stepsbeyond

J62, which Italian hotels did you stay in, and when? To be truly helpful, you should tell the less experienced which experiences you are talking about. Specifically. The Italian accommodations I have stayed in all had comfortable beds, with the exception of the Argentario in Ravenna in 2002.

As for the rest of that list, it's not that I have no problem with most if it. It's that my HOTELS didn't have those problems.

I don't know why worldtraveler books a hotel without a swimming pool or without a king if that's what he or she wants. I've had Italian hotels with swimming pools, sound-proofing, beds wider than kings (if not as long) -- and I've never been treated poorly by hotel staff except one overworked clerk at the Albergo del Senato in 1996. The only noise from an elevator was at the Hotel de Capuleti in Verona, and I had the room directly next to the elevator.

Is it possible worldtraveler is taking packaged tours?

lrock

We are going for 14 days in March and our plane tickets alone were 1600 dollars. By the time we do lodging ( we are talking B&B around 100 or so euro a night) t he conversion from dollar to euro will eat up much of that budget without adding in airfare. We are starting to get afraid that we will spend 6-7 thousand dollars for the whole trip depending on the dollar.

kybourbon

>>>>All kidding aside, most of the facts that worldtraveler state I find to be quite true, especially the parts about hard beds.<<<<

Yes, but they are true of Europe, not just Italy.

>>>The lack of carpet in many hotel rooms<<<
Don't you just hate those marble floors in Italy hotels? lol

elaine

"There are differences, so it can be helpful to let those less experienced know about these differences, without judgement."

The problem for me is, the complaints above seem entirely WITH judgments--perhaps just to bait us Euro-philes?--"incredibly small", "super small", "super hard". As for the "haughty desk clerks who act like they are better than us" , grammar aside, I fear too many of us act as if we are better than they, in, for example, hotel management.

I disagree with those hyperboles, because they have not been my experience, therefore, they are not everyone's experience. Wait, I agree, about the ice machines (thank goodness) and on average yes, hotel rooms at the medium tend to be smaller. Plenty of gyms around, at better hotels, though, just as in the US. Of course, those medieval buildings can be short on gym space.

Luisah

What a strange list of complaints; it's so bizarre I wonder if the poster is joking.

<<Energy saving where you have to put your key in a slot to get the lights and air conditioning to turn on.>>

I've had to do that in Australia, Egypt, Turkey, New Zealand, Spain and France. I don't recall an ice machine in any hotel I've stayed at in any country in Europe. There are small elevators in countries other than Italy, France for one. It depends upon the size of the building. And I prefer to stay in small, family run hotels in Europe.

I haven't had problems with hard beds either, but one traveling companion did complain in Spain. My bed at home is extra firm, so a "hard" mattress doesn't bother me.

salina5

Oh, come on, people! WorldTraveler is just trying to elicit responses to his foolishness - it may be called "flaming", but whatever it is, he needs to get a life. See his other postings by clicking on his name (in blue) on one of his posts. Best way to deal with this is to completely ignore him. Getting all bent out of shape over some of his stupid comments is not worth any effort at all.

isabel

Is there a specific reason you are going in September? I know it is generally considered one of the "best" months. People think the prices have gone down and the crowds abated a bit. In recent years this is not true. I just checked the hotels I stayed at on my last trip to Florence and Venice and both are indeed cheaper in July than in September. The Hotel Desiree in Florence is 95€ double in Sept, 75€ in July. The Hotel Violino d'Oro in Venice is 135€ in July and over 200€ in September. Hotels charge prices that the crowds demand so their prices are only higher in September because there are more people wanting to stay there then - that translates to more crowds at all the tourist sites too. Just something to consider. The hotel I am staying at in Rome this July (85€) is over 150€ in June (was checking that for another post).

The weather may be better in September (cooler) but you never know with weather, it could be worse. Haven't checked airfares, that might eat up all the savings. But if your dates are flexible there are things like that you might want to research. I know a few times I've changed the dates of a planned trip by just a few weeks and saved a lot.

nandgexperience

Great advice here! Bookmarking...

Peter_S_Aus

We stayed here in Venice and enjoyed it. Owner lives in the USA.

http://realvenicevacationflats.com/

njsusan

bookmarking