Page 25 - DK Eyewitness: Back Roads Northern and Central Italy (Travel Guide)

Where to Stay 23

Left Alpine Hotel, Courmayeur, in the Valle d’Aosta Right Stylish bedroom in the Hotel Greif, Bolzano
to individual hotels are secure, which Camping DIRECTORY
may be a little unsettling if credit card Camping is becoming increasingly
details are requested as a guarantee. popular in Italy, and there are plenty B&Bs
You can mimimize risk by booking of sites both on the coast and in the
over the phone or by using a hotel- mountains. They are usually open BB Planet
www.bbplanet.it
booking site with a secure website from April to September, though
such as Trip Advisor or i-escape. some sites stay open year-round in AGRITURISMI
the south and in Sicily. For the tentless, Official agriturismo website
Facilities and Prices sites often have bungalows, sleeping www.agriturismo.it
Double rooms in Italian hotels usually up to six, and there is normally space BOUTIQUE HOTELS
have a double bed (letto matrimoniale), for caravans and camper vans. i-escape
so if you prefer twin beds (due letti), www.i-escape.com
it is wise to request that when you Self-catering Mr & Mrs Smith
book. Single rooms are rare, and you If you want to focus on a single region, www.mrandmrssmith.com
will often end up having to pay for consider renting a villa or rural house
a single use of a double. Bathrooms, for a week or two. There are lovely HOTELS & SELF-CATERING
even in 4-star hotels, do not always places throughout Northern and Italy by Italy
have bathtubs. Many B&Bs have Central Italy, ranging from simple rustic www.italybyitaly.it
rooms without an ensuite bathroom, retreats and seaside apartments to Trip Advisor
but frequently there will be a palatial places with pools, maids, chefs www.tripadvisor.com
bathroom across the corridor for and masseurs. The widest choice can CAMPING
your sole use. In the cheapest hotels, be found in Tuscany and Umbria, but
bathrooms are likely to be shared. Lake Como and the Veneto are also Italian camp sites
www.camping.it
In hotels, rates are quoted per room; popular villa destinations, with many
in B&Bs, per person. The more expen- properties in exquisitely restored PRICE CATEGORIES
sive B&Bs will usually cost about as country houses. The Italy by Italy The following price bands are based
much as a 2- or 3-star hotel, but tend websites both have useful self- on a standard double room in high
to offer better value in terms of service catering sections. season, including tax and service:
and surroundings. You will often find inexpensive – under €100
rooms at a reduced rate on the web, Below far left A relaxing guest lounge moderate – €100–€200
expensive – over €200
either on the hotel’s own website or Below left Spa at the Hotel Victoria, Turin
on one of the many sites brokering Below middle Doorway of a B&B in
bargain hotel deals. Weekend rates Castelmuzio Below Hotel Ristorante Locanda
in city hotels are often great value. San Vigilio, on the eastern shore of Lake Garda

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