Please does anyone have any suggestions for my fiance and I while in Italy? We want to start our trip in Rome (need lodging), Umbria, Tuscany (need lodging), and finally Venice (need lodging). We only have plans for Umbria everything else is still up in the air. We are open to suggestions on hotels and transportation. Thanks so much!
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23626 posts
Get the R Steves guide book on Italy.
Posted by
New Brunswick, NJ, USA
59 posts
Abbie,
I don't know what your budget is like, but in Venice we stayed at the Hotel Ai Mori d'Oriente. It's a bit off the beaten path, but that's why we liked it- Venice is easy to get around by vaparetto. When I was there they had plans to open another hotel on the Grand Canal, so if you really want to be on the main drag, I would look into that.
The staff was really great (they checked all my football scores for me while I was out during the day and left them at the front desk!)- the bartender mixed great drinks, and the breakfast was good. The rooms were very pretty (don't bother with a "balcony room"- the balcony is not big enough to sit on, and I think the other non-balcony rooms are larger. But if you really want the canal view (like I did) it's nice for that.
http://moridoriente.hotelinvenice.com/
Whatever you do - DO NOT eat at ANY restaurants by the Rialto bridge. Every good guidebook tells you not to, but we got sucked in by the atmosphere---- big mistake!
Posted by
Florence, Italy
32 posts
Suggestion for accommodation in Tuscany:
http://www.tuscanweb.com/accommodation/barberino_val_delsa/torre_vecchia/
http://www.tuscanweb.com/accommodation/firenze/poggio_san_felice_villa/
Hope it helps.
Posted by
Scottsdale, AZ, USA
1127 posts
For Rome try Nicolas Inn, www.nicolasinn.com and for Venice Locanda Orseolo, www.locandaorseolo.com.
Tuscany is a big area. Any thoughts on cities you want to visit? Will you have a car? That makes a difference when recommending places to stay.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
If you're just starting to look into the planning, definitely pick up the RS Italy 2008 book. It's a great starting place and much easier to digest than random postings, IMHO.
Posted by
OP
Philadelphia, PA
2 posts
Thank you all for your posts. I did go out and purchased the RS Italy 2008 book along with the phrase book/dictionary. We will be doing a lot of research over the next few months. Thanks again everyone who replied, it is much appreciated!
Posted by
Morrison, CO, USA
893 posts
Abbie,
On our 3 trips to Italy we have ended in Venice.
By this time we are ready for a city with no traffic. Although We do a LOT of walking, it seems relaxing to not have to watch traffic and traffic lights. Also by this time we want to stay in an area away from the major tourist sights. We stayed at
Ca Dogaressa. Close to 2 vaporetto stops. We always get the Jr. Suite (they have 2) that look out over the Canal. It is a small hotel, with almost no public area except for breakfast. Staff and owner are Very friendly. Room is large great bath. Tell them you are on honeymoon.