My husband and I are going to Italy in early June. We have budgeted
for hotels at about $100 a day (in Canadian funds). I need help
finding hotels/hostels. We are going to Rome, the Amalfi
coast(especially would like to stay in Ravello and Postiano) Capri,
Venice, The Lakes area, and both Italian Riverias,and Florence. On the
Amalfi coast I would like a great view of the ocean, to be high or
midway up on the hill and to have a balcony or
terrace and if possible,a swimming pool. My idea of Italy is romance,
flowers, trellis'overhung with vines, with etc...In Venice I would
like a room overlooking a small, pretty canal. And any hotels/hostels,
etc,  with a view of lakes or ocean, in any place we stay near water.
Please help if you can. I find it overwhelming looking at all the
sites on the internet. I would like the least expensive but nicest places
possible and my biggest concern is the Amalfi coast, Capri and the
Riverias. The bare minimum requirement on the Amalfi coast is a great
seaview and terrace/balcony. I can pay slightly more on the Amalfi
coast but not the amounts that I found on expedia and travelocity,italy online
etc. We are also renting a car for going north of Rome so hotels need
parking, except of course in Venice. Thanks.

I strongly recommend this youth hostel, that is slilghtly off for you
but the absolutely best accomodation at the most reasonable price.
Ischia is the twin island of Capri: as beautiful, maybe a little less
international but definetely worth a visit when you are in Capri.
Also, if you decide you can base yourself there, this is the best
accomodation you can find. I believe the 2 islands are about 30
minutes of boat away and together with the small island of Procida are
the three island facing Naples (same departure point for all three
from Naples).
This hostel belongs to the Hostelling International association (in 
Italy its division goes under AIG) and, as such, accepts people of any
age. You will just need to pay an association fee.

Regarding the hostel, this is not the usual rickety, old, dirty place
with shared washrooms and dorm rooms for 30 people.. in fact
previously it was a hotel, now converted to a hostel. It has the
nicest swimming pool (with a profusion of chairs and tanning beds
around it) in a garden full of flowers and every room has a stunning
view on the sea. They do have double rooms (or so they had last
septmber - likely with a bunk bed) but you will have to book ahead as
the hostel is quite known and they tend to sell quickly) and for my
experience every room has its own washroom. The hostel is on a small
hill (all these islands are quite hillious) and to get to the sea and
its beach you will have to go down a series of stairs or take the
local bus (quite pricy) for a really short ride.

The info of the hostel are as follows:
ĞIl Gabbianoğ
S.S. Forio -Panza 162,
80075 ISCHIA (NAPOLI)
Tel. 081 909422
fax 081 909422
e-Mail: ostelloischia@virgilio.it
Beds: 100

This is their site at AIG(look at the picture!!!):
http://www.ostellionline.org/ostello.php?idostello=200

while this is the site of the AIG (can be browsed in english):
http://www.ostellionline.org/

Did i forget to mention the amazing price???? Only 16 euros per night
for a room with 4 beds or more. I believe 19 euros for double room (to
be confirmed with the hostel).

On the same note, I strongly suggest you not to go for the AIG only
hostel in Venice as this is what you can expect from the most
disastrous of the hostels (however, it is likely the cheapest
accomodation in the entire Venice) and the same goes for the AIG
hostel in Rome (previously a psychiatric hospital... no view at all).

In florence instead, if you are ok with giving up the idea of a "room
with a view" on the duomo roof, i feel like suggesting this AIG hostel
(double room for 20 euros only per person!!!) which is located into a
1600 Villa, slightly off the city center:

http://www.ostellionline.org/ostello.php?idostello=180

ĞEuropa Villa Cameratağ
Viale Augusto Righi 2/4,
50137 FIRENZE (FIRENZE)
Tel. 055 601451
fax 055 610300
e-Mail: florenceaighostel@virgilio.it
beds: 322 

The villa is amazing but i never actually slept there so I cannot
express an opinion on the actual accomodation/washroom.

I also have a really good address for a hotel in Pisa (home to the
Leaning Tower, recently opened to viewers who want to venture up its
leaning steps - do it now because it usually closes after a few years
due to safety regulations! the climb has been forbidden for over 20
years!!!). Let me know if that may interest you!

I just found this address and it may be of interest to you. Please
notice that I have never been to this particular place, but have just
read bout it in a newspaper.

It is the forestery of the Valdesian religious community in Venice,
located in a 1700 palace not far from San Marco Square.
They have 5 double rooms, plus a variety of dorm stlye rooms.
According to the magazine, the price for a double room is around 57-75
euros.
This is the site (you can browse it in English) of the forestery and
it includes all contact information.

http://www.diaconiavaldese.org/php/mostraach.php?albergo=venezia&lingua=EN

Notice that they do have other foresteries around Italy and some may
be of interest to you.

On the same article, there is the address for a hostel at Menaggio, on
the Como lake in the Lake District. The price is dead cheap (only
13.50 euros per person oer night in dorm style and only 14 per person
in family room, both incluiding breakfast) but they do not seem to
have double rooms. Maybe you could consider paying for a family room
to share in two only. The view seems to be stunning (and Menaggio is
definetely one of the most beautiful locations of the Como lake). Here
is the address:

OStello AIG La Primula,
via IV Novembre 106,
Menaggio (Como),

phone  number (as should be dialed from canada): 011 39 0344 32356

One last advice: do not wait any longer to book accomodations.
Especially the cheap ones or double rooms in hostels get booked even 6
months ahead.
Enjoy your trip!

A good comprehensive website where you can view and book hotels in Italy is
http://www.venere.it/home/italy.html

I've used them with no problems (well, actually our Venice hotel
didn't live up to its description and we moved after the first night,
but I wouldn't blame venere for that).