I will be in Bologna 7 April to 11 April. Need a clean, safe, inexpensive place to stay for a young, single 30-ish female. Any suggestions?
Also, what is the neighborhood or area that is closest to the medieval city center/cathedral called.
I welcome any suggestions about things to see and do, as this is a last minute trip, and there is no info in Rick's Italy book
Thanks in advance.
Jane
Jane,
I couldn't recommend Hotel Porta San Mamolo enough
http://www.hotel-portasanmamolo.it/en/index.htm
They are right near the a bus stop or a 7 Euro taxi from train station and easy walking distance to the main square. They had a great breakfast and a really nice garden area to relax. They were also very helpful. I can't remember what we paid but it wasn't that expensive around $130 because of the bad exchange rate at the time.
Bologna hosts all sorts of trade and business conventions, and the price of hotel rooms swing wildly based on those dates.
I was in Bologna last summer with my family. We stayed smack in the historical center at Albergo Centrale, Via Della Zecca 2, www.albergocentralebologna.it. Take the #25 bus (if arrving by train) to Piazza Maggiore and the hotel is less than a 5 minute walk from there. For a quad, we paid 100 euro per night which included a private bath, a very nice breakfast and a/c. I'm sure a single will be less. The hotel is clean & safe with wonderful staff and it's very centrally located. As it got closer to our trip, I noticed the price of the room had gone down and they very kindly honored the lower price. Bologna is a beautiful city. Walk under the miles of porticos, visit the Due Torre, Piazza Maggiore, Piazza Nettuno, Basilica di San Petronio, Santo Stefano, San Domenico, Pinacotecca Nationale, and the wonderful food shops between Via Drapperie & Via Clavature. For a very nice inexpensive(and non-touristy)Bolognese meal try Trattoria Fantoni on Via del Pratello 11/A (which is a little of the beaten track). That's just a sample of all Bologna has to offer. Get good guide book that featues Bologna for more suggestions and check our venere.com for more hotel suggestions and reviews. Have a wonderful trip.
We stayed at the Starhotels Excelsior in Oct 2008 for a few nights. Now, I don't know what your "inexpensive" range is, but this could be $150 a night which while not cheap is not real high end for Italy by a long shot. It is directly across from the train station and so convenient to any public transport and a range of less expensive dining options. We liked it for the time we were there. It is a modern, American style room and there was a great breakfast (eggs, etc.- uncommon for Italian hotels). It is a nice walk into the old center maybe 20 minutes or a bit more. Not high on the charm scale but very modern, clean and comfy. And I would try to see what kind of deal you might work..hotels may be looking harder for business, althogh Bologna can be a major meeting/convention town in Italy. We stayed 2 days in Bologna and really just sort of wandered around using tourist info and hotel provided maps and guides. I am guessing you are there for business or such, because I think that duration could be a little long for Bologna itself, but that's my opinion. We walked all over, taking in churches, museums, public areas and their neat arcaded walks. It's a nice town, tho nothing really stupendous hollers out, like Florence or Rome, etc. It is tho the food capital of Italy so have at it! Tortellini is one of their local specialities as I recall. Hope you enjoy your visit, email if you like.
While RS doesn't talk about Bologna, several other guidebooks do. I also suggest a side trip to Parma, easily reachable by rail.
Use the search box at the top right for Bologna, places to stay has been discussed a few times recently.
