Hotels in Florence and Bologna

We stayed at the Il Guelfo Bianco in Florence two years ago. It is in a great location as we could walk everywhere. The hotels wifi and ac worked great. Loved the hotel.Our breakfast was included. It was rather boring. I would stay there again but, eat breakfast out.

I use booking.com for the first booking, if I return I usually contact the hotel directly.

In Firenze, I like Hotel Bigallo, around the corner from the Baptistry. Hotel Paris near Santa Maria Novella is nice, too.

In Bologna, Hotel Metropolitan is my first choice, but Nuovo Hotel del Porto is less expensive.

I've only rarely had a hotel breakfast south of the Alps that was worth paying for. What's coffee (I don't drink it) and some sort of bread really worth? I'd plan to grab something outside the hotel and save a few euro if I had a choice (sometimes you don't).

I'm a big user of venere.com and booking.com, but since you're not pressed for time, I'd at least look at the hotel's website before making the final booking. You may save some money.

Don't stress too much about the hotel selection. Read the reviews on one or two booking sites and eliminate places with chronic issues, then look at a map. Google's Earth view will allow you to "see" the neighborhood. Nearly every place will be OK or better--not necessarily super-stylish, but OK. If you're looking at the budget price range, do pay attention to reviewers' comments about room size and shower size; they can be a shock to Americans (though I get the sense that this isn't your first strip to Europe).

Breakfasts in Italy are different, so as has been said, it isn't worth it to pay extra. Many hotels include a buffet breakfast with the room.

Admittedly the Marriott is a chain, but... we stayed in the AC Hotel in Bologna and it worked just fine for us. Breakfast included and the restaurant was nice (certainly not up scale Italian, but good enough for a quick dinner). The located is just north of the city center. IT is a short walk downtown and it is near the train station. Something to consider. Here's the address: Via Sebastiano Serlio, 28, 40128 Bologna, Italy

Florence - twice my family and I have stayed in Hotel Pendini. Lovely place in a great location. Friendly, helpful staff.

I recently visited Bologna earlier this month and stayed at Albergo Centrale Bologna. It was centrally located, near most of the attractions and all the dining/shopping options were within a 10-15 minute walk. Noise level is minimal since it doesn't face the main thoroughfare, easy to get to and comfortable. They aren't fancy but, they satisfy all the requirements for a traveler.

I always book directly through the hotel's website to guarantee my reservation. Go through a third-party site/service and you may get bumped should they overbook or, have a problem.

Breakfast is provided buffet, and is simply a larger version of the typical Italian breakfast: juice, pastries, toast/jam, fruit, hard boiled eggs, espresso. Breakfast in Italy is typically very light. The first few days in Italy, you're content doing as the locals do forbreakfast (pastry & cappuccino/espresso), further into your trip, as an American, I was hungering for a more complete or, larger breakfast. You can find those at more touristy hotels/cafes, usually they'll be labeled as English Breakfast.

Our RS Best of Italy tour stayed at the Hotel California in Florence. The location was great. It is on the same street as the Accademia and a couple blocks from the Duomo. The rooms were very nice and very quiet.

Hotel breakfasts in Italy vary tremendously. Sometimes they're light, but one spread in Bologna, the buffet breakfast at the Hotel Commercianti (included in my rate), was one of the largest and best breakfasts I've ever seen, anywhere.

Then there's personal preference. Some people like having breakfast in the hotel room and don't like going outside for it; for them, it's worth paying more to eat at the hotel. Others want the lowest cost and don't mind the "commute" for breakfast.

So, before paying extra for a breakfast, investigate what you'll be getting, and see if it's worth it to you.

As for your other questions, I always try to book directly with the hotel if possible, and these days, you often get the best deal this way (the hotels hate paying the fees to the other sites). I just e-mail them directly.

For Bologna, if your budget will allow it, the Commercianti is very nice, in a great location (on a quiet side street just off the main piazza): http://en.art-hotel-commercianti.com/

We stayed at Hotel Duomo in Florence. It's right next to the Duomo. Our room had a balcony & a "in your face" view of the church. Breakfast was included, and was a decent selection.

In Bologna, I have stayed at Hotel Metropolitan twice, and I will stay there again next time. Location is great and the rooms are very nice. I paid for the breakfast the first time, but it's not worth it and therefore I did not get it the second time.

In Florence we stayed at Hotel Casci. (Found through Booking.com but booked directly.) It is a very friendly small hotel in a good location. An excellent breakfast buffet with a coffee machine that made good coffee. We enjoy having a full breakfast before going out. It is included in the room price. They give 10 percent off for cash.

By the way, we stayed one night in Pontresina Switzerland and couldn't believe the breakfast buffet. Hotel Casci is nothing like that but is fine.