Our Homes Away from Home

Sean and I have stayed in some pretty nice places while we have been in Europe. When I was booking hotels, I didn't realize at first what the star ratings meant - I thought it was based on the quality of the hotel, when it's actually just based on the amenities offered. Because we knew we wouldn't be spending a lot of time in our rooms (or in a pool, sauna, gym, etc), we went with basic two star hotels. I think it's safe to say that we have loved every one of them - though our two favorites so far have been Lucerne (that view!) and Brussels. Pictures don't do any of these hotels justice!

Rome - Hotel Selene
Our hotel in Rome was Hotel Selene, which came recommended to us by my mom from her previous visit. The staff at the hotel was very helpful and friendly, and the hotel location was super convenient. My only complaint was that the bed was rock hard and a tad uncomfortable, but since we were only there two nights, it didn't matter too much. We will definitely stay there again in the future when we return (already planning out our next vacation in my head). Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures for this hotel (we forgot!).

Florence - Magnifico Messere
I really liked our hotel in Florence. The bed was comfortable (always important to me, more than most other things - I want to be able to sleep!) and the hotel owner was very sweet and accomodating. The hotel offered a public kitchen shared with two other guests and was stocked with basic food items that were offered at no charge. Our location was fantastic - within an easy walk of the train station and sandwiched right between the Duomo and the Piazza della Republica (we even had a peek-a-boo view of the Duomo). It got a bit (or a lot) noisy at times, but the atmosphere was intoxicating, so Sean and I didn't mind.




Lucerne - Mr. Pickwick Hotel
If I had a house with a view like the one we had in Lucerne, I would die a happy woman. I couldn't believe we snagged a room like this for the price that we did - what a great value. Even though Sean and I had separate beds while there, it wasn't the end of the world, and the beds were by far the most comfortable we've slept in. Our room was located above an English/Irish pub, which provided a lively atmosphere and gave us a taste of home when we needed one. Both Sean and I are anxious to get back to Lucerne and there is no other hotel we'd rather stay in.



Eguisheim - Auberge des Trois Chateaux
Although Sean and I both loved Eguisheim, I don't think we would stay there again. The village was too small for us and made getting around a bit difficult. Eguisheim isn't on the train line and the only bus offered is the school bus! Tourists are allowed to ride with the kids to and from school, but that meant heading out at 7:30 in the morning and coming back by 4:00 pm. That said, our hotel was very nice and provided a pretty view onto one of the main piazzas. The hotel owner was very friendly and had tons of energy, plus she spoke English well which made getting help much easier. She and her husband also owned the attached restaurant, which dished up some pretty good German cuisine.




Brussels - Azimut Flathotel
Our hotel in Brussels is fantastic. It used to be an apartment building, but was converted to a hotel, which means it has a small kitchenette complete with a washing machine - a huge luxury for us at this point in our trip. It is located right next to Gran Plaz, giving us immediate access to the train station and a plethora of restaurants. Both Sean and I wish we had a few more nights here - neither of us is ready to leave yet, but leave we must at 2:47 pm tomorrow (bound for Paris). Should we return to Brussels in the future (and I hope we do), we will be staying here again.