Have you ever been to Italy?

Yes, many times. Love it in the North. Good hotels: If you want a unique experience of northern Italy, almost Austria, go to Bolzano. It is charming, with many walking trails amidts vineyards and orchards. You can also see Utzi the frozen caveman there. Great hotel with fantastic restaurant is the Park Laurin. THey have the most awesome Linzer Torte and Sud Tirolese Speck (a kind of Prosciutto).

In Rome I am partial to the Hotel DeRussie on via Babuino near the Piazza di Popolo. Awesome courtyard, cool on the hottest days, nice rooms, very helpful staff. Great restaurant.

Never take checked luggage with you - it can be "lost" permanenetly. Fortnately my husband had 100K status and they gave us an inside phone number, the bell staff also called the luggage people and finally it arrived - four days into our stay. Also in Rome the Marco Polo near the airport is a good Western Style place. Addionally, carrying luggage around on trains is a pain.

In Sienna, the Palazzo Ravizza is a very good value. It is a bit shabby, but clean. Our room was a frescoed suite with a huge bath. Our rate included parking, breakfast and dinner. The Cafe de Artisti down the road had an awesome dish of pasta uccelino. I am not crazy about Tuscany. I think it is a very Americanized version of Italy. For a more Authentic experience I would try Umbria or Le Marche. In Le Marche the Casale Torre il Sasso in Cagli is a pleasant, if rustic, villa to rent. Make sure you have your own TP, Soap and food on arrival. No Television there. Also, in Cagli now there is a spa. Agriturismos offer some of the very best food and, I understand, nice stays as well.

In VEnice, it is hard to come by a good room for less than $300 without connections. Our fave was the hotel Monaco and Grand Canal and we also go to Ristorante Nico. Also, the pasticceria Targa has an awesome Pan Forte that is unlike any elsewhere. If you are in Venice in the summer be sure to eat the fabulous olive foccaccia. Another okay place is the Hotel Ateneo.

In Milan, the Villa MalPensa is pretty good if you need a place near the airport.

For a good lunch, check out the local markets which go from town to town everyday. THe porchetta man will have the most incredible roast pig. Then you can also find great olives, locaaly cured taht are beyond delicious, freash fruits (look for the word "Nostrano" which means ours or local). You can also get great deals there on clothes or nearly anything.

Enjoy your trip. It is one of the homes of my heart and I still have many family members there.

I have been to Italy. It's amazing! You'll love it. I've been to a lot of Europe, and Italy has some of the most amazing sites, beautiful countryside, and the Italians are very warm.

Unfortunately, I can't recommend a hotel since I went a long time ago and so much depends on your budget. But I can certainly recommend a great website.

Try TripAdvisor. I do not plan a trip without consulting this amazing resource. It gives you a list of popular places to stay, each reviewed by members of its extensive user base. Try searching specifically for the cities of interest i.e. Florence. You'll never have to buy a guidebook again.

If you have never been to Italy before, you may consider to:

- Plan the places to visit, to stay and to eat (great source: Rick Steves' guides)

- Learn something about the local culture to make you feel less of a tourist and more 'Italian'. I found a great blog and eBook that introduces you to the Italian Culture. It's called Italy from The Inside (see URL below).

I have been to Rome; if you go there, you should stay anywhere near Tremini station since it is pretty much the hub of the entire city and you will have to go there to get anywhere else anyway. Also, a friend of mine stayed in a little hotel near the village of Falciani in Tuscany; she said it was amazing.

Italy is beautiful! i visited Venice, Florence and Rome... and drove through tuscany- which eventually I will go back to and spend more time there. My hotels and such were all prearranged- but my one recommendation is if you are not afraid of heights get above the cities- especially Venice in the Campaniles (bell towers)... it is AWESOME and breath-taking!

Check out Vacationvillas.com We rented a beautiful, renovated watchtower apartment with a gorgeous patio terrace overlooking mountains and a river below. It was 250 euros per week!

I've been and the advice I can give is about driving. Be very careful and make sure you know exactly where you are going. Road signs are very confusing and sometimes inaccurate. Happy Travels

Try the convents. Something unique. Basic rooms but inexpensive. Do a search on the web.

No, but i heard that place was great. I would love to go there!

No but I would love to go there.