Hi,

I'm looking to backpack through Italy this summer with my sister. We've both traveled (independently) previously, but were just wondering whether there are a chain of hostels that are reliable, affordable and dependable in Italy (as in Australia with YHA). Thanks. Oh and here are some Italian hand gestures provided by D+G models to prepare us for summer!!

http://ourwordonthestreet.tumblr.com...to-communicate

it makes learning Italian so much more motivating, right?
I am not aware of any hostel chains, in Rome I can recommend the Beehive. Hope others will chime in with other cities - maybe you should list where you plan to go.

It really does! So catchy, love it. Anyways, thank you - Beehive I've not heard of them - I should look them up. Do you know if its cheaper to book in advance or would it make little difference? (We dont yet have a plan set in stone, but would rather decide when we're at the places whether to stay longer or move on )

watch the wandering hands on the trams

Wandering hands? :/ oh dear! Not something I had bargained on..

And to think I spent all the money on Rosetta Stone,

When all you needed were these hand gestures! Maybe I'll need to learn a couple of phrases too though...just in case

Thanks for the video. I like all the good-looking demonstraters.

Re: accommodations, look into staying in convents while traveling in Italy. Maybe not so good for meeting other travelers, but definitely safe. Start at www.monasterystays.com.

Thanks Mimar, I hadn't considered this an option - to be honest, I didn't know it was a possibility. Have you stayed yourself in one of the monasterys? Oh and glad you enjoyed the video, definitely a bonus that they're so good looking!

monasterys can be a very good deal, I've stayed in one with a michelin star attached but they can be basic

Don't point your finger in someones face unless you want a fight.

Bilboburgler, this sounds like a very good idea...and maybe a way to get off the tourist track. Do you mind me asking how much you paid to stay at the monastery?

Ira, I will remember that advice!!

Oh, and experience/cost wise - would you recommend taking internal flights, buses or inter-railing?

Beehive does get booked out pretty quick, so the earlier, the better i guess. Convents are excellent, too - just beware, some have a (pretty early) curfew.

Why did I just spend a week in Italy at a language school when I could have watched this video?

You really need to book in advance since you are traveling high season.

Generally it is best to travel by train in Italy between major cities. You can get great discounts on tickets if you book well in advance.

When looking at convents, be aware of their curfews - some can be quite early.

I cannot remember, but Mrs Bilbo never lets me pay more than Euro60 for the bottom end of the market

There's a book, and maybe a website, called Bed and Blessings that will give you info about staying in monasteries.

The American Catholic Church in Rome maintains a list of convents in Rome and some other Italian cities:

http://www.santasusanna.org/comingToRome/convents.html

They do tend to get booked up far in advance, so they're not great if you want to decide on your lodging at the last minute.

If you're both women, here is another excellent lodging in Trastevere, at the International Women's Center:

http://www.foresteriaorsa.altervista.org/

This also tends to get fully booked up well in advance.

The Beehive in Rome is inexpensive for a single person staying in one of the dorm rooms, but if you want a private room, you can usually find a better deal in a budget hotel. Also, two people traveling together often will pay more for two beds in a hostel dorm than for a double room in a budget hotel.

I use www.booking.com to find lodgings. They have all sorts of lodging, including hotels, B&Bs, hostels and apartments. They usually have at least some rooms left even at the last minute, but the best choices may be gone. You can enter "Rome (or Florence, etc.) city centre" as your destination to see only centrally located lodgings. You can also select a specific neighborhood from a menu on the left. You can sort the list by price or by guest rating. The guest rating is reliable, as only certified guests are allowed to post ratings. Read the guest reviews before making a final decision.

I assume you all realize this, but you should never actually try using those hand gestures. Context is everything, and a foreign stranger talking to an Italian is not the right context. It could appear that you're making fun of them.

Besides, you wouldn't get the accent right.