LisaSusan

does anyone have any recommendations on the best way to book a hotel in Italy? Are there any servies that offer discounted rates for hotels? Looked on Expedia and their prices were the same, if not higher, than some of the hotels. Thanks!

ira

Hi
Try www.venere.com, www.itwg.com.

MFNYC

Expedia also has a limited selection. I prefer to email hotels directly. From my experience, they all respond very quickly with whatever information I ask and the rates are as good any other source.

mclaurie

Venere.com is the most popular here. Also if you go to www.ilor.com & type in a search for "book hotels in Italy" you'll get lots more options. After booking with any secondary site, I'd contact the hotel directly & amke sure they have your reservations. Good luck.

Tess_Durberville

Most hotels, even the smaller places have their own websites. I've always gone direct to the source.

Therese

I've found that most hotels answer emails promptly, and once you've started a correspondence it's easy to ask them to arrange other things (assuming you've booked there).

Venere.com is an efficient way of looking at lots of hotels, but some that may interest you won't be listed.

abbekit

Try this web site for great hotel info and lots of photos: www.italyby.com. However, I only used it for research in helping to determine where I wanted to stay. As others have said, I found it easy to contact hotels directly via e-mail. They all responded within 24 hours and my reservations were all in order when I arrived at each ot the hotels I booked this way. Just in case, be sure to print out a copy of your correspondance with them and bring it with you in case any questions come up. I also had no concerns or problems with sending my deposit via e-mail with a credit card number.

SaraL

We used www.itwg.com they were the cheapest for the hotel we wanted and it was a straight forward site.

Carolanne

Also, you may be interested in the website initaly.com. They list many properties in each region, some very unique, great pictures and lots of other info, and although they are "high-end" properties, InItaly communicates for you with the hotel, charges deposits to your credit card, and sends vouchers, maps, and other info via email to you, for no charge.

brownie

I also agree that contacting the hotel directly via email is best. I booked a room directly and it was over 100 euro/night less than the rate quoted through venere.

Debinnova

I'm trying to book directly, but haven't heard back via email from almost half of those contacted in Rome. This is for end of June reservations. Also, I've noticed it is very difficult to find the hotels "actual" web site and not one of the booking companies. Anyone have a way to do that?

francophile03

For me, the best way is directly with the hotel.

uhoh_busted

I used both venere.it, itwg, and a hotel's direct website (provided by someone at Fodors). I had no problems with any of them.

gdynianka

I am also in a middle of booking hotels for end of May. I used venere.com a lot but booked only Rome through them. Another one, Hotel Riva in Venice was booked through guestinitaly.com(commission of 31 EUR + travellers check for 1st night - which is major inconvenience), but I found this was the only way to get reasonably priced hotel in Venico, close to San Marco. Used sites like romeby.com, florenceby.com, etc. I also used direct e-mail to hotels with my inquires.Almost all of them answer withing 24 hr. I found a lot of .coms on this site. My major problem now is with Bellagio, the small budget hotels don't answer (I think they are still closed), the better ones say to call in a month, after they have finish booking with travel agencies. Talking about tourist discrimination. Ciao.

JenniferW

I cannot find a website for Colonna Palace in Rome anywhere. I have searched everywhere, does anyone have an email address for them?