I am looking for a simple hotel in Orvieto or Spello for one night in August. Any suggestions?
go to www.venere.com You should be able to find a hotel in your budget, and location, book on line and cancel within 24 hours of arrival if necessary.
We stayed at Hotel Corso and really liked it. it was on the main street not far from the duomo.
In Orvieto try Valentina's http://www.argoweb.it/bedandbreakfast_valentina/valentina.uk.html
In Spello we stayed at Albergo del Teatro in 2005. Very nice place, restaurant with it that has a view out over the valley. We were lucky enough to get a room facing out over the valley and the view was so spectacular I was transfixed! It is a small place (as is everything inside the walled town) but right near everything. I'm assuming you want to stay up in the walled town, not down on the valley floor.
BTW the owner speaks only a little English but is a fan of Sinatra and sings along to a few CD's he has that his daughter sent him. If you bring him a CD of Sinatra you'll have a friend for life!