Italy lodging ideas for large group
Apr 20th, 2011, 08:03 AM
#1
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Italy lodging ideas for large group
We are planning a family trip to Italy next April - there will be 12 adults.Primary cities will be Venice, Florence and Rome. As some of us have been to Italy before, and not wanting to revisit some of the museums, we've decided that day itineraries will be left up to the individuals. However, I would like any input on places to stay that would accomodate a large group - ideally rooms with a common area that we can all get together over wine. Any suggestions for both rooms - and logistics in general - are greatly appreciated!
Apr 20th, 2011, 08:09 AM
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I'd head over to www.slowtrav.com they have reviews and information on all sorts of lodging in Italy.
Apr 20th, 2011, 08:12 AM
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You may want to check out apartments. Many people here recommend sleepinitaly.com. I personally haven't done this, but for a large group, two 3 or 4 bedroom apartments (or 1 very large apartment/house) may work well. You'll have common space and kitchen facilities as well.
Apr 20th, 2011, 08:52 AM
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1. In addition to the above, try VRBO for rentals, often by UK or US owners.
2. When our daughter married in Edinburgh, she found a small hotel that would reserve a block of rooms for our friends, but we let everyone deal with his own reservations, deposits, etc. Would this work for you?
3. Sometimes we have traveled with friends and could not all stay in the same place. We made reservations for a common dinner every night at a different restaurant and negotiated touring groups for the next day: destinations, pace, departure time, departure place, etc. It allowed for different economic situations and interests: ultra luxury could have ultra luxury while others had bargain lodging; shoppers could go with other shoppers.
2. When our daughter married in Edinburgh, she found a small hotel that would reserve a block of rooms for our friends, but we let everyone deal with his own reservations, deposits, etc. Would this work for you?
3. Sometimes we have traveled with friends and could not all stay in the same place. We made reservations for a common dinner every night at a different restaurant and negotiated touring groups for the next day: destinations, pace, departure time, departure place, etc. It allowed for different economic situations and interests: ultra luxury could have ultra luxury while others had bargain lodging; shoppers could go with other shoppers.
Apr 20th, 2011, 09:05 AM
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From my travel notes, 2006:
Florence:
"We took a short cab ride to the Relais Cavalcanti. a very charming little 'hotel', at Via Pellicceria, 2. It occupies one floor of a building located near the Uffizi gallery, in a very good central location.
"The Relais Cavalcanti building has been in the same family's ownership for 100+ years, the owner/manager of the new-ish Relais is Francesca. She said she inherited this one floor of the building, so she recently renovated it to create a little hotel. It's relatively new, with beautiful tile bathrooms, showers, etc. The rooms are very charming, and good-sized. It was 120 EUR for our double/twin, with private bath, which included a 10 EUR upgrade for the better view. Francesca did provide a 5 percent discount for payment in cash.
You have the feeling of entering a very nice, private Italian home, when you unlock the Relais door and smell the potpourri set out on the beautiful tables in the hallway and entry way. It has a small elevator and a/c, too.
"No breakfast is served, but even better I think is that they have a beautiful little dining room/kitchen that is open 24/7 for guests. You have always available the makings for coffee, hot chocolate and tea, plus containers of pre-wrapped pastries and dessert cakes. That's about as much as you get in any Italian B&B for breakfast, and this way you can serve yourself whenever."
Venice:
" the Hotel Riva*, at Ponte dell’Angelo.__We checked in and were happy to have a first floor room, since there’s no elevator. Our room was in the corner, looking over the intersection of two small canals. We were pleased with this room assignment, since we had requested such a position, but were thinking we’d only have it for the second two nights, not all three nights. So we were prepared to move after our first night, but we were fortunate it turned out to be unnecessary to change rooms.__
"Hotel Riva is a small one-star hotel, very quaint and charming. Its lobby is welcoming, and its breakfast room is appealing, with both rooms having windows looking directly out on a little canal where gondoliers glide by every few minutes. It couldn’t be a better location. The hotel is sparkling clean, with marble floors, wooden walls, and glass sconces. The bedspreads could be replaced, as they are a bit worn, but that’s a very minor thing to notice, given the wonderful canal views from the hotel and its overall charm."
Rome:
" the Domus Julia, a nice little B&B type hotel, just below the Barberini Palace and very near the Spanish Steps, at via Rasella 32."
The Domus Julia has apartment-style suites which have a dining area/kitchen.
Florence:
"We took a short cab ride to the Relais Cavalcanti. a very charming little 'hotel', at Via Pellicceria, 2. It occupies one floor of a building located near the Uffizi gallery, in a very good central location.
"The Relais Cavalcanti building has been in the same family's ownership for 100+ years, the owner/manager of the new-ish Relais is Francesca. She said she inherited this one floor of the building, so she recently renovated it to create a little hotel. It's relatively new, with beautiful tile bathrooms, showers, etc. The rooms are very charming, and good-sized. It was 120 EUR for our double/twin, with private bath, which included a 10 EUR upgrade for the better view. Francesca did provide a 5 percent discount for payment in cash.
You have the feeling of entering a very nice, private Italian home, when you unlock the Relais door and smell the potpourri set out on the beautiful tables in the hallway and entry way. It has a small elevator and a/c, too.
"No breakfast is served, but even better I think is that they have a beautiful little dining room/kitchen that is open 24/7 for guests. You have always available the makings for coffee, hot chocolate and tea, plus containers of pre-wrapped pastries and dessert cakes. That's about as much as you get in any Italian B&B for breakfast, and this way you can serve yourself whenever."
Venice:
" the Hotel Riva*, at Ponte dell’Angelo.__We checked in and were happy to have a first floor room, since there’s no elevator. Our room was in the corner, looking over the intersection of two small canals. We were pleased with this room assignment, since we had requested such a position, but were thinking we’d only have it for the second two nights, not all three nights. So we were prepared to move after our first night, but we were fortunate it turned out to be unnecessary to change rooms.__
"Hotel Riva is a small one-star hotel, very quaint and charming. Its lobby is welcoming, and its breakfast room is appealing, with both rooms having windows looking directly out on a little canal where gondoliers glide by every few minutes. It couldn’t be a better location. The hotel is sparkling clean, with marble floors, wooden walls, and glass sconces. The bedspreads could be replaced, as they are a bit worn, but that’s a very minor thing to notice, given the wonderful canal views from the hotel and its overall charm."
Rome:
" the Domus Julia, a nice little B&B type hotel, just below the Barberini Palace and very near the Spanish Steps, at via Rasella 32."
The Domus Julia has apartment-style suites which have a dining area/kitchen.
Apr 20th, 2011, 09:39 AM
#7
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Great replies everyone! Ackislander, you hit the nail on the head in that I can guarantee we'll have some differing ideas (I for instance would vote for luxury - my brother, not so much)..
