I am traveling to Italy we are booking hotels on my own. It will me myself, my wife and our 13 year old son. Is it different at each hotel or can we book a double room and be ok? Please advise. <BR> <BR>Thanks

You should request a triple. a double room may not be ok.

When booking a hotel be sure to specify that there will be 2 adults + 1 child in the same room. Most probably your son will stay for free or for little money in a decent bed.

You'll want to make specific requests. <BR> <BR>Unlike so many American hotel rooms you'll find few "doubles" with two full or queen size beds ... or, often, enough room to add a cot. <BR> <BR>Generally in Italy rooms are charged by the number of occupants, again, unlike common US practice. <BR> <BR>Some doubles will accommodate another bed/person, in other hotels a "triple" will be required. You'll also find some hotels have "family rooms" which are by no means a suite (usually) but will accommodate, usually, four or more people. <BR> <BR>Note that "double" implies a room for two, a "triple" a room for three ... there is no implication about type/size of beds. If you have specific wishes regarding twins, full size, etc., you'll want to be clear about that as well. Twins, by the way, are far more common than full size beds. <BR> <BR>twenj

request room for three. last year we travelled with a teen aged daughter and even though we requested triple rooms on several occasions our sleeping accommodation was just two single/twin beds with a cot brought in to the room. In Europe double is for TWO and no more. And believe me if the hotel is full and no beds are available you will be in trouble.

Dave, <BR> <BR>Also keep in mind that you will need to identify the age of your child ---most hotels/pension charge full rate for a child over 12 and a lowered rate for the extra bed for a child under 12. <BR> <BR>

Did 2 weeks this past fall in Itlay w/ 12 yr old son. You must book a triple.

Dave: <BR>I just planned our week in Italy for the three of us (13 yr old son too) and we definitely had to request a triple--as such many places could not accommodate us. I beg to differ with Myriam: at least a third was added to the price of a double. It is not like in the states where anyone under 18 with an adult stays free. In fact, once I researched the triple vs. the double it changed the financial profile of our trip fairly dramatically.