Alloro Suite Hotel - Bologna

Ah, accomodation in Bologna is a bit of a problem. It is not that there is no accomodation, but most of it is rather upscale. However, I have personally found some fine affordable gems that do not completely ransack your budget and that are extremely centrally located. If you are by car, parking may be a bit of a problem. Certain hotels, such as Hotel Cavour and Albergo Centrale, have made certain arrangements for their guests. Otherwise check out the new parking garage under Piazza VIII Agosto (just south of the railway station) or the parking facilities on Piazza Roosevelt (just West of Piazza Maggiore). Most of the hotels mentioned are very centrally located in the city. On purpose we didn't include any hotels further in the outskirts (except the two hostels and one hotel outside the city). All of these hotels are therefore served by the Aerobus (The direct bus from the airport). For Hotels Cavour, Gharisenda, Minerva, Paradiso, get off at stop San Pietro on Via Indipendenza. For Hotel Cristallo get off at the next stop Arena del Sole.

Nice affordable places in city center

Albergo Garisenda, Via Rizzoli 9, Galleria del Leone 1, tel. 051-224 369, (L 100.000 double, L 135.000 triple; breakfast L 8.000pp; all prices for 2000-2001; no AC). A personal favorite. This cute tiny hotel is very close to the Two Towers in the center of the city. It has only 7 rooms, looks nice and is well-run. The rooms do not have bathrooms, but there are totally four located in the hotel; on seven rooms that seems reasonable.

Albergo Minerva, Via De' Monari 3, tel. 051-239 652, (L 100.000 double, 150.000 triple, 200.000 quadruple, etc.; breakfast not included; all prices for 2000; no AC). Ok, Albergo Garisenda is full, so we go to nearby Minerva just off Via Indipendenza close to Piazza Maggiore. This hotel is rather basic, but clean and the rooms do include a small shower and bathroom.

Albergo Panorama, Via Livraghi 1, tel. 051-221 802 (L 85.000 single, L 110.000 double, L 135.000 triple, L 160.000 quadruple, L 175.000 quintuple; breakfast not included; all prices are for 2001; no AC). A low key, one star hotel on the fourth floor of a historic building with a friendly owner in the heart of Bologna. Only three blocks West of Piazza Maggiore. All rooms except one do not have a private bathroom but do have tv. As the name suggest, most rooms do have a lovely view over the red roofs of Bologna. The hotel has only ten rooms.

Albergo Centrale, Via della Zecca 2, tel. 051-225 114 (L 120.000 single, L 155.000 double, L 205.000 triple, L 245.000 quadruple; breakfast not included; all prices are for 2001; AC). An elegant two start hotel on the third floor of a historic building in the center of the city. In elegance it competes with a three star hotel and with the views on the two towers (ask for such a room!) it competes with any hotel. All rooms include bathrooms with showers. The hotel is only two blocks West of Piazza Maggiore.

Hotel Cristallo, Via S. Giuseppe 5, tel. 051-248 635, (L 120.000 double, breakfast not included; prices for 2000). A simple three start hotel that is a good value. The rooms are again quite basic, e.g., no television in the rooms. But each room has a bathroom and the hotel is quite centrally located, just off Via Indipendenza across from Piazza VIII Agosto.

Nicer, still affordable, places in city center

Hotel Cavour, Via Goito 4, tel. 051-228 111, fax. 051-222 978 (L100.00 single, L 150.000 double, L 200.000 triple, L 250.000 2 doubles sharing one bathroom; breakfast included; Special prices for the wedding; AC). Ok, you have decided that you want to go for comfort. Do not look any further! This hotel has spacious rooms with air conditioning and nice bathrooms, wide corridors, beautiful internal gardens and little seating corners and is again centrally located, just off to the East on Via Indipendenza, not far away from Piazza Maggiore. This hotel is good value. For an additional L 8.000 per day you can buy a parking permit, which allows you to park in the streets of Bologna closeby to the hotel. When taking the Aerobus from the airport, get off at stop "San Pietro"; from there it is a 50m walk.

Hotel Paradiso, Vicolo Cattani 7, tel. 051-231 792, (L 195.000 double, L 220.000 little apartment for 2 people; add L 50.000 for each extra person; breakfast included; all prices are for 2000; AC). This is again a centrally located three star hotel. You get there from Via Bertiera which is again a little road off Via Indipendenza not far from Piazza Maggiore. The great thing about this hotel are the six little apartments with AC, bathroom and little kitchen that they rent out. They can house up to maximum four people.

Hotels outside Bologna

For those that are coming by car from Roma or Milano, or those that are maybe renting a car, it could be an option to stay in a hotel outside the center of Bologna.

Hotel Calzavecchia, Via Calzavecchia 1, Casalecchio di Reno, Bologna, tel. 051-571226, fax. 051-6131384. (L115.000 single, L. 145.000 double, L170.000 triple; breakfast included. Prices for 2001.) A three star hotel.

Hostels outside Bologna

However, two options we have not mentioned yet and should be mentioned in this whole story. They are Bologna's two Youth Hostels. Unfortunately, they are outside the city, but quite well connected by several buses and, most importantly, cheap:

Ostello Due Torri and Ostello San Sisto, Via Viadagola 5 respectively 14, tel. 051-501 810 respectively 051-519 202, (L 21.000 pp in dorm, L 48.000 double room (so L 24.000 pp), L 88.000 room with 4 beds (so L 22.000 pp); breakfast included; prices are for 2000). The two youth hostels are some 6km away from the city centre in a North East direction. Buses 20/B, 93, 301, 21/B take you from Bologna (Railway station) up to about 300m from the two hostels, that are only some 100m apart from each other. I have heard good stories about the two hostels, but I have not visited them myself.