We are reserving a room for this Fall. Policy is to mail a check , rather than a credit card - is this normal procedure? we are not yet aware of the cancellation policy, but are awaiting a reply on their policy. We are also considering La Calcina and Hotel Basinzino, but prefer the Pensione Accademia based on the many commendable recommendations on this and other sites. This will be a very special celebration for us so the details are important as we plan and reserve. Thanks for any insights!

When we reserved at La Calcina, they requested a check in advance for one night's stay. When we checked out, they either deducted the amount from our stay or tore up the check, I can't remember which. Process worked fine, though.

I think when I was there last year I just faxed the credit card number to reserve the room. I would ask for the larger room which is much nicer than the standard double(up a small staircase) and worth the difference in price.

Thanks for your responses! We're looking forward to a wonderful trip in early November!

You will find a number of hotels, especially the smaller hotels, in Italy as well as other European countries, will ask for you to mail a check as a deposit. Normally, they hold the check and don't cash it unless you don't show. If you don't show, the check is your penalty. And although they will accept your major credit card as a payment when you check out, many will not accept it as a guarantee. Both of these customs spring from keeping the hotel costs down. Some of the hotels will even ask that your deposit be sent to their bank, in their currency, which normally means you have to execute a wire transfer from your own bank. However, in using wire transfers from my bank to the hotel's bank, I have always managed to get the hotel to agree to have the money transferred in dollars, not in local currency. The primary reason for bank-to-bank transfers is only the safety factor for the hotel, and they will gladly accept the dollar conversion cost when the presence of the money is guaranteed.<BR><BR>And as for Pensione Accademia, it is indeed a place with a lot of character, though the staff's attitude has soured a bit over the years. And they don't have an elevator, but they do have A/C.

I stayed at the Accademia this past May. We had room 44 - a deluxe double room. It had three windows on the canal, a good double bed and a great bathroom. I loved the hotel. The staff was very helpful. They made dinner reservations for me prior to my arrival and made tour reservations that I requested by email. The location is very good-you will love it. I mailed a check that they did cash and it was deducted from my bill.

Thanks too to Wayne and Dorrie!