Where to Stay in Italy

Of course, the earlier you book a reservation, the better the odds are you will not pay top Euro.  Here are the types of accommodations in Italy:

• Albergo - Italian word for hotel. These are the most common you will find, especially in the tourist areas. These will be the typical chain hotels, with Jolly and Hilton being the most common. All of the other major chains (i.e. Holiday Inn, Radisson, Ramada, Marriott.com , etc.) have properties in Italy. Increasingly, Italians are dropping the term "albergo" and substituting the word "hotel" instead.  
  
  
• Locanda - More of a country or rustic inn. This term is still used a great deal particularly around Venice.
  
  
• Pensione - A small hotel, or more of a boarding house. In the days of yesteryear, it was common to share a bathroom and eat three meals a day with the family proprietors. Those days are gone, and the pensione is disappearing as well. You will still be able to find some, usually being a one or two-star hotel.
  
  
• Motel - These are gaining in popularity and tend to be off the interstate. AGIP is one of the more popular ones you will see.  
  
  
• Day hotels - "Alberghi diurni" are often found outside railway stations and offer shower facilities, restrooms, hair dressers, telephones, etc. but do not offer sleeping amenities.
  

Italy also offers other options for more non-traditional accommodations. Gaining in popularity are the following vacation options:

• Renting an Apartment or Villa - particularly around Tuscany or the Amalfi Coast. Your best bet is to contact the local tourist office of the town you wish to visit. If you are staying less than 2 weeks, the paperwork and red tape involved is usually not worth the trouble.
  
• Bed and Breakfasts - Tend to be in the one or two-star category.
  
• Home Exchanges
  
• Restaurant Schools - Many schools, particularly around Tuscany, will offer you a program on learning Italian cuisine.  
  
• Bike Tours - some will let you use your own bike, or you can rent theirs.
  
• Agriturismo - becoming increasingly popular. You can spend your vacation on a working vineyard, olive grove, etc. should you desire.  
  
• Youth Hostels - Check out the Italian Youth Hostel Association for more information.
  

Check with your travel agent, or Venere.com on helping you with your travel plans to Italy.   They have over 42,000 hotels in their database for Italy.   You can search by city, price-range, star classifcation, section of town, etc. and it is very easy to use.

Other Links of Interest

RailEurope.com - Europe Travel Experts, Eurail Pass, Eurail Selectpass and European Rail Tickets.

Magellan's - America's leading source of travel supplies.

If you need to book a Hotel on the Adriatic Coast, iperhotel.com allows you to choose from a database of more than 400 Hotels. Hotel Rimini, Hotel in Riccione, Hotel in Misano and other important cities in Emilia Romagna. Each Hotel has a complete description with pictures, prices, amenities, the complete address and contact references (even the Skype address).