Marie

We are a family of four and will be travelling throughout Italy next summer. I have noticed when looking at the hotels that most of the rooms only allow 2 or 3 people in a room. We are unable to pay for two rooms each night. Does anyone know what the regulations are with respect to number of people per room. We were in Australia last year and ran into the same problem. When we booked it seemed like all the rooms had a maximum occupancy of three but when we were over there we found lots of places with two double beds. Thanks for the help.

elaine

Marie<BR>You may find that many rooms in budget hotels in Europe are smaller than you are used to. It is not a matter of regulations so much as space and beds.<BR>A room for two people in a traditional hotel can have one large bed but that is most often a double size (full-size) bed rather than anything larger like a queen bed.<BR>If you ask for a room for two with two beds, you will most often get two twin-sized beds.<BR>A room for three is usually one large bed plus: one twin, or one daybed (twin) or even one roll-away. There are a few hotels that have quad rooms. Sometimes that is one unusually large room, sometimes with one large bed and one sofabed, or some other arrangement. Other times it can actually be two adjoining rooms that are used as one.<BR><BR>If you do a search here on hotels for each town or city you will be visiting, you will find some recommended favorites, many within your budget.<BR>You can also do a hotel search at a website like www.venere.it which many people have praised. Popular guidebooks like Fodors, (and elsewhere on this Fodors website under Italy) can give you basic guidelines on hotel rooms. Rick Steves's books may be particularly helpful as he focuses on budget hotels, but not always with ensuite bathrooms, elevators, or air conditioning.

gb

We traveled in Italy with a family of four two years ago. It was difficult but we did find rooms for four. Not always were they the most atmosphere, but it was economical. For instance, we stayed very inexpensively at the Holiday Inn Express ((adequate room, great breakfast) at Quarto d'Altino, about a 15 minute train ride from Venice. We stayed at the Casa Beata Margherita Convent in Rome for about $60 a night. Basic, but immaculate. I do alot of searches city by city to find rooms. Then, I ask here if anyone as experienced the lodging.

Maria

Marie,<BR><BR>My family of 4 went to Sicily this summer, and we were able to find hotels that put us in a quad room. Sometimes if you look at websites they do not show quads, but if you call the hotel or e-mail them and explain your situtation (my children did not want to sleep in a separate room) they will usually put 2 extra beds in the room if the room allows for space.<BR><BR>We were able to stay in a 5 star hotel in Taormina for less than it would have been for 2 rooms in a 3 star hotel. It is worth it to look into it.

Marie

Thanks everyone for your responses. We were looking at some Starwood Hotels which were 4 stars and they did not list quad rooms (that is why I was asking). I will try your idea Maria of contacting the hotel.

frank

if you're planning to stay in any city for at least 3 nights (and sometimes less) you can often find an apartment to rent--there are many services that have sprung up to broker these. They are often no more expensive than a mid priced hotel, plus you can save money by eating at least breakfast in the apt. The biggest benefit is lots of room to spread out, especially if you like to have a little down time in the middle of your day.