Does anyone have any experience with these sites?

http://RomeBy.Com
http://www.Tuscany.Net
http://www.hotelinvenice.com

Thanks!

Sorry, no experience with those but I have used www.venere.com for several trips and really like that site and service. They have reviews, photos, and a variety of properties. SueC1

Last time I looked at RomeBy.com (and others like it, VeniceBy, FlorenceBy, etc), they had a nonrefundable booking fee, that does not go to the hotel. I make it a practice never to pay those. there may be a fee that is transacted between Venere and the hotel, but there are no fees for a reservation, and thus no issue of non-refundability if you cancel (within the policies of the individual hotel).

Although I have never used Tuscany.net they aure have a VERY large number of properties presented very attractively. And there is a recommendation from bobthenav or someone here, very recently.

Best wishes,

Rex

I have been looking for places on those sites, has anyone heard about or stayed at these places?

Rome- Il Covo
Venice- Ca' dei Dogi
Tuscany- Hotel Salivolpi
Naples- Il Gabbiano Hotel

Thanks!

"Although I have never used Tuscany.net they aure have a VERY large number of properties presented very attractively."

Look closely - Romeby and Tuscany.net are the same company.

I've browsed on all of them, but booked with none.

If I find a property that looks interesting, I do a Google search to see if they have their own site (most do, but even if not, I can find an e-mail address or at least phone/fax numbers) and book directly with the hotel.

I also object to nonrefundable booking fees, and I've always found that the hotel will do as well or better on the rate when contacted directly.

Thank you, platzer.

I've had success with venere.com, but am trying to find out if anyone has used Chianti & More.com ? Anyone? We're planning to book a place in Tuscany through them, in Castelnuovo Berardenga.

Based on advice on this and other posts regarding romeby.com and sleepinginitaly.com, I made sure I dug into the terms and conditions. I did see a nonrefundable booking fee with sleepinginitaly. However, the cancellation fees appear to vary on romeby.

An apartment I looked at had a scale scale, but always some fee. I found several B&Bs that imposed no fee unless less than 1-5 days notice given. I didn't see any other booking or nonrefundable fees. Am I missing something?

I did as Rex often suggests and after using Romeby's service to find a B&B I did a Google search to find direct websites. I must admit, the Romeby site provided me with much more information than the individual websites. One B&B's website posted a special price--the same price offered when booking via romeby. Venere.com listed this B&B, but said no availability. I emailed the B&B and they offered me the room at the romeby and website price.

So, I don't know that we can generalize about fees and prices? I guess we have to read the fine print on any of the sites.

Unlike Lesli, I haven't found that contacting a hotel directly will get the same or better rate. It usually will, but not always. And I've never been able to figure out why it wouldn't.

Im using Romeby.com for my trip in June, So far so good, sent them money and they have acknowleged they received it. They were all along a pleasure to deal with. I wont know more till I get there.

It is so much easier to book with the hotel itself.

I agree with that also.

I recently used Venere for a Florence reservation and it has an advantage if you are booking in a large city with many hotels and B&Bs. I had picked out a B&B and used the online reservation. At the end it asks if you want to receive bids from other properties. I clicked yes and received at least 20 other offers for lodging in Florence. Some offered lodging at a lower rate then I could have reserved directly to match the price of the B&B I had chosen. I was amazed at some of the offers. This does not work in a small town where there are fewer choices and I don't think they have set areas to include farm properties but for cities it's great.