Florence boasts top two bargain hotels

The Italian city of Florence boasts the world's top two bargain hotels, a new survey shows.

The city, which includes attractions like the Ponte Vecchio, the Palazzo Vecchio and the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore – home to the great Pieta by Michelangelo – is not normally known for its bargains.

But the Residenza Il Villino and the Hotel Davanzati, both in Florence, have been voted first and second respectively in TripAdvisor's top 10 bargain hotels in the world.

Rival Italian city Rome also features twice in the list with the Hotel Domus Praetoria and the BelleSuite Rome in seventh and ninth place.

Third on the list is Le Square Phillips Hotel & Suites in Montreal, Canada, while the Hale Koa Hotel on Oahu, Hawaii and the Bungalows Hotel in Los Cabos, Mexico, complete the top five.

The Norwood Hotel in Lancashire, England, is the only British hotel to make the top ten, in sixth place.

"This year's winners stand out for their excellence in service," said Michele Perry, spokesperson for TripAdvisor.

"Because real travellers are making the selections, Travellers' Choice winners are not necessarily the 'in' places for the rich and famous but rather the hotels that make the average traveller feel rich and famous."

Elsewhere, the Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong topped the list of luxury hotels, while the Covent Garden Hotel was the best luxury hotel in London.