a place to stay

For Venice, we always stay at Hotel Antico Panada.
It's very close to St. Mark's square, the rooms are nice and clean and they have a nice breakfast.

http://en.venere.com/hotels_venice/san_marco/hotel_antico_panada.html

For Rome, we're staying at Hotel Alimandi Vaticano. It is right across the street from the Vatican Museum.
http://en.venere.com/hotels_rome/vaticano/hotel_alimandi_vaticano.html

For search engines, look at www.venere.com or www.italyby.com.

You can also do research on tripadvisor.com for recommendations.

I can recommend two hotels, both very close to Piazza San Marco. This hotel www.casaverardo.it is in Rick's book as a splurge. Last fall we stayed in room 305 (each room is different)a cozy deluxe double room with a large terrace for euro 290. It was very nice. If you are looking for something less expensive, I would recommend www.hotelsangallo.com, we were here in May for 186 euro. Both had a good breakfast. Real estate is at a premium so generally rooms aren't large. I can provide you with maps (using google map) if you are interested.

Great suggestions!!!!! Looked them up already! Thanks a lot!!!

ROME: We stayed at the Hotel Lancelot, which is about a 5-min. walk from the Colosseum. It is very clean, very quiet, very safe, family-run, very friendly staff, AND it has a lift! :) The breakfasts were fantastic. They also serve dinner, a different menu every day. If you don't like what's offered, they are happy to recomment near-by restaurants. Also they are happy to call taxis for you if you need one. We would definitely stay there again.

We were in Venice in May and really liked the Campiello. It is very close to the boat docks at San Zaccaria, yet down a little alley and very quiet and safe. It is so easy to come out the front door ,walk 30 yards to the boats and go anywhere. The buffet breakfast will hold you until dinner. It is huge. There is a computer in the lobby for anyone staying there to use to email home,etc.The rooms are not large ,but the bathrooms are very nice and new and had a fancy shower with many jets.There is air-conditioning, also. We paid 200 euros for a deluxe double. Ours even had a little balconey ( no view.) I just read that they now have 2 apartments. This is new since May. Also, If you are willing to pay cash and you tell them you are a Rick Steves' reader at the time of your booking ( not after), you can get a 10 % discount.We were going to do this and then decided to put it on a card, so we did not use the discount.