HEEEEELLP! - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**Slacker** · 05-09-2006, 02:54 AM

Ok, so I have been doing all my reservations tonight.

I am trying to watch my budget very carefully. I want to spend as little as I can but still get a good hostel. I am trying to aim for anything below $30 USD. Well as far as florence goes, I cant really find anything GOOD for under that price. And alot of the hostels there got bad reviews.

I am planning on being there the 7, 8, 9th of June.

I was thinking MAYBE the Ostello Archi Rossi like someone mentioned on a thread, but they dont do reservations. I was thinking that in the beginning of June is gonna be SWAMPED with tourists.

Do you think I should skip Florence altogether?

All I know that is there is that statue David??

I mean I could skip florence and go right to Rome. Spend like a week and a half in rome. What do you think???

**zylah** · 05-09-2006, 04:24 AM

if youre watching your pennies don't bother seeing David at the gallery, travel to Piazza della Signoria, and see an extremely good copy of David, and a whole bunch of other statues for free.

We stayed at a place that I think was right next to Ostello Archi Rossi, (I know it was on the same street as us) that was fairly good.

Wether or not you should skip Florence depends on what other Itallian towns you are going to. Its main drawcard is David, but there is some other cools stuff there too.

**agriadam** · 05-09-2006, 04:29 AM

staye at the rossi
it's absolutly wonderful
and I mad reservations about three days before arrival.

**florencia9699** · 05-09-2006, 04:35 AM

Yeah... dont skip Florence altogether casue u cant find a hostel... there are plenty!! (check out the recommended hostels).

Edited to add the link:Reccomendation

**tumblezweedz** · 05-09-2006, 07:38 AM

Or if you're really in a bind, consider staying somewhere else in the area and taking a daytrip in by train. I was just talking to some people who're going to daytrip to Florence from Rome (it's about 2 hrs each way), which is probably not what I would do, but if you could get to somewhere within about an hour's ride, you'd be able to get a decent day in looking around, and if you pick somewhere less touristy, you'll probably get cheaper digs, too.

**Slacker** · 05-09-2006, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tumblezweedz@May 9 2006, 06:38 AM
Or if you're really in a bind, consider staying somewhere else in the area and taking a daytrip in by train.* I was just talking to some people who're going to daytrip to Florence* from Rome (it's about 2 hrs each way), which is probably not what I would do, but if you could get to somewhere within about an hour's ride, you'd be able to get a decent day in looking around, and if you pick somewhere less touristy, you'll probably get cheaper digs, too.

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Maybe I should just stay 2 nights instead of like 3 or 4 from what I was thinking?

Then I'd get more time in Rome and Athens? (More Rome then athens but..?)

Cuzz the 7th and the 8th are pretty open as far as "good" hostels are concerned.

**lilchappy** · 05-09-2006, 03:53 PM

Def don't skip Florence. I was there 2 days ago for like my 3rd or 4th time. Pretty close to where I am living right now. There is a lot to see and do there in terms of churchs, museums, shopping, plazas, parks. I stayed at a nice hotel last time because my dad came out, but stay close to the train station if possible. Pretty easy to find your way around, although I did get lost on Sunday night, AGAIN! Good luck man, if u skip florence, hit up Cinque Terre. I believe that is the correct spelling. I live near Bologna and would let u stay here, but no room in the inn. Let me know, maybe we will meet up if ur bored.

cya...lilchappy

http://blogs.travelpunk.com/index.php?blogId=24

**Slacker** · 05-09-2006, 04:34 PM

Thx for your off lilchappy but thx to agriadam I am now booked!!

But I would like to meet up if your around when im there!

I'll be posting my itinerary and such tonight or tomorrow!

**agriadam** · 05-09-2006, 09:26 PM

hey no prob brah

that's what we are here for

anything else I can do for you PM me again I've been down your road before and plan to be down it again

**lilchappy** · 05-11-2006, 06:43 AM

Me too slack. PM me when you know dates. Usually my roomates and I head out to different cities on Sun and Mon. I am thinking about hitting up Cinque Terre here pretty soon.

cya...lilchappy
http://blogs.travelpunk.com/index.php?blogId=24

PLUSCREW · 05-19-2006, 08:33 AM

hi,

I would seriously reccommend doing some reservations, tourists have this uncanny attraction to Florence, at all times of the year. You could always try camping Michelangelo, they have an awesome set up in a protected olive grove overlooking the duomo, and a pretty fantastic view over florence i might add. the beer and food are cheap, loads of other backpackers, loads of fresh air and sunshine, and it is getting hot, 31 degrees C here today (may 19), so im saying spring is officially over.luckliy they are 5mins from the ponte vecchio.
all the important bits to see are central, and can be got round in a day, add an exra day if you decide to do a gallery, the uffizi is huge. i used to lead a walking tour hear that lasted around 2 and a half hours and we saw everything essential.
the camp goes from €10 per night.

katy

**Jen05** · 05-19-2006, 09:18 AM

Good, I'm glad to hear you found something. I loved Florence, and while I enjoyed Rome I could not imagine spending more than a week there (3 days was enough for me!) I'd check out the Duomo. It's 5 euros or something to climb to the top, and well worth it, I'd say! The view is incredible, and along the way, you can see the artwork on the walls and ceiling up close and personal. I also went on a really good pubcrawl there, it met on top of this hill that overlooked the city, but I don't remember what it was called!