I plan on backpacking through Italy this summer for a couple of weeks and plan on staying in hostels. Do I need to make reservations? I'd rather not have a set agenda. Not sure how long I'll be staying in each city. Is this too difficult? Any tips or advice would be great, thank you...

Hi 74,

>Backpacking through Italy and not making reservations, Is it possible? <

Of course.

Bring a tent.

Have you spoken to the folks at the Thorntree Forum at www.lonelyplanet.com.

They are more likely to be able to help you.

It's an option thanks, lol.

Is it possible? Yes.

Is it difficult? Only you know your comfort level and what is difficult for you. What will you do if there are no hostel beds when you get to your destination? Do you have funds for a hotel which may be expensive? Will it be early enough in the day to move on to another town?

Are you willing to spend a couple of hours to find a hotel that fits your budget and location?

You may find a bed for a night or for a couple of nights but if you want to stay longer you may need to start looking for bed in a different hostel/hotel. You need to be willing to move every night in each location as beds may be reserved by others and there may be no room at the inn for you.

It also depends on locations (you haven't said where you're going). Some towns are very popular and the hostels fill up quickly as do the reasonably priced hotels. If you're going to more out of the way towns you will probably be ok with not booking ahead.

If you definitely don't want to book ahead, at least have a list of hostels and inexpensive hotels and have a way to contact them such as a phone that works in Italy, tablet, locations of cyber cafes.

Sure, it is possible.

But once you're staying at one hostel, often it is possible to book your next hostel online from there a day or two in advance. That would save you wandering around every new city/town you arrive at with your backpack on!

Also the more popular hostels (value for the money) fill up, so with your plan you may be paying a little more and getting a bit less.

June, yes easy
August, harder
Sept, easy

Select the area of Italy you are interested in and search for rifugio (rifugi) in that Region on Facebook. You'll make connections quickly.

Thanks everyone!