late now, since you did find something, but for future reference, or any one new reading this thread, this group of boards is entitled "Hotel and Restaurant reviews", a place for people to write in about places to which they have been. Your request for a recommendation would have properly been posted on the "Destination Q&A - Italy" board. (Get help planning your trip. Ask a question ...)
We were at HotelPorto Roca as part of a month in Italy. The dinners we had there were the best of our trip. And there is a mountain behind the hotel so you don’t hear the trains going by. Enjoy this beautiful spot!
Another vote for Porto Rocco, one of my all time favorite places in Italy!
In Manarola, I had a wonderful experience at Aria di Mare. Can’t say whether it’s available but check out the website and see what you think. But I’ll say the location, view and accommodation was on point!
Stan from the Heartland above makes an excellent point. My wife and I this past September stayed at Hotel Paris in Florence, and then Albergo del Senato in Rome both rated three europe stars. I can recommend the latter as it would be a four star in the US, albeit expensive. Has a rooftop deck/bar right at the Pantheon with great views. Room was a little on the small side but tastefully decorated. Also if you are a member of Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton honors, the NH chain, etc. look at those too.
I will second the recommendation of Villa Steno in Monterosso. Stayed there in 2010 and 2017. Wonderful. In Florence, Hotel Accademia and Hotel California are both nice.
Do yourself a favor, live dangerously. Dont stay in a hotel! You are insulating yourself from people. Try a B&B, a small pensione, or at least an AirBnB apartamento. Cheaper too.
And yet, with 6 locations over 21 days, the OP's stays will be relatively short. It may depend on individual sightseeing habits but we usually leave our accommodations early in the morning and don't return until after the evening meal so almost all of our intermingling with "people" happens while out and about. We've made some very enjoyable connections with others sitting nearby at dinner or while resting our feet at bars and cafes.
First-timers abroad may also feel a bit more relaxed with 24/7 desk services, should they need them. No right or wrong, it's just up to personal preferences and comfort levels!
Were you able to cancel your hotels and get any deposits refunded?
And yet, ...... this is a thread from The period of time known as pre-pandemic. The OP already posted she has some bookings....then COVID. The OPs trip has been long cancelled and the OP has not posted since 2/13/20. The OP has not been active on this forum for over 4 months. The thread has been dead for months......and yet we still answer.....just gotta love this forum. We never let anything stop us. LOL.
And yet again... While it's a dated thread, 'cause of COVID, recommendations for the OP can be referenced by other travelers planning future trips as well (the search function, don'tcha know.) That's assuming that the recommended properties survived, of course, but it's reasonably easy to check if they're taking bookings. :O)
I think the more poetic term being used is, "the Before Times"😐.
Perfect Stan!
