Italy-bound with no reservations.
 

Hubby and I are travelling to Italy in November. The only reservations we are making is in Rome. From Rome, we will be spending 10 days south and in Sicily.... WITH NO RESERVATIONS at any hotel or B&B. Are we nuts??? Will we have any problems finding rooms everynight, or will we be sleeping in our car?

Lynn: went to Italy Oct. '98. Only had reservations for Rome, Venice, Florence. Spent last wk traveling Tuscany w/ no reservations and had NO problem finding nice places to stay. Our travel companions went to Cinque Terre for several days then to same area as we did (Tuscany) and also were able to secure lodging.

--- <BR> <BR>At that time of year you shouldn't have any difficulty finding accommadations on an impromptu basis. <BR> <BR>That being said, why??? I realize that I'm a researcher & a planner and less inclined to wing it. Do you plan to just drive around until you find an available place? Or maybe you'll take a list of possibilities in the cities that you intend to visit and a day or two ahead, call them? And if you're willing to do that, why not just make reservations? I know that people do enjoy this type of open travel, but I don't see it as a good use of time and energy.

Lynn, <BR>We've done reservations and no reservations and have sort of arrived at a half and half position. <BR>Having said that: two years ago we did sort of the reverse of your plan---started in Sicily and worked our way north coming home from Rome. We found the area from Reggio Calabria ( where the ferry from Sicily took us) to the Amalfi coast to not be as well touristed as other parts of Italy. We lucked out and stumbled into Maratea where we stayed at a lovely place, Villa Cheta Elite. this southern section of Italy is beautiful but very different---not as common to find English spoken, even in hotels and restaurants (if that is a concern)and as I said before, simply not as touristed. I don;t think you'll sleep in your car, but you should have some vague sort of plan and know there are accommodations at the end of the day. <BR> <BR>Also, if you're stopping on the Amalfi coast, the physical layout of Positano (very hilly) and to a lesser extent, Amalfi, don't help in the late in the late in the day search for somewhere to stay. <BR>Regardless----- it's Italy, you'll have a great time. Just decide for yourself how unpredictable you want it to be!!!

We have travelled to Italy at least 12 times, and we have never made a reservation for anything other than our car. We have gone from Venice to Sicily, including Positano, and have never failed to get accomodations. We didn't get the 4 Seasons, but we really enjoy the small pensiones, and have found the owners extremely helpful and accomodating, some we have made fast friendships with.Don't fret, be adventurous and enjoy the Italians. Go to out of the way places and out of the Harry's Bar and Grill type restaurants, and you will have a marvelous trip.

Lynn: forgot to say earlier that we had <BR>decided on several possible hotels in each city/town that we wanted to visit from the various guidebooks we had. We went to lst one and found a hotel. At that hotel,we asked the desk clerk to call to next town and make us a reservation from a list we gave him or her. They all were willing to do so; I think they charged us for the calls, but maybe not. That saved us alot of time driving around in a strange <BR>place looking for a room. We ended up getting our first choice in each town we <BR>visited in Tuscany. Hope this helps!

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Lynn, You will not have a problem in <BR>November. Go to my favorite site at <BR>www.initaly.com and find their section <BR>called READERS REPORTS and scroll down to my article about a similar trip we <BR>did this past spring---look for this: <BR>NAVIGATING WITH BOB AND ED-----. <BR>It may help your planning.

Lynn, last Oct/Nov I travelled thru Tuscany/Umbria for 2 weeks with no reservations. We had no trouble finding places to stay at very low season rates. Have a wonderful time.

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