Venice, CT, Siena, Rome - Where to Stay?

Amy, We also decided against a canal-view room as they are a bit steep. Once you're off the canal, you won't need all your $250 budget for a room. I'm finding most to be in the €120 range. An idea might be to stay on the canal one night and then move inland for a less expensive room. As for Rome, i heartily recommend Hotel Villa del Parco. It is modest and quiet. When last we were there, it was a €10 taxi ride into Rome. It is on the Via Nomentana heading out of Rome to the northeast, past the Termini. It is wonderful. When the taxi drops you off at the arch and you head up the hill to the hotel, the noise stops. You could just as well be in a villa in Tuscany. The breakfast was gat and the staff was superb. I was driving in and needed to call for directions several times. I was surprised to be guided in by someone speaking perfect English. Once there, we need someone to call ether Vatican. The staff did so, translating for us spending 20 min or so on the phone on our behalf.
We were last there 6 years ago, but we'll be back in March and have already reserved our room there. Enjoy your trip, Pat

You will love Agriturismo Marciano. We stayed there 4 nights and then we went to Florence for 2 nights. Looking back, although we enjoyed our time in Florence, I would have preferred to stay at Marciano and day trip into Florence. One of the highlights of our 3 week trip was staying at Marciano and participating in the optional dinners. They don't offer it every night. They did the dinners twice in our 4 nights. Each of those nights everyone who was staying there was there for dinner. The food was the best we had on our trip, the wine was excellent, and getting to know people from all over the world was unforgettable. The trip we took to Italy this last September was also for our 25th. We arrived in Venice on our anniversary. We stayed at Pensione Guerrato, which seems to be popular with a lot of people on this helpline. It is near the Rialto bridge and overlooks the fruit/vegetable & fish market. We had a corner room overlooking the market with a bit of a view of the Grand Canal. We did not have a balcony, but frankly we were only in our room to sleep. We spent only 2 nights in Venice. I thought the location was very convenient. Have a great anniversary trip!!

Andrea,
Thanks! How did you book your stay at Argrituismo marciano? I am booking everything on my own and am having a hard time getting ahold of someone there. I have also tried their website but receive error messages. Any suggestions? Thanks!

In Venice, take a look at La Calcina. We loved it there, in a room with canal view (Giudecca, not Grand Canal). The rooms are stylish but not ornate-bare wood floors; wrought iron headboard. It is an easy and pleasant walk to San Marco area, but much quieter. The best thing (and most romantic) is the rooftop terrace that you can reserve for private use in one-hour time slots. Reserve at sunset; beforehand walk up the Zattere to the Billa grocery store and buy a bottle of wine and some antipasti (we bought cheese, a cutting board, bread, and olives.) La Torretta is an excellent choice for Manarola. We had Room 6, a "classic" (lowest priced) room with a terrace looking to the sea and up to the vineyards. You are right next to a deck with bouganvilla-covered arbor; the flowers spill over the side only your deck. We loved having our breakfast out there each morning (they bring it to you on a tray.) The room is beautifully decorated in a seaside motif; the free minibar stocked with juice and sparkling water. One night they did free wine tasting with a generous array of snacks; we almost didn't need dinner! Gabriele is a gracious host and will make dinner reservations for you if you like. The one caution is that this room is up a very steep set of outside stairs, with a 12/12 rise/ run. Not good if you have serious knee problems (which fortunately we do not.)

Amy, try staff@agriturismomarciano.it to reach Agriturismo Marciano. I received an email from Nadia at that email address. Some places close down for a period of time during the winter, so that may be why you haven't heard back. If I recall correctly, I made my reservations for September in January. They only have 6 rooms, so the sooner the better. I made my reservation using the link on their website. http://www.agriturismomarciano.it/contactinformation.html

In 2002 we also found that by mentioning that we were celebrating our 25th anniversary, we were given the best rooms! It might help you get the room with the view or with a balcony.

We had a class with Elisabetta Ungaro in Siena. It was top notch. sienaculturacucina@yahoo.com

Thanks Ken! Great info! I have La Toretto booked! Thank you for the suggestions for Venice and Rome. A friend of mine also suggested Hotel Sonya so I will look that up for sure.

Check out CaDogaressa on the Canarregio Canal.
They have two Jr. Suites that overlook the Canal. They are large rooms with large bathrooms. My husband and I have stayed there twice. It is a small hotel and the Jr. Suites are the only ones with Canal view. We loved this area because it gets quiet at night and is more of a neighborhood than a tourist area. It is close to the train station and a vaporetto stop very close. I dealt directly with the hotel and they responded quickly and efficiently. Have a great trip.

Amy, For your stay in Venice, you might have a look at Pensione Guerrato. It's very well run (used by RS Tours), on the Grand Canal close to the Rialto Bridge and best of all, it appears to be within your budget range! Your choice of La Torretta in Manarola is perfect, but be sure to book early! For accommodations in Rome, I'd suggest checking the Italy 2011 Guidebook. You might have a look at Hotel Sonya or Hotel Aberdeen (both in the Termini area, which is "central"). Congratulations on your 25th!

We were in Italy in October 2010 for our 30th anniversary. We stayed in the same neighborhood as the Sonya - near the Opera Theatre at B&B Armonia della Opera on the Via Viminale in the deluxe room with private bathroom. It was a lovely large room, very comfortable bed, and quiet. The location was perfect to walk to Termini or Repubblica metro stops, and walk or catch any bus on the Via Nazionale, one block over which runs from Termini to Trastevere. Our best meal in Rome was on the same street and recommended by our host! Do buy the Roma Pass so you can just hop on any bus or metro and gives free entrance to 2 sights!