Picking up on a recent thread by "Bags Packed" on the Everything in Travel Board, I would like to begin a topic on inexpensive accomodations in Italy.

There are times when I (or others) are willing to "go all out" in terms of price for a room or apartment. Other times, we need to economize but still want a clean room, private en-suite bathroom, and a good position in a town or country area.

I have no such reviews that I can present at the time, but as I am looking for such a place now for my next trip to Italy, I thought we might all benefit from such a discussion.

I hope there will be those who can contribute. And when I return from my trip, I hope I will also be one of them.

Thanks

I live in Italy so when I'm not sleeping at home, I use the Michelin Red Guide to pick lodgings. My favorite lodgings are always "albergo ristorante," where I am usually certain to find both parking and good food and a spotlessly clean comfortable room, en-suite for a song. Plus, I only have to walk upstairs after dinner.

For a longer stay, bed and breakfasts in most parts of small town Italy are still fantastic bargains.

I don't know what you mean by a "good position."

To me the biggest expense of Italian travel these days is the high cost of gas/diesel. Since I live in Italy, I've learned that the best food is not to be had in restaurants, so I seldom spend a lot eating out anymore.

here are my choices:
Venice:
www.alcampaniel.com
Just off the San Toma stop. Simple clean accommodations, easy of access to get around, away from the crowds of San Marco and change to walk around more neighborhood type area yet quick access to the action, good service. 70e for two per night.
And
http://www.locandafiorita.com/
Just off the San Angelo backing on to Campo San Stefano. Again simple clean accommodations more upscale than above. Super service. 95e night for 1 and 120e (last year) for 2 a room with small terrace
Every bit as lovely as the photo shows with the flowers all over the front. First stayed there 30 years go for about $5.00 per night – ah those were the days

Florence: Bed & Bed Peterson/Chiara
www.bedinflorence.it
10 min from station, simple clean accommodations, great hosts, B&B is a not quite correct as they do not offer breakfast but there are two places within 3 min walk so its not a problem. It’s upstairs in a multi floor building but has elevator. Bus stops right at door 50e-60e per night. I can’t say enough about how great these hosts are.

Naples:
Grand Hotel Europa http://www.sea-hotels.com/grand_hotel_europa.php
Just around the corner from the train station about a 5 min walk. Central access to bus, train you name it. Station area is not the nicest but I have never had a problem here. Again, simple, neat, clean and standard breakfast. Not real cheap 80e per night, for single or double.

This is a great topic for discussion. With inflation rampant, gas prices in the stratosphere, and our dollar in the toilet some of us really need to manage costs to be able to visit Bella Italia.
Interestingly the topic above this was "First Class Upgrades", I wish!
Brad

I've had the best luck with agriturismos. I have styed in October in a room with bath for 38 euro/night (maremma area). RR

Consider getting a Rick Steves* book on Italy. His "Europe through the back door" philosophy seems to center around finding the places that are less expensive but still clean, with character, and near the historic sites most of us travel to see. His lodging recommendations always indicate if the bathroom is in your room or down the hall.


*I've read that, like most travel book writers, Steves accepts free lodging and meals from time to time. Most don't openly disclose that. Steves does. I admire that, though I'd admire it even more if he'd just pay his own way. Lord knows he can afford it!

In Rome my favorite is Casa Santa Francesca Romana, a former convent now run as a hotel. 80 Euro for a single with en suite bath, including breakfast. No curfew, 24 hour desk coverage and security. It's less than five minutes walking from the Belli stop (just before it crosses the Tiber) on the #8 tram to Largo Argentina.

Santa Francesca is well known to budget travelers and it always seems difficult to get a room. I keep trying and have found success that way - you just have to hit it on the day someone else cancels.

hello,
what are you considering as a price range for "inexpensive accomodations"?

I've had good luck with (1) agriturismi, (2)with the only convent I've stayed in, (Rome) and on our first trip to Italy in 2001, with accomodations out of the Rick Steve's Italy book. I also spend a lot of time just looking at various sources. I try to stick to the "fly cheap, sleep cheap, eat well" philosophy.

Bill

For inexpensive houses and apartments in Tuscany, I have had good luck with this agency
Terre Toscane

The properties are clean and in good order but are not fancy in any way. They do have a few more upscale places but, the majority are comfortable and rustic.

All the best,

Leslie

As I live here, often I escape when I can going for overnighters to Rome, Bologna or where I can.

I learned that there are places in all the large city train station for hotel lodging.

Even 5 star hotels put their last minute rooms here. For 1 euro ( I think that is the charge)
they call around and find a room for you at the price range you ask for.

There are always men at the Florence train station( and I remember also in Venice) with brochures from small B&B style hotels trying to fill rooms. I always got the rooms for less than the posted price.

In Rome using the booking agency at the station I got a 5 star hotel for 100 euro!
Usually you can only stay 2 nights at these discounted rates.

So if you are willing to go local... this is how I save Euro's~

quote:

hello,
what are you considering as a price range for "inexpensive accomodations"?

I think that's the question. Everyone defines that differently I think. For me, I would think anything under €150 for a double good, anything under €100 amazing!

Many thanks Ellens for the review of Santa Francesca Romana--the web site does not give the address, your excellent review was the only place I could find it. Was it busy when you stayed there? It was in Feb, no?

Still haven't been able to find a review or web site for Casa San Giuseppe. If anyone has stayed there, the address and/or web site will be appreciated.

The address for Casa di Santa Francesca Romana is Via dei Vascellari, 61, 00153 Rome. It's in Trastevere.

I'm going to try pasting a Google map here. If that doesn't work I'll put a link to a map.

Okay, the map didn't work but the link does. Someday I'll figure out how people manage to embed them in their posts.

As to your question about busy, yes it was full when I was there but it didn't feel crowded. There is a large open courtyard in the middle and several rooms in the lobby area that were almost always empty. The breakfast room was never completely full but was large enough to accomodate a lot of people. Here's a link to my review of Santa Francesca Romana over on the main site where you can find more information.

http://www.relaiscavalcanti.com/english/index.htm

We love this little B&B in Florence. Run by a mother and her two daughters. It is in a great location near that little outdoor market where you rub the Boar's snout. You will have one flight of stairs to climb before reaching the small elevater and they don't serve breakfast, although they have a lovely breakfast room. They do not staff the hotel during the night, so this may put off some people. You will be given two sets of keys for late entry. They did call a cab for our departure the night before and, although we were a bit nervous once we closed that door early that morning, the cab showed up on time. Lovely rooms and cute little sitting area.

Sharon J

Prices vary enormously according to the location as well.

In Pisa a good B&B with reasonable prices is Hotel Villa Primavera

We send there friends and guests who we cannot accommodate. The price for 1 night is generally around 80 euros.

Diva has the right idea. I always wait when arriving in large cities for just a night or two, to book something at the train station. I, too, have had the good fortune to book five stars for about $100. Not always, but even the lesser places have been more than adequate.

And I've made friends in some of the small towns around Orvieto where I mostly hang out, who have rentals for less. There's a beautiful two story apartment I've stayed, in Bagnoregio that is only about $500 a week. It's newly reconstructed and has everything one needs to be comfortable, well located, etc.......just one example. They are out there. Renting thru owners is always cheaper than thru an agency, in my experience.....
Cheryl

This apartment that I rented through AC Accomodations in Trastevere, Rome is a bargain.
For 2 people in the off-season is is 585 euros a week (which is only 83.5 euroso per night).
http://www.rome-accommodation.net/rome-apartments-ap09/rome-apartments.php
110 euros a night in the high season (715 erups per week).
I stayed there in feb 2008

quote:

Originally posted by Kim:
For me, I would think anything under €150 for a double good, anything under €100 amazing!

I am probably comparing apples and oranges, but I tend to rent apartments, normally in low season, and for me €700 for a week is very high - I have never paid that much, even in Venice (although it is 5 years since I was there).

In October this year I am returning to a small 1 bedroom apartment near the Cilento national park which will cost me £157 for the week. I have stayed here several times before and it is basic, clean but has everything we need, and the beach and restaurants are all walkable.
Obviously this is the exception and is low even by my standards. Since the fall in the Pound/Euro rate, €350 - €400 is probably about my limit.

TimW

We stayed here in December 2007. I think it is very nice especially with these special rates.

A very nice, substantial breakfast is included, no hot items except for the drinks including capuccino made to order. There were also a couple of computer with internet for guests'use for free. Just be mindful of others who maybe waiting. There were a couple of younger guests last December who were hogging them.

quote:

I am probably comparing apples and oranges, but I tend to rent apartments, normally in low season, and for me €700 for a week is very high - I have never paid that much, even in Venice (although it is 5 years since I was there).

Yeah, sorry I think we are comparing apples to oranges. I meant those number for hotel stays (double room), not rentals. We're renting a two bedroom house this year, with another couple and paying about €400 each for the week.

I am a great fan of clean budget accommodation. I stayed in convents, B&Bs and a hostel in Tuscany and Umbria.

The details including costs are at the end of my trip report

Hope this helps