Verona (very soon!)

Katherine, Did you check Hotel Europa for vacanzies. It's located very close to Piazza Bra, and a very comfortable Hotel. Their website currently shows vacancies for the end of March, but if there's a special event in town it would be a good idea to book quickly! Good luck!

You should definitely consider a day trip somewhere, 4 days in Verona is too much. Best choices include Venice, Bologna, Vicenza, Padova and maybe even Milano.

We loved Verona but, unfortunately, weren't that happy with our lodging. Be sure to see the old center, especially the ampitheater. We stayed at the Hostel Villa Francescotti. It's a pretty average hostel. The up side - nice grounds around the building and the staff are nice enough. Some free parking available. The down side - low water pressure means directing water off the cascade running down the wall for your shower. We only had a choice of staying in the men's and/or women's dorms. They have a family room but it was taken - not sure what other options they have. A couple of days is probably long enough. Vincenza might be a good visit, not too far away, depending on which way you're heading afterward.

Have you tried the RS recommendations in the Italy book?

Michael: Unfortunately they are already booked. Vinitaly begins on April 6th and that seems to be making it very difficult to find accommodations in Verona. Accordingly, I am now planning to spend the first night at Lake Garda. My train leaves for Rome early on April 2nd - I've been to Venice, Padua, Bologna, etc. previously (I loved Padua so may do a day trip back there). Basically, I am more interested in getting a glimpse of a less touristy town than returning to Venice or Milan. Thanks for the suggestions, I'll look further into some of the other towns!

We stayed here in 2006 and they still get good reviews on Trip Advisor. They have a great location and the two ladies running the place are charming. We spent two nights in Verona and found that enough. http://www.hoteltorcolo.it/en/

I also like to check out tripadvisor.com although I haven't used it for Verona. They had a cheese festival when we were there, October, and virtually everything was booked up.

I can't help with lodging, as we stayed in an apartment that apparently is no longer rented out. I suspect the owner moved back in. We spent two nights in Verona and we were able to see quite a bit in that time. I would say three nights would be the maximum time there unless you plan a day trip. I really like Verona a lot. We bought a Verona Pass and it saved us a considerable amount of money. It included quite a few sites and transportation. We purchased it at the train station.

I stayed at Albergo Arena ("Arena Hotel"). It was no Ritz Carlton by any means; it was not very sound-proof, but there was a staffed front desk till about 10 PM, a small elevator, GREAT breakfast (I thought!), some staff speak English, "Internet Train" location at front desk, and within easy walking of Arena of Verona and Piazza Brà, shopping, food, and Rick's recommended walk through Verona. Verona was one of my favorite cities! Venice is an 1 1/2 hour from Verona, which we took advantage of. Wanted to see Padua, but didn't have time.
http://www.albergoarena.it/home.html

I will be in Italy from 29 March-14 April. Spending two nights in Verona. Staying on the Piazza del Erbe at Hotel Aurora. Great location. This will be my second time there. I do know there is a festival of some kind going on there during that time. I would go to Lucca for the day from Verona (about 100 miles).

With all due respect to the last poster, if I was going to take a day trip from Verona, Lucca would not even be on my radar. Don't get me wrong, I liked Lucca a lot. I just think it is too far to go. There are so many other interesting choices that won't take all day in transit.

Mantua is 25 minutes away; the ducal palace is well worth the trip. The setting, on a bend in the river turned into a lake, is stunning. The walk through town is also terrific. In response to 3 or 4 days being too long, I certainly disagree. We spent a week there last summer, on a second visit. We come across those who say they saw all that was worth seeing in a place in short time (a posting on this site earlier said that of Florence!) but we spend at least a week in each city, seven or eight weeks per summer. You really get to know a city and it's people when you hunker down for a while. We are spending two weeks in Berlin and five weeks in Lyon this summer; next summer we will spend a month in Dijon and a month in another city. Once you have rushed through Europe and "seen" all the major sights, slow down on future trips and really get to know Europe. Rent apartments. Shop at the local markets. Amble through the stores. Spend a day - not an hour - in a museum. Learn the languages - the people have been wonderful in helping our French and German pronunciations and grammar. If there is any way you can swing the time (and I know not many can) Europe becomes a different place than you find in the rush to and fro to see the sights.
I see Rik is from Vicenza. Interestingly, we didn't much like Vicenza, nor much beyond Padua's center. Cities really are personal preferences! It's wonderful there are so many to choose from!