Gerald

On Wed, 08 Oct 2003 18:34:45 GMT, "tile" <> wrote:

    >the waiting time was no more than 30 minutes.
    >I also had a double room in rome in a 4 stars hotels for 68 eur
    >It is unbeliavable..

I think it is unbelievable. What 4 stars?

Tile

yes it was a 4 stars hotel
commonly adevrtised for 125. eur

you can still find similar price sin
www.hotels.com
now it is very high season
so prices are a little higher..
but for Rome very very reasonable.
"gerald" <> ha scritto nel messaggio
news:...
    > On Wed, 08 Oct 2003 18:34:45 GMT, "tile" <> wrote:
    > >the waiting time was no more than 30 minutes.
    > >I also had a double room in rome in a 4 stars hotels for 68 eur
    > >It is unbeliavable..
    > I think it is unbelievable. What 4 stars?

Lil

Interesting. Now, I will for sure go through the package route via
the Internet.

Still having a hard time deciding on a hotel. It's between some
hotels in the Santa Maria Novella or one in San Marco. When you were
doing your research for Florence, did you get an idea which area would
be better, with regard to convenience to sites and quiet. (I'm
planning a trip with my mother, and her arthritis sometimes acts up.
On top of that, she's a light sleeper.)

Someone here mentioned the Grand Hotel Baglioni--that's one of the
hotels I'm considering. Another one is the Hotel Globus. Both are
mentioned in the Lonely Planet so they must be okay. Both are near
the train station. How safe and how quiet?

A third one is the Orto de Medici in San Marco. Has anyone stayed at
these hotels or areas? Any comments will be appreciated. Thanks in
advance.

Lil

Debra Weber Kurt Weber <> wrote in message news:<>...
    > Hi
    >
    > Jenn wrote:
    >
    > > -- but definitely agree that walk ins don't get the
    > > best rates --- internet rates almost always involve a rake off for some
    > > intermediary -- I got some very good rates via internet this summer but
    > > then as I checked in could hear the desk offering even lower rates to
    > > people calling in
    > >
    > > after that I booked by phone and always did better than internet specials
    > >
    >
    > Thinking along these lines, last October I called a hotel and asked for the
    > lowest rate that I had seen on the Internet. Much to my surprise, I was told
    > "That is an Internet rate; our rates our higher. You have to go on the Internet
    > if you want that rate."
    >
    > I replied, "But if I go to the Internet, I will get that rate, and you will have
    > to pay a portion of it to the Internet company that I reserved with. Why not
    > just give me that rate now, and the hotel will have the entire amount, and not
    > the amount minus an Internet company commision?"
    >
    > The clerk was very irate. He balked at my request. I asked the same thing again
    > and he very grudgingly gave me the lower rate. I was shocked, but then, I often
    > am.

Jenn

In article <>,
(Lil) wrote:

    > Interesting. Now, I will for sure go through the package route via
    > the Internet.
    >
    > Still having a hard time deciding on a hotel. It's between some
    > hotels in the Santa Maria Novella or one in San Marco. When you were
    > doing your research for Florence, did you get an idea which area would
    > be better, with regard to convenience to sites and quiet. (I'm
    > planning a trip with my mother, and her arthritis sometimes acts up.
    > On top of that, she's a light sleeper.)

They are both noisy areas [San Marco with students, SM Novella is near
the train station and noisy] In fact Florence is an incredibly noisy
city -- the only way to get quiet is to be in a room on an inner
courtyard [and even then, chances are that workers in shops at the
bottom will begin yelling at each other at the crack of dawn -- Italians
seem intent on being sure that no o ne else has any peace or quiet if
THEY have to work -- whether it is 7 am or 2 am]

They are both about the same distance from the center -- but San Marco
is a more attractive area IMHO

    >
    > Someone here mentioned the Grand Hotel Baglioni--that's one of the
    > hotels I'm considering. Another one is the Hotel Globus. Both are
    > mentioned in the Lonely Planet so they must be okay. Both are near
    > the train station. How safe and how quiet?
    >
    > A third one is the Orto de Medici in San Marco. Has anyone stayed at
    > these hotels or areas? Any comments will be appreciated. Thanks in
    > advance.

the Orto de Medici is a remodel of the old Splendor -- it is very nice
[the upgrade looks good] They also have a charming terrace. We stayed
several times when it was the Splendor and I have toured it since out of
curiosity. I would definitely choose it over anything near the train
station which while safe enough is an ugly part of town.

Just around the corner from the de Medici is San Marco with the
enchanting museum San Marco and the Academia is nearby. There is also
a wonderful gelato place -- one of the 3 or 4 best in Florence called
the Carib on a nearby side street. And a nice deli type place with
excellent pastries and take out sandwiches on the corner across from the
museum San Marco. One of the main electric buses also bases there --
and many of the local buses have stops at San Marco so it is convenient
if you want to use a bus to get out a ways --- it is close enough so
that the center is an easy walk.


    >
    > Lil
    >
    > Debra Weber Kurt Weber <> wrote in message
    > news:<>...
    > > Hi
    > >
    > > Jenn wrote:
    > >
    > > > -- but definitely agree that walk ins don't get the
    > > > best rates --- internet rates almost always involve a rake off for some
    > > > intermediary -- I got some very good rates via internet this summer but
    > > > then as I checked in could hear the desk offering even lower rates to
    > > > people calling in
    > > >
    > > > after that I booked by phone and always did better than internet specials
    > > >
    > >
    > > Thinking along these lines, last October I called a hotel and asked for the
    > > lowest rate that I had seen on the Internet. Much to my surprise, I was
    > > told
    > > "That is an Internet rate; our rates our higher. You have to go on the
    > > Internet
    > > if you want that rate."
    > >
    > > I replied, "But if I go to the Internet, I will get that rate, and you will
    > > have
    > > to pay a portion of it to the Internet company that I reserved with. Why
    > > not
    > > just give me that rate now, and the hotel will have the entire amount, and
    > > not
    > > the amount minus an Internet company commision?"
    > >
    > > The clerk was very irate. He balked at my request. I asked the same thing
    > > again
    > > and he very grudgingly gave me the lower rate. I was shocked, but then, I
    > > often
    > > am.

Jenn

In article <>,
(Lil) wrote:

    > Interesting. Now, I will for sure go through the package route via
    > the Internet.
    >
    > Still having a hard time deciding on a hotel. It's between some
    > hotels in the Santa Maria Novella or one in San Marco. When you were
    > doing your research for Florence, did you get an idea which area would
    > be better, with regard to convenience to sites and quiet. (I'm
    > planning a trip with my mother, and her arthritis sometimes acts up.
    > On top of that, she's a light sleeper.)
    >

FYI -- take ear plugs for your mother -- a real must for any light
sleeper in Italy.

Terryo

(Lil) wrote in message news:<>...
    > Interesting. Now, I will for sure go through the package route via
    > the Internet.
    >
    > Still having a hard time deciding on a hotel. It's between some
    > hotels in the Santa Maria Novella or one in San Marco.

Some of the area around S.M. Novella is considered somewhat dangerous,
at least at night, especially the underground passage and areas around
its entrances. I didn't notice any problems myself (though I enjoy
very much walking through cities and tend not to be put off by chancy
neighborhoods). But you might want to look extra carefully at hotels
in the S.M.N. area.

The area around S.M.N. itself and the nearby train station tends to be
noisy and busy, but hotels on side streets might be quiet.

Edjlb

On Friday 10 October 2003 02:11 am, Lil, , wrote:

    > Interesting. Now, I will for sure go through the package route via
    > the Internet.
    >
    > Still having a hard time deciding on a hotel. It's between some
    > hotels in the Santa Maria Novella or one in San Marco. When you were
    > doing your research for Florence, did you get an idea which area would
    > be better, with regard to convenience to sites and quiet. (I'm
    > planning a trip with my mother, and her arthritis sometimes acts up.
    > On top of that, she's a light sleeper.)

Was in Florence just a week ago. My wife and I stayed at the Hotel De La
Pace, about four or five blocks from San Marco, on Via A. Lamarmora. Not
too much traffice there, so pretty quiet, especially if your room faces the
back courtyard. Very pleasant rooms. Breakfast included.

--

N! Xau

"Lil" <> ha scritto nel messaggio
    > (I'm
    > planning a trip with my mother, and her arthritis sometimes acts up.
    > On top of that, she's a light sleeper.)
    > Someone here mentioned the Grand Hotel Baglioni--

If you can afford Baglioni,
why don't you choose something much much better for a little more,
take a cab from the station and stay at Hotel Brunelleschi
http://www.hotelbrunelleschi.it/
or Hotel Park Palace (not really in the center town)
or one of the hotels along the river,
like Plaza Hotel Lucchesi.

bye
N! Xau
for a little more

Lil

Thanks for the tips about the earplugs and the locales in Florence.
You've reassured me about how far the Orto de Medici might be from the
sights. I was feeling a bit dubious about the Baglioni even though
the hotel sounded nice. I didn't particularly fancy staying anywhere
near the train station. From what I gathered, the Baglioni is right
across from the station, off of the P. Stazione and the P. Santa Maria
Novella.

Lil


Jenn <> wrote in message news:<jenn->...
    > In article <>,
    > (Lil) wrote:
    >
    > > Interesting. Now, I will for sure go through the package route via
    > > the Internet.
    > >
    > > Still having a hard time deciding on a hotel. It's between some
    > > hotels in the Santa Maria Novella or one in San Marco. When you were
    > > doing your research for Florence, did you get an idea which area would
    > > be better, with regard to convenience to sites and quiet. (I'm
    > > planning a trip with my mother, and her arthritis sometimes acts up.
    > > On top of that, she's a light sleeper.)
    >
    > They are both noisy areas [San Marco with students, SM Novella is near
    > the train station and noisy] In fact Florence is an incredibly noisy
    > city -- the only way to get quiet is to be in a room on an inner
    > courtyard [and even then, chances are that workers in shops at the
    > bottom will begin yelling at each other at the crack of dawn -- Italians
    > seem intent on being sure that no o ne else has any peace or quiet if
    > THEY have to work -- whether it is 7 am or 2 am]
    >
    > They are both about the same distance from the center -- but San Marco
    > is a more attractive area IMHO
    >
    > >
    > > Someone here mentioned the Grand Hotel Baglioni--that's one of the
    > > hotels I'm considering. Another one is the Hotel Globus. Both are
    > > mentioned in the Lonely Planet so they must be okay. Both are near
    > > the train station. How safe and how quiet?
    > >
    > > A third one is the Orto de Medici in San Marco. Has anyone stayed at
    > > these hotels or areas? Any comments will be appreciated. Thanks in
    > > advance.
    >
    > the Orto de Medici is a remodel of the old Splendor -- it is very nice
    > [the upgrade looks good] They also have a charming terrace. We stayed
    > several times when it was the Splendor and I have toured it since out of
    > curiosity. I would definitely choose it over anything near the train
    > station which while safe enough is an ugly part of town.
    >
    > Just around the corner from the de Medici is San Marco with the
    > enchanting museum San Marco and the Academia is nearby. There is also
    > a wonderful gelato place -- one of the 3 or 4 best in Florence called
    > the Carib on a nearby side street. And a nice deli type place with
    > excellent pastries and take out sandwiches on the corner across from the
    > museum San Marco. One of the main electric buses also bases there --
    > and many of the local buses have stops at San Marco so it is convenient
    > if you want to use a bus to get out a ways --- it is close enough so
    > that the center is an easy walk.
    >
    >
    > >
    > > Lil
    > >
    > > Debra Weber Kurt Weber <> wrote in message
    > > news:<>...
    > > > Hi
    > > >
    > > > Jenn wrote:
    > > >
    > > > > -- but definitely agree that walk ins don't get the
    > > > > best rates --- internet rates almost always involve a rake off for some
    > > > > intermediary -- I got some very good rates via internet this summer but
    > > > > then as I checked in could hear the desk offering even lower rates to
    > > > > people calling in
    > > > >
    > > > > after that I booked by phone and always did better than internet specials
    > > > >
    > > >
    > > > Thinking along these lines, last October I called a hotel and asked for the
    > > > lowest rate that I had seen on the Internet. Much to my surprise, I was
    > > > told
    > > > "That is an Internet rate; our rates our higher. You have to go on the
    > > > Internet
    > > > if you want that rate."
    > > >
    > > > I replied, "But if I go to the Internet, I will get that rate, and you will
    > > > have
    > > > to pay a portion of it to the Internet company that I reserved with. Why
    > > > not
    > > > just give me that rate now, and the hotel will have the entire amount, and
    > > > not
    > > > the amount minus an Internet company commision?"
    > > >
    > > > The clerk was very irate. He balked at my request. I asked the same thing
    > > > again
    > > > and he very grudgingly gave me the lower rate. I was shocked, but then, I
    > > > often
    > > > am.

Paul Brandon

In article <>,
(Terryo) wrote:

    > (Lil) wrote in message
news:<>...
    >> Interesting. Now, I will for sure go through the package route via
    >> the Internet.
    >>
    >> Still having a hard time deciding on a hotel. It's between some
    >> hotels in the Santa Maria Novella or one in San Marco.

We had a good experience at the Nuova Italia in the San Larenzo area (Via
Faenza). About ¤125 in June.
http://nuovaitalia.hotelinfirenze.com/
The staff were fluent in English and extremely helpful and friendly, even
letting us camp in their breakfast room in the afternoon with a bottle of
wine and allowing us to commandeer their glasses.
The rooms were extremely clean and well maintained; the mattresses were
also excellent.
The airconditioning was more than adequate, even during unseasonable weather.
Despite the proximity of the markets, the noise level was quite low, due
to very good windows.
It is near the Mercado Centrale and Mercado San Lorenzo markets; and
interesting location.
It is also quite near the railroad station (a plus only if you're arriving
by train) and within walking distance of all of the major sites. IT took
us less than half an hour to get to the Pitti Palace (and of course making
numerous shop window pauses along the way).
All in all, an excellent hotel -- we'd gladly go there again.