We have just returned from an Italy trip including visits to Venice and Naples. We stayed at two hotels in Venice. The first night we were at the Hotel Giorgione http://tinyurl.com/276lu and were very favorably impressed with the service and nice touches like afternoon coffee or tea and an internet point, free for guests, in the lobby. Authentic is a perfect way to describe this property. It is located near the Jewish Ghetto, which we visited with Paolo, our Zine moderator from Trieste, who came to Venice to have dinner with us (this is what we mean when we talk about get-togethers - GTG).

The weather was most uncooperative and we decided, since it was Carnevale, that we wanted to be closer to St. Mark's Square. We splurged and checked into the Hotel Londra Palace http://www.hotelondra.it/index_ing.htm where we already had dinner reservations for that night. If it's position that you're seeking, it doesn't get better than this. And the hotel is truly one of a kind, as is every room. Simply said, it's divine.

In Naples, we were thoroughly delighted with the comfortable elegance of the Grand Hotel Parker's http://tinyurl.com/2pz7e where the beautiful rooms and friendly staff left us wanting a return visit, and for longer. Naples is a marvelous city, where simple precautions will ensure a trouble-free visit. Do not wear any jewelry and do keep your valuables stored out of site, underneath your clothing. Do not wear or carry a purse of any kind - even if it's empty, which the thief can't know!

Less expensive and down the hill from Grand Hotel Parker's is the Hotel Pinto-Storey http://tinyurl.com/2gtc7 which a Ziner recently mentioned in a private email to us.

Hope this helps. You'll likely hear from other Ziners so stay tuned.

Ciao for now, Linda Toronto