How to find hotel if you don't speak the language?
 

1. How do you find a hotel in Italy if you don't speak Italian? <BR>2. Do you wait until you arrive then find a hotel? (I tend to stay at cheaper hotels). I suppose one could reserve a room on the internet.<BR><BR>The last time I went to Italy, it would have been no different if they spoke Klingon in Italy. Few spoke English and some of them did not speak the same English that I speak (could be partly my fault).<BR><BR>I am not looking for specific recommendations yet as I will not be going to Italy in 2003.

There's usually an information booth in the central railway staton with an english speaker. They used to ring and confirm with the hotel for you.

I have no info, Hiroshi, but I got a good laugh out of Klingon. That's what Russian sounds like for me. (Despite the fact that I've taken two classes)

On the internet at venere.com

Hi<BR><BR>Easy solution to this.<BR>Use google to find hotels in Italy.<BR>If its in Italian, use google language tools to translate the web page. Google includes Italian to English. Translation follows menus and weblinks OK. The translation is not 100% but understandable.<BR><BR>You can see how it works here : http://tlp.netfirms.com<BR><BR>Peter<BR><BR><BR><BR>

We too stay in cheaper hptels or pensions or gasthauses. Here's how I get around the language problem. First I get the guidebooks to direct me to the hotels I am intersted in. Many have a page in the back that have basic translations on how to reserve a room. I also buy phrasebooks in that language. I have somethime called, with varying degrees of success in inquiring about a room, and been really proud of myself since I didn't speak the language. However, the easiest way is to fax the hotel using the stock phrases provided in the guidebook. Even the smallest family run places tend to have a fax.

As stated above, find a guidebook. There are many, from basic to luxurious. We tend to use Rick Steves, low end to 3* but all generally in good location, clean ana a good value. He usually puts in the book if they speak english (SE) or not. Many have web sites or at least email. Basically go to a book store and check out the books to find one that has the perspective you like to travel with (Rick is very opionated).<BR>Start checking out web sites and go from there.