Affordable Florence - Anyone stayed at these places?

In Florence we liked RS-recommended Hotel Dali ... no breakfast, but close to coffee shops. It's a bathroom-down-the-hall, don't-do-laundry-in-the-sink place. Great location close to Duomo.

We enjoyed Hotel Aldobrandini
Piazza Madonna Aldobrandini 8, 50123 Florence, Italy
Up a few stairs but clean and very friendly. right at the doorstep of the Medici Chapel. Everything is in easy walking distance. Look it up on Trip Advisor. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g187895-d610945-Reviews-Hotel_Aldobrandini-Florence_Tuscany.html

Sorry, no personal experience with those. I consider convenient location a priority. It's nice to be able to go home and freshen up before passegiata and dinner. If you're not sure about walkability, Google maps can suggest walking directions.

In Florence, I can't remember the name of the hotel but it was listed in RS's book. It's the hotel owned by an American lady with an Italian husband. The unique-ness of this hotel is the common area out on the terrace where you can relax, drink some wine and meet the other guests. Back in 2008 our room was $89 with a refrigerator. We went to the nearby central market and got cheese and prosciutto. About 10 min walk from the train station. About a 15 min walk to the Duomo. There was a café across the street that would give us a small discount for breakfast when you mentioned the hotel. Area is very safe to walk.

Are you thinking of IL Bargellino ? Owner wife is Bostonian, husband Italian, young great people. I met the husband's sister too when I stayed there August/September 2013. The gals speak English, the guy not so much.

The Hotel is beautiful, grand old style, antiques, the works. Rooms are cheaply priced, I thought. Very quiet sidewalk as Firenze goes. And the Hotel has a huge beautiful terrace home to a big parrot and a neighborhood cat.

Hotel IL Bargellino is on Via Guelfa, very close to Firenze SMN, and near the corner of Via Guelfa and Via Nazionale. There are two terrific caffe' shops on that corner, and Via Nazionale is home to
L' Brincello, that famous ristorante where everything is homemade and so exquisitely delicious.

Well, this was several years ago but we stayed in a simple B&B called Florence Old Bridge. Smallish room with bathroom. Good air conditioning. No breakfast in the building but will give a voucher for breakfast at a cafe or other location. We just ate on our own. Still, it was cheap clean, and a block away from the Ponte Vecchio on the Oltrarno side, which is an interesting neighborhood. At the time the owner did not live in the building but emergency phone numbers were given in case you need something during the night.

http://florenceoldbridge.com/

Kathy, would you recommend the Oltrano? There were a couple places we were looking at on that side of the river.

We also stayed at Hotel Dali. Had a private bath. Very clean rooms. Reasonably priced (E50 in March).
Marco is a great host. He'll steer you to great bakery/espresso place around the corner, for breakfast.

We've also stayed at Hotel Casci (E90) with full breakfast, clean, helpful hosts, full bar if you want a night cap at the end of your day

Both are close to the Duomo and walking distance from train station.

we'd stay at either one again.

We stayed at Il Bargellino in Florence and I would recommend it. We had a room that opened onto the patio. It was a nice way to talk to people from other places. They don't serve breakfast, or at least they didn't when we were there in September 2010.

In Rome we stayed at Downtown Accomodation on Via Cavour. The price was very reasonable. It wasn't fancy, but it was clean. They bring breakfast, if you want to call it that, to your room. The food wasn't great but the price made up for it. It is a very busy street. Too loud to sleep with the window open. I don't know if they have rooms in the back, but I would ask. They do have AC, but charge extra for it.

If you can stay near Santa Maria Novella or Piazza Della Republica, you will do well. This is a very walkable location. Santa Croce area would not be bad either. I don't know your budget. We just stayed at Hotel Pendini and really liked it. We got a multiple night discount though which really helped (5 nights).

A very famous poster we all know recommends Hotel La Scaletta in Oltrarno.

Hi Fletcherce. I would definitely recommend staying in the Oltrarno, especially since you say you are good walkers, like staying where the locals live, and don't mind staying outside of the center. The Oltrarno is a nice, neighborhood with few tourists. Of course there will be tourists on the via Guicciardini because it's on the way to the Pitti Palace. But walk down the smaller streets and you will see locals going about their day. I love seeing the shops that they frequent and also there are a lot of workshops on that side. The Brancacci Chapel is also on that side and you don't want to miss that.

I looked at the website for the Artavia (sp?) B&B and looks fantastic. However, it is out there. I remember walking out as far as the Piazza T. Gaddi (which is near there) on a very hot day in July and regretted it. A little too far for me. If you do stay in the Oltrarno don't miss going to Sabbatino's. Very simple, good food and incredibly inexpensive. You may have to share a table with locals. It's that kind of place. Do not miss their Panzanella salad.

Have a great trip! Is this your first time to Florence?

I have RS Italy 2014 and I see Hotel Il Bargellino, north and west of central area, and near the train/bus station. About €90 for Db. Also B & B Il Bargello, east of the Duomo, near Museo Bargello, about € 110.
Both advertise as having a shared terrace.

Does anyone know about these two apartments, 3 night minimum, on vrbo?

http://www.vrbo.com/2065059ha

Thanks eveyone for all the responses, this really gives us some great options. Looks like Oltrarno may be our kind of place. Kathy, thank you so much for your insights, we're definitely going to have check out that restaurant. This is our first time to Florence, my husband's first trip to Europe, and we're really looking forward to all the good food and great sights! Any suggestions for a place (even which nighborhood to stay in) in Rome would be much appreciated as well. Thanks again all!

We loved the Hotel Europa in Florence.. We could see the Duomo from our room.. The owners were lovely and it was neat as could be.. Location was perfect!