EUROPE
All of these hotels are moderately priced.
Romantik Hotel, Colmar, France
This ancient village is near the French/German border, therefore has a more German look to it. As with many other old European villages, it is now surrounded by a big, bustling city; but, when you get to the old part, you're in another world. This village is like being in a fairy tale. European Theme Amusement parks try to copy this, the "real thing". The hotel, the pink roof on the right, is located on one of the canals in old Colmar. There are other hotels in the old town, but nothing can touch this as far as a Room With a View goes.
Hotel Florence, Bellagio, Italy
Bellagio is located on Lake Como in the northern lake district of Italy north of Milan. The lake is very long and narrow and shaped like a boomerang. Bellagio is at the bend of the boomerang. The villages along Lake Como are among the most picturesque in Italy, but I won't digress from the theme of Room With a View. This view is on the side of the hotel; the rooms on the front, with balconies, are awesome, but all booked way in advance. You can find info about Bellagio on the internet, including more pictures.
Hotel Florence, Bellagio, Italy (rear view)
Most villages on Lake Como are built up the sloping hills; these type stairs are common, but unique.
Venice, Italy
I can't recall the name of this hotel, but it doesn't matter since it wasn't that great inside. On the other hand, the view was great. This is where the sea connects with the mouth of the Grand Canal (just to the right of the big Church). It was nice just sitting in the open window with a cold beer watching the parade.
Hotel Cavelletto, Venice, Italy
There are more quaint hotels all over Venice such as this one, straight ahead on the right. They say you could actually dunk your bagel in the canal during breakfast. Although the water has been cleaned up considerably, I still wouldn't suggest it.
Riomaggiorie,Italy (Cinque Terre)
This is one of 5 villages (Chinque Terre) on the Mediterranean just north of Pisa (Pizza?). There are no cars in these villages. They are accessible by train, boat or foot. We parked outside this village, the first on the south end, and walked to the second one along a path high up on the cliffs along the sea. Stopping along the way for lunch with local wine, this is as good as it gets. You can actually walk to all 5, but that takes time, physical effort and planning.
Hotel Albergo Barbara, Vernazza, Italy (Cinque Terre)
Here's a nice view from a hotel in one of the villages.
Tasch, Switzerland (Zermatt)
We had a car and headed to see the Matterhorn in Zermatt, but learned that cars weren't allowed there, so we stayed in the last hotel before the trains to Zermatt. I think this is the Wallencherhof (?), never-the-less it is the last one. Of course there are many hotels in Zermatt, but we liked this one because it was not in the middle of the Zermatt tourist circus and the rooms, view and food was great, as was the price.
Hotel Antica, Montelpulchiano, Italy (Tuscany)
This is one of the highest of the Tuscany hill towns (4,000 ft). This hotel is deceiving when looking at it from the front that faced the street, however when we opened the doors to the balcony, lo and behold, there was Tuscany from 4,000 feet up. You could see the towers of other hill towns, rolling fields of sunflowers and vineyards. Birds gracefully circled at sunset. By the way, that's our dinner we pieced together from the local bakery, deli, and winery. The wine was a 1979 Nobile Di Montepulchiano; the label from the bottle is framed and on our wall; 1979 is our Daughter's birth year. She kept the label without telling us until a year later.
Arles, France (Provencal)
I can't recall the name of this hotel, but its in the center square of the old village of Arles. In fact its next to Hotel Pinus that has Roman ruins incorporated into the front of the hotel. There's another hotel in Arles that has a glass lobby floor over Roman ruins. This is the actual square where Vincent Van Gogh painted "Starry, Starry Night" (he used to hang out here before he was famous; actually he was never famous during his life. Beware, hotels on the square are noisy.
Hotel Alpenblik, Murren, Switzerland
Murren is a little village nestled 6,000 up in the Alps in central Switzerland near Lauterbrennan. The only way to get there is by train and funicular (no cars). This is taken from our balcony that overlooked the Jungfrau Mountains, which are among the largest of the Alps and home of the famous Eiger. This is just a sneak preview, for the views everywhere, in every direction were breathtaking. We took a cable car to the top of the mountain we were on, The Schilthorn (made famous in some James Bond movie), and then hiked back down to Murren (4,000 feet and 4 hours later). I've never seen more incredible scenery. If interested, I can e-mail some pics.
