Chocolat

My husband and I plan to travel to Italy at the end of August 2005, but provided only that we can make it a low budget trip. Aside from Sicily where I will be staying with family, can anyone tell me when the high and low seasons are for Rome, Florence and Venice. I noticed on a B&B site for Roma that low season ended August 31 (probably because everyone returns from the beaches) but in Venice high season ends at the end of August.

My husband and I are trying to plan it so that we can take advantage of the low season rates in parts of Italy and if we have to do Sicily in ealry September, I am willing to reorganize my itinerary. I had originally thought we would start in Sicily for approx 5 days (beginning approx Aug 20) and head to Rome for another 5 days, followed by short stays in Florence and Venice - was also considering seeing some of the Amalfi (2 days-not a day trip) if at all possible given that we will likely not be returning to Italy for some time.

Tell me if you think I am crazy in attempting to do all this in say 22 or 23 days! And would really appreciate your help on the low/high season issue!

Thanks, N.

Jenner

I can't imagine anyone using the words "low-season", "Italy", and "August" in the same sentence. I know a lot of the country takes their holidays in August, but it certainly is not a low season in the way one might expect. I was there in August one year - it was mad, jam-packed with tourists everywhere!

When my brother booked a recent trip to Italy his travel agent told him that Italy's "high season" now includes what the rest of Europe would call "shoulder season" - so rates in general will be higher from April to October.

Now, what specific B&Bs are calling "low season" is another matter. You'll just have to look. But in general, August just ain't low season! Sorry!

Jen

praguesam

Some hotels do drop their rates in the beginning of September (I was in Formia this August-September and my rate when down about 15% on September 1)

Eloise

Jenner: That is not entirely true; I have seen low-season rates for the month of August on the Web sites of many hotels in Rome. I don't know if that also holds true for Florence and Venice, although I have been told by hotels in Tuscany that September is now "highest" season.

And in any kind of "vacation" area frequented by Italians -- Tuscan hill towns, Amalfi Coast villages, etc. -- August would be absolutely highest season.

ira

Hi choco,

I think that you are going to find that High and Low season rates are dependent on where you are and which hotel you are choosing.

For example, on our last trip our Florence B&B had low season in Sept, while our hotel in Praiano had low season starting Oct 1.

How much is your budget?

bobthenavigator

Most of Italy is high season from Easter thru end of Oct. August is lower in the cities.

PLMN

Pretty much ditto on what ira stated. When I started making plans for my trip to Italy I had been told that October is a "shoulder season" by many sources. I was told the rates for our accomodations would not be as high as other times of the year.

What I found is that it really depends on exactly WHERE in Italy one is going at a particular time of year. I also found various establishments in the same towns/cities that one was charging HIGH season rates and one was charging MID season rates.

I think things may have changed over the years. (Just like everyone telling me to ask for breakfast to not be included in my price quote and I would get a lower price. NOT. (At least not with the many, many places I asked in Rome. I finally gave up even asking. And for me to give up on anything is quite unheard of )

Chocolat

Having been to Italy in late August and early September 3 years ago, I know that Italy is quite busy during those months - it was however odd to see hotels rating August as low season.

Having done some further research, it appears that it is only Rome hotels that claim low season in August, it doesn't really make a difference anywhere else. SO I have decided to just treat everything as high season.. and my budget, well we'll have to work with that.

My husband and I aren't really hotel people and we spend so little time in the hotel that i just want something quaint and reasonably priced - Pensione La Calcina prices indicate a double room with a view for 140-16O Euros for that time of year. It just irks me because with that kind of money per night we could be staying in a luxurious hotel on the coast of Rio de Janeiro and in Italy, you get a room with a view off a canal.

Any suggestions for comparable accomodations in Florence and Rome for under 100 Euros.

N

RufusTFirefly

Most hotels in Venice have lower rates in July and August as compared to May and June, though not their lowest of the year.

kittrdg

agree that low season is generally April to October generally - August is always quite busy with tourists and things keep quieting down as you move into the Fall. Some hotels do actually close down - their websites should advise. I think it's very much a hotel by hotel thing - the more popular places will always command a premium no matter the season.

britomart

Just wanted to mention that I stayed at the Pensione La Calcina in 9/03 and it was nice. I did not have a "room with a view" but my room ended up having a small balcony that overlooked a canal. But then I stayed in hostels the rest of my trip so anything felt like a luxury.

I stayed at the Beehive in Rome, which has a few single and double rooms for a very reasonable price, well under 100 eu ro I believe. It also has a nice kitchen with all amenities if you're the type of person who likes to do some cooking/picnicing.

isabel

I was in Florence and Venice this past July and both my hotels had "lower" rates. Not the lowest of the year, but lower than May-June and Sept-Oct. In fact my hotel in Venice was €60 and the web site I booked through had it as high as €180 for some months. Similiar experience in Florence.

Traveler863

My experience has been around mid August things slack off...I beleive most Europeans take holiday from beginning of July thru mid August. The latter part of August you should be fine.