Woke up this morning after yesterday's cubicle dream and reality set in. We're not rich and/or famous. But that doesn't mean we'll never be able to make our way to Venice before it sinks.
And while we thought we'd have to trade down, way down for a hotel so we can manage to throw in a gondola ride and tix to Italy's Heinekin Jammin' Fest to see The Police, enter Arco Antico Guest House. Sweet. Despite the somewhat drab decor, Arco Antico has great guest reviews and terrific rates. Sixteenth century palazzo stay here we come.
We warned you that the Florence hotel scene is pricey, whatever you do and wherever you stay. Blame the tourists and the forces of economics.
Your best bet for a budget stay in style and comfort near the centre of town is probably a residenza, a B&B-style hotel run by private owners. Don't sniff - it's a great way (the only way) to get a friendly welcome, super service and a reasonable bill at the end of the trip.
One of the best, or rather five of the best, of the residenze is the Johanna & Johlea chain of mini-hotels owned by Lea Gulmanelli and Johanan Vitta, a Florentine couple who've been in the business since 1994.
Anna Fendi and her daughters own one in Rome called the Villa Laetitia It's a boutique hotel or residenza with only 15 rooms, most of them suites with all the sweet bells and whistles. What makes it particularly special - and better than most boutique hotels set up by hoteliers - are two things.
Last week, we put a call out for hotel suggestions in or near Venice and reader CCwilsonc sent in this review of the Faronhof B&B in Oriago di Mira, which the hotel website says is close to the center of Venice.
We had a lovely weekend at the Faronhof, stayed there for 3 days before going on to Florence and then Rome.
We are budget travellers so was pleased to find this cheap bed and breakfast. The owner showed us what to see and gave us some tips on how to not spend a fortune in Venice 'cause it's an expensive city!
We had free internet as well which we used to book our stay in Rome.
Yes, you really cannot go wrong with free internet abroad. Do you hear that international hoteliers? Rates start at 45 Euros for a bedroom with an en-suite bathroom and 35 Euros for a shared bathroom. Interestingly, you can pay on the site via PayPal.
Only if you're on a budget. If you're not and you want to flash your cash in the shops and slap-bang city centre, take a room in the JK Place boutique hotel in Santa Maria Novella square.
There are only 20 rooms and the staff like to call it a 'house' rather than a hotel. That's going a bit far - décor is stylish and understated but undeniably Italian-design (Michele Bonan, if you're interested). Clean lines, simple colours and cute details everywhere. Breakfast is in an old internal courtyard which has been covered over by a huge glass structure.
Yet we're a bit worried about the pretentious factor.
Florence attracts two types of tourist and both tend to have money to spend: a) middle-aged lovers of history, churches and dusty nth-century religious art; b) fashionistas after the designer outlets and exclusive boutiques. It also attracts tourist type c - those who visit Florence simply because everyone else does.
As we know, hotels follow demand and an ample supply of money, and the Florence hotel scene is no exception. Here are the essential issues to look out for:
Venice's romance without Venice's high prices are an hour and 25-minute train ride away in Verona. Verona, the place where Romeo stood under Juliet's balcony wooing her (before climbing up there and wooing her in a rather more physical way). It's small and sweet and, like Padua, a damn sight cheaper than Venice except during the famous August opera festival.
So what's Verona's hotel scene like? Spotty....If you're a creature of fantasy, you wouldn't go far wrong with the Byblos Art Hotel. Rich gits and honeymooners stay in the Baglioni.
Budget lovers stay in the Casa Coloniale. It mistakenly calls itself a bed and breakfast, but it's actually one of Verona's best, cleanest and definitely cheapest hotels.
If you're after a budget trip to Venice but still want to stay in a good boutique hotel, then don't stay in Venice.
Stay in Padua (Padova) instead, which is an infinitely sweeter, friendlier and cheaper city. It's only a half-hour and a few euros on the train and, to be honest, you can do Venice in a day trip and head back to Padua for dinner, drinks and sleeps.
Despite the warmy goodness we feel when we think of Padua, one of the strangest hotels we've stayed in is the Methis Hotel in Padua.
