San Gimignano - Not the usual suspects
Dec 16th, 2003, 03:15 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
San Gimignano - Not the usual suspects
All of the usual choices, Antica Pozzo, Leon Bianco and Cisterna, are booked on our desired date. Can someone recommend an alternative (130E tops). We will have no car, so it has to be within the town.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Dec 16th, 2003, 05:52 AM
#2
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,702
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Did you look at the other options on www.venere.com?
Dec 16th, 2003, 06:20 AM
#3
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,872
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Check out the B&B's in the center of town at http://www.sangimignano.com
I stayed at the Casa di Giovanna in 2002 and would recommend it.
I stayed at the Casa di Giovanna in 2002 and would recommend it.
Dec 16th, 2003, 06:35 AM
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm always mystified when someone suggests looking at a site such as venere. It's just a useless middle man who takes a cut and provides not real information or service.
Even hotel web sites, by themselves, are questionable. Anyone who knows how to use a camera can make the Black Hole of Calcutta into the Ritz on a website. That's why this site is so useful. There is no substitute for personal experience.
Even hotel web sites, by themselves, are questionable. Anyone who knows how to use a camera can make the Black Hole of Calcutta into the Ritz on a website. That's why this site is so useful. There is no substitute for personal experience.
Dec 16th, 2003, 06:43 AM
#5
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,749
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just out of curiosity, when are you going? I've found that often these smaller hotels don't book way ahead. We had been told that Cisterna was fully booked months and months ahead, and we were able to get into Leon Bianco. But later I found there were rooms available at Cisterna.
Are you speaking directly with the hotels themselves? Have they specifically said they are full, or is that just coming back on a website request?
Are you speaking directly with the hotels themselves? Have they specifically said they are full, or is that just coming back on a website request?
Dec 16th, 2003, 06:50 AM
#6
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 466
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
www.sangiapartments.com
Great big beautiful room with private bath, we got for 60 euro in July! Youpick up the room key from the bakery they own on the main street. Lovely!
Great big beautiful room with private bath, we got for 60 euro in July! Youpick up the room key from the bakery they own on the main street. Lovely!
Dec 16th, 2003, 06:53 AM
#7
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,702
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I don't go strictly by what's on venere either. I simply use it to get names and locations of other hotels and then do further research on other websites as well as this one. I don't beleive it's totally useless.
Dec 16th, 2003, 07:05 AM
#8
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,525
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Go to www.sangimignano.com and look at the Bel Soggiorno. My wife and friends stayed there and found it adequate.
Dec 16th, 2003, 07:17 PM
#10
We stayed at a terrific place (budget priced) right in the centre of town - www.sangiroom.it Found it through www.sangimignano.com
Owners were a very friendly Italian family who also own a bar opposite the Duomo. 14th century building, completely new inside with a lovely bathroom. No breakfast provided but we bought it at their bar 2 mins walk away. We'd stay there again tomorrow if we could!
Kay
Owners were a very friendly Italian family who also own a bar opposite the Duomo. 14th century building, completely new inside with a lovely bathroom. No breakfast provided but we bought it at their bar 2 mins walk away. We'd stay there again tomorrow if we could!
Kay
Dec 17th, 2003, 03:09 AM
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We are going in May. Things are already booked heavily in Italy, as best I can tell. I checked 10 places in Venice, for example, and 9 were already booked. I had to change my entire interary around to find a place for 1 night.Of course, I was limited by budget.
The likely reason that I'm having problems in San Gimignano is that my date is on a Saturday, which fills quickly and some places requires a 2 nigght stay on weekends.
As suggested something might open later. The problem is that I have to decide whether to make SG an overnighter now so that I can book other hotels. I looked at Sangia rooms on Italyby , but it didn't seem very inviting.
Sites that are purely booking agencies like Venere don't provide any information that I can't get elsewhere and a lot better, Tripadvisor, Slow Trav, etc. Italyby is the one exception to booking sites. Their site is just so nicely designed and easy to use.
The likely reason that I'm having problems in San Gimignano is that my date is on a Saturday, which fills quickly and some places requires a 2 nigght stay on weekends.
As suggested something might open later. The problem is that I have to decide whether to make SG an overnighter now so that I can book other hotels. I looked at Sangia rooms on Italyby , but it didn't seem very inviting.
Sites that are purely booking agencies like Venere don't provide any information that I can't get elsewhere and a lot better, Tripadvisor, Slow Trav, etc. Italyby is the one exception to booking sites. Their site is just so nicely designed and easy to use.
Dec 17th, 2003, 03:51 AM
#12
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,067
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Surovy - you asked a question and then shot down the first person who answered you. Venere is a very valuable site for a number of reasons. I usually use it as just part of the research I do when looking for accomodations but I have also booked through them and they were effecient and reliable. Many small accomodations don't have their own web site and someplace like venere is the only way for me to find them. You say you trust people here more than someplace like venere. Why? I used Fodors forum all the time for information and opinions and I love it, but I don't "know" the people here any more than I know how accurate venere is. You don't have to use it, but other people reading this thread might like another opinion as to it's usefulness.
Dec 17th, 2003, 05:19 AM
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
"You say you trust people here more than someplace like venere. Why?"
Simple:
1. Venere is in business to make money. It is in their best interest to avoid providing any information that might be critical of a hotel.
2. A person's opinion are not based on business concerns. Besides, I trust 3 independent personal opinions a lot more than 1 venere page.
Venere is not only useless, but a colossal pain. These useless middlemen booking agencies clog search engines making it difficult to find actual hotel web sites.
Simple:
1. Venere is in business to make money. It is in their best interest to avoid providing any information that might be critical of a hotel.
2. A person's opinion are not based on business concerns. Besides, I trust 3 independent personal opinions a lot more than 1 venere page.
Venere is not only useless, but a colossal pain. These useless middlemen booking agencies clog search engines making it difficult to find actual hotel web sites.
Dec 27th, 2003, 05:24 AM
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm still looking for San Gimignano suggestions. Unfortunately, I'm looking for a Saturaday night and every available place that seems to want a 2 night stay.
Anyone familiar with La Casa di Giovanna?
Anyone familiar with La Casa di Giovanna?
