First Trip to Umbria - Looking for Recommendations

Assisi is truly beautiful and I highly recommend spending time there. If you are looking for an apartment, check through vrbo and airbnb - I know there are some. You want to be as close to Piazza Comune as possible but beware: Assisi is built on the side of a mountain so expect lots of steps up or down. Piazza Comune is really about the only area of town that is flat. Wonderful area to be, especially in the evening. You don't say when you'll be there but you might try Hotel Sole (on the flat street going to Piazza Comune). No frills, great restaurant, and wonderful family. The first two week of July however I have it booked solid for a music festival. From Assisi there are several day trips you could take by bus, taxi or train. Umbria is pretty much unspoiled by tourism, which I think is a good thing. Siena is one of my favorites. From Florence, if you're going to day trip to Siena, take the bus not the train. Easier, faster, and the stop is more centrally located for site seeing. I actually prefer staying in Siena and day triping to Florence (too crowded in the summer for me). You can check train schedules at trenitalia.com to see where you can get easily from Assisi, Siena, Florence. You may even find a little town that lures you in with its own charm! Planning can be a big part of the fun of travel!

Terri,
When I visited Assisi, I enjoyed my stay at Hotel Pallota very much.
Hotel Pallota is a family owned hotel but it feels more like a welcoming B&B.
The owner, Stefano, is a kind, friendly and helpful host. He even met me at the bus stop upon my arrival and helped me with my luggage.
You can easily take a day trip to Spello, a charming hill town, via bus from Assisi.

I took the train from Siena to Orvieto to Assisi but you can also travel to Assisi directly from Florence (via train)

Umbria is beautiful, enjoy your trip!

Edited to add:
I forgot to mention that Hotel Pallota is conveniently located near Piazza Comune. The family also owns Trattoria Pallota where I enjoyed a couple of delicious meals.

Enjoy!

We spent two weeks in beautiful Spello, well located for exploring. We had a car but there is a train station in Town. Visit Bevagna, Montefalco too. Perugia is a lovely city. Assisi is a must and can be seen from Spello, across the valley. Make sure you go up to the Eremo de Francisco, Hermitage,above Assisi in a wooded park, beautiful.

Thanks for those who have provided recommendations so far. I am inclined to stay in Asissi. The family run hotel (Hotel Pallota) someone recommended is booked for my dates (June 11 - June 15). Any other recommendations would be appreciated. I will also try airbnb and VRBO, etc.

Terri,
Do you have Rick Steve’s Italy Book?

He lists several places such as:

• Hotel Ideale
• Hotel Umbria
• Hotel Belvedere
• Hotel San Rufino
• Albergo il Duomo
• Hotel La Rocca
• Hotel Sole (mentioned above by Robert)

I was going to buy Rick's book yesterday and forgot. I am going to purchase it because I know it will come in handy! I actually would prefer a small apartment since I will be staying 4 nights.

Terri,
Rick’s Italy book covers Assisi and Orvieto but unfortunately not much else in the region of Umbria.

Having said this, it’s a good resource to read as it covers many other cities and towns, especially the ever popular ones such as Venice, Florence, Siena, Rome, Naples, etc, etc...

Happy planning!

Really loved Hotel Ideale, summer 2017. Lovely hotel, gorgeous location, thoughtful and helpful family who run it. We had a room with covered balcony (with table and chairs) that had a magnificent view out over the valley. We ate our (included) breakfast out in the gardens. Their location at the "top" of town may be a bit farther for walking but it is easy to take the town mini-bus from the "bottom" of town (near the basilica) to get back, plus, the bus stop at the piazza right by the hotel can get you (I think) to Spello, for example. (Please double-check that, though.) If you opt for a hotel rather than an apartment, I highly recommend Ideale. XXXX I just checked; they have one room left for your nights, very reasonably priced. Move quickly if you do want to stay there!