Hello all. I've read a lot of information on this forum but still curious for more. My husband and I will be visiting Italy in September, starting off in Rome for 2 nights followed by Florence for 4 nights. I've looked into several of the hotels in the RS 2016 book, some of which are booked already, but would like your recommendations too. Rome I think we're not so set on the Italian experience, just the comforts of home while we get our bearings. We'll be out of there in a flash anyway. Arriving early Saturday, we will most likely do a walking tour and visit the ancient Rome sites on Sunday (I know, the crowds) and the Vatican on Monday before taking the train to Florence. We will use the Hop-on/Hop-off bus most of the time while we're there (which is not long), so maybe that's a consideration? In Florence I think the Italian experience would be nice, but not a B&B.
Looking in the $150 to $200 US range, something with a rooftop terrace bar would be especially great.
All responses are greatly appreciated!
Happy travels!
Posted by
Green Bay
21370 posts
I think hotels with roof-top terraces are on the high end. Saw a nice one off the Piazza Navona, but it was 3 times your budget.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16238 posts
The hotel below in Florence is within your budget and has one of the greatest rooftop restaurants/bars I have ever seen in Florence (and being from Florence I've been to many). It's a trillion dollar view under 120€ a night.
http://hotellascaletta.it
The hotel is recommended in many guides, including Rick Steves', therefore book it as soon as you can.
I know of others, like Baglioni, Excelsior, Lucchesi, Minerva (which has a rooftop pool too) and others, but they are probably a bit more.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11852 posts
September is looming and many will have been booked for months. I would go to a booking engine -- I like Booking.com and enter your criteria to see what they have available. It is very tiring to contact hotel after hotel one at a time.
Not sure the HO-HO bus is your best plan. This was covered recently in this thread. Do try to stay either in the Piazza Navona/Pantheon area or near the Vatican in Prati. Very convenient for walking or public transportation.
In Florence, we loved Hotel Pendini. Very central. Florence is entirely walkable.
In either city, if you get tired, a cab is a bargain.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16752 posts
Echoing Laurel, I'd re-think using ho-hos as a means of getting around? While they can be good choices for an introduction to some cities, Rome isn't one of them, and complaints about theses buses have been many for a long time. Florence is compact enough not to need much for transportation at all, and both cities are best seen on foot whenever possible.
Arriving early Saturday, we will most likely do a walking tour
I'm not sure this is the best idea either as a flight or other sort of delay could throw a wrench in that plan; same reason most of us advise against booking non-refundable train tickets for arrival days. I'm also curious why you've distributed much more time to Florence than Rome? I love Florence but Rome being quite a lot larger - plus dealing with the acclimation process on arrival day - I would have at least balanced the time equally (3 nights each.)
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
The HOHO buses are typically a waste of time and money. Just use the metro and/or a taxi for a quick and cheap ride. The Rome taxis we used were all quite reliable and nice and honest...with the exception of the airport-city center taxi. Just zipping around downtown Rome is really nice and quite affordable with taxis.
We've stayed in several Rome hotels, but our favorite is the Hotel Napoleon http://www.napoleon.it/ It's one of those timeless classics family owned places with big plush salons for relaxing, a really really good restaurant and a metro entrance 10 steps out the the front door. The employees all seem to be related and absolutely bend over backwards to help you do anything you request. Roberto, the family Patriarch, is immensely kind and personable and frequently is seen wondering through meeting the guests either in the salon or at breakfast or in the bar/restaurant. We absolutely love it there.
Posted by
824 posts
With such a short time in Rome, I would look for a hotel in the Piazza Navona area of Rome. This will be centrally located for what you want to do and put you within walking distance to most of the sites. There're are taxi ranks at both ends of the Piazza and it's a 10 euro taxi trip to the far side of the Vatican where the museum entrance it is (and where all the tours depart from).
If you are spending 4 days/nights in Florence, I would recommend an apartment. You can get a really nice one bedroom apartment between the train station and the Duomo for pretty much the same cost of a medium-range hotel room. You'll have a lot more space and they usually have amenities like clothes washers/driers. Look at TripAdvisor, HomeAway, HolidayLettings, VRBO, etc...
I fully agree with the previous comments about the Rome HO-HO bus being a waste of money. In my 3+ days in Rome last fall, I don't remember ever seeing it even remotely close to tourist sites.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16752 posts
Right. To explain further about those buses, they can't get down many of the streets which can be the most efficient way between attractions because they're too big; can't get close to attractions which are in pedestrianized areas (lots of those in Italy) and so they're restricted to major streets...which are often clogged with traffic. It can be faster to cover ground on foot than sitting in stop-and-go Rome traffic!
Other common complaints are that many are not clean, have broken audio equipment, surly staff and are too full to pick up passengers at the stops. There are better ways to skin that cat!
Posted by
alabama
57 posts
My husband and I have stayed at the Collona Palace next to Parliament and loved the location. May not be your price range tho but I would check. Great breakfast buffet with a roof top eating area...very near great gelato and sightseeing right there. So safe with all the police guarding parliament. We loved it and returning this Sept.
Jeannie