Verona Hotel Problem
 

We thought we'd make another attempt at the Arena Opera for a couple nights next summer, as our last attempt was rained out. Our proposed dates are the 17th and 18th of next July. We've stayed twice at the lovely Gabbia d'Oro. It was expensive at a couple hundred dollars, but so very nice. So I contacted them. Well, next summer during the Arena season -- they've quoted me a standard double room for 426 euros per night, with breakfast. That's well over $500 and too rich for our blood!
I emailed the little Torcolo Hotel that gets good reviews, but it is already fully booked (yes, they personally replied to tell me so).

Any suggestions? We'd be arriving and departing by train and would want to be very central. Some of the other hotels -- like The Grand -- are running 300 euros a night and get mediocre to bad reviews.

hi
try checking out the following link to see if anythings available:
http://destinia.com/hotels/hotels--i...urope/28382/en

Neither of these is based on a recent experience, but my mother stayed at the Hotel Accademia and liked it very much.

I've stayed at the Hotel Bologna (the one at Piazzetta Scalette Rubiani 3, right off Piazza Bra and the Arena). It's not at all "atmospheric" but well maintained. I think it caters primarily to a business clientele and may not raise its prices during the Opera Festival.

Both seem to be fairly well reviewed at tripadvisor.com.

Thanks for the suggestions.
Oh, by the way, the Gabbia d'Oro, also informed me that there is a 30% charge for any cancellation. That means I'd have to book now -- but if I cancelled even 6 months before arrival, I'd still owe them about $300. I don't think so!

Just last month, we stayed in a beautiful B&B in Verona. in September. The time period you want would be high season in Verona so a room here would be 230Euro at that time. It is in an excellent location just off the Piazza delle Erbe in Piazza dei Signori. We were put into the residential suite due a problem with the room we requested and it was magnificent. When we return to Verona we will not stay anywhere else. Their website is www.domusnovaverona.it

Check it out and Good luck.

Hotel Verona. Just outside the old town on Corso Porta Nuova, about 5-10 minute walk to the arena. Reasonable, nice, modern and clean, OK breakfast. I enjoyed my 1-week stay in October 2005.
http://www.hotelverona.it/

Danielle,although I always say I hate B&B's, that really does look lovely. I've emailed to see if they have availability. I also emailed Bologna, although they clearly DO mark up for the opera season (why wouldn't they?). I got my email back from them -- but without any reply. Weird.

Eloise, that destinia site is interesting. Apparently it's geared for business travlers? Nearly all their availabilty was for hotels in outlying areas, but they show availabilty of the Mastino at less than half the price the hotel itself shows. But then I looked on Trip Advisor and see than some people arrive to be put in the "horrible" annex down the street, so I suspect if I'm paying half price, that's what we'd get.

Neopatrick, I see what you mean about the Hotel Bologna - there's quite a spread between minimum and maximum prices, and I suppose the latter would apply during the Opera Festival.

It is weird that your e-mail came back without a reply. Was it just bounced back for being to an invalid address, or did the Hotel Bologna show as the sender of a reply without an answer? If you're at all interested, you might try them again and ask for a clear reply.

P.S. I didn't give you the destinia address; it was another poster.

No, I actually received an email from the Bologna Hotel, but it was a copy of the form that I filled out for a room request without any further comment. I've replied asking again.

Yes, I realized the destinia site was from begbie.

It's been a few years, but we enjoyed our stay at the Best Western Hotel de Capuleti. The hotel was modern, but comfortable with nice large rooms.

www.hotelcapuleti.it
((c))

Hi Neo, I have always stated at the Hotel Colombo d'Oro which is just steps from the Arena..right at Piazza Bra. I have no idea what the rates would be but you might want to check it out. Best wishes!

LoveItaly, I cannot find any record of that hotel. Are you sure you don't mean Gabbio d'Oro?

Meanwhile I have gotten back an email from Hotel Bologna confirming availability of a room with breakfast for 185. They've given me 10 days to confirm.

We stayed in a great little apartment in May, the La Residenza Verona House, Stradone Antonio Provolo, Verona 37123 Telephone 045 8001177 Fax – 045 8089311.

It's right around the corner from Piazza Bra along the river.

Hotel Colomba d'Oro:

http://www.colombahotel.com/

Hi Neo, I found their website.

It is the Hotel Colomba d'Oro
Via Carlo Cattaneo 10 - 37100 Verona

www.colombahotel.com Click on the flag for English. There is even an ariel view to show you where the hotel and the Arena are in relationship to each other. Neo, I did not check out the prices. Great locaation, nice hotel staff etc.

Thanks. That really looks nice. I just emailed them as well. Funny, that spelling it Colombo instead of Colomba couldn't find me any reference to it! The website shows 212 a night including breakfast.

Hi Neo, I did misspell it the first time, sorry! If you can get a room for 212€ that would be great Neo!
I will keep my fingers crossed for you.

We rented an apartment from a lovely woman for 2 nights when we were there just last year at about this time of year. It cost about 95 Euros per night for the three of us. It was just exactly in the center but Verona is small and we could easily walk in several minutes to wherever we wanted to be. If this is something that might interest you, let me know and I will give you details.

Colomba d'Oro has responded with the offer for 219 a night including tax and breakfast buffet for two. It really likes nice, so will take it. During opera they require one night's advance payment, but have given me until January to do that either by bank transfer or by credit card, so long as I confirm that we want to reserve by Oct. 30. That seems fair. They also will return the deposit if cancelled 60 days in advance of arrival -- that seems extreme, but these cancellation policies seem to be running that way more and more.
Thanks LoveItaly for the great suggestion, and now that I look at the pictures, I think I do remember that place --it is quite close to my "beloved but expensive" Gabbia d'Oro.

"It really likes nice"???
Now that I've had one cup of coffee and on my second -- I see that I meant "It really LOOKS nice".