Hotel Recommendations

If breakfast isn't a concern, you could also look at Air BnB or similar rental properties. I always use hotels as breakfast is important for me, but I'm sure other members of the group can provide information on apartment rentals.

My usual favourites in Rome are Hotel Sonya or Hotel Aberdeen, which are both in the vicinity of Termini station. You didn't say what "affordable" was, so not sure if either of these would fit your criteria.

Congratulations!

Don't know what your budget is, but here is a place you should check out. We have stayed at Hotel Fontanella Borghese many times and have always been pleased. While it is not "luxury", it is very nice and the location is great. The staff is very friendly and helpful. You can walk to Spanish Steps, Pantheon, Nuvona, even Vatican city. They also have a sister hotel closer to the Pantheon called Hotel Due Torri. We always send an email directly with our request for a booking and we get an answer back in 24 hours or less. Ask for a room overlooking the courtyard as rooms overlooking the side street can get noisy. The web site is www.fontanellaborghese.com. Check it out and see what you think.

In Venice consider Pensione Guerrato in the Rialto Bridge area. Away from the big mobs of people yet easy to get to if you know the back door route. Stayed there a number of times and have always been pleased.

Last time in Rome we stayed at Hotel Diana. Close to Termini, lots of restaurants. close by, and a roof terrace restaurant if the weather is gine. Even though you say breakfast is of little interest to you, the Hotel does provide a super breakfast, which you can take on the roof terrace.

We liked Hotel Ala in Venice and Hotel Cesare in Rome.

For Venice, be sure to select a hotel on the islands, not the mainland.

And, congratulations!

In Venice, Ca'Angeli is delightful.

I look for budget hotels and like to stay near the Central Train station in Rome. Lots of restaurants in the area and the hotels I have stayed in are Contila, Diana, Sonya, and Aberdeen.

In Venice I stayed in Hotel Serenissima very close to San Marcos Square ( we stayed there on a Rick Steves tour and loved the location.)
Don't know what your budget is but summer in Italy could be expensive with all the tourists looking for lodging. Have a wonderful Honeymoon !!

Clean and nice, no breakfast and cheap - right up my alley. I've stayed twice at Santa Margherita Guest House in Venice. The furniture is mostly Ikea, but comfortable and the bathrooms are modern. The rooms have small fridges and electric kettles and there's a communal kitchen. The location is very good, walking distance to San Marco, vaporetto lines, lower priced restaurants, not too touristy.

We were there in September. In Rome, we stayed at the Hotel Navona and would highly recommend it. Centrally located one block from Piazza Navona, and very close walking to the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, and all other sites.

In Venice, we stayed at the Hotel Dalla Mora in the Santa Croce district, our second time there, and would recommend it also. Right on a canal.

....Aberdeen (this is more like a hostel)..... The Aberdeen is NOT a hostel or even close to a hostel. It is a standard 3 star hotel. Very nice with a nice breakfast. Breakfasts are fairly common to many of the smaller hotels so that is why the breakfast is often discussed.

We love the Aberdeen. The location is great (walking distance from Termini, if you don't have tons of luggage,) helpful staff, clean and quiet, and good breakfasts - which is something we do care about.

We've stayed twice at Residenza Cellini in Rome. We appreciated the large room, cleanliness, quiet surroundings, accommodating staff, great breakfast and close distance to Termini and sites.

Try religious houses, convents and monasteries. I hate spending a bunch on where I sleep when I am gone most of the day anyway. Very affordable. They are clean, not fancy, private bathrooms, so definitely not hostel-like, most are very centrally located, most have some form of breakfast. Even if you dont eat breakfast you can grab some fruit to put in your bag for later.

Religious houses/convents may be a great idea for some travelers but I don't know as I'd recommend them for young couples on their honeymoons. Budget friendly, yes, but not exactly romantic. The OP and new spouse may be wanting tto spend a bit more time in their room than the rest of us? 💕