Page 560 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italy

558  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS
WHERE TO STAY

People come from all over the world to visit served too, with everything from stately villas
Italy and most Italians spend their holidays in Tuscany to purpose-built holiday flats in,
here as well, particularly in the mountains or near, seaside resorts. Italian hotels can
or by the sea. This means that there is a have a reputation for being expensive and
dazzling range of accommodation options, short on services, but this is not always the
from splendid hotels in old palazzi and case and you can find excellent value in all
historic residences, to simple family-run price ranges. The hotels listed on pages
pensioni and hostels. Most major cities also 562–77 have been selected from every price
offer upmarket B&Bs. Those who want category as among the best value in each
self-catering accommodation are well area for style, comfort or location.

than a sparsely furnished
breakfast room. Most will offer
at least some bedrooms with a
private shower although rarely a
bath. If you intend to be out
late, check that you’ll be able to
get back into the pensione. Not
all of them have night porters
after midnight or 1am, but
most will at least be able to
provide a key to the main door.
A locanda was traditionally
an inn, offering cheap food
and a place to sleep for the
traveller. The word is still in
use, particularly in central and
The Gritti Palace, one of Venice’s historic palazzi (see p563) northern Italy, but is now
synonymous with pensione and
Gradings
Many top-range and boutique may be more of an affectation
Hotels in Italy are classified hotels also offer spa and for the benefit of the tourist.
with a rating system of one fitness facilities.
to five stars. The grading
depends on the facilities Pensioni Chain Hotels
offered and each region awards There are various Italian chain
stars according to slightly Although the term pensione is no hotels, including Atahotels and
different criteria. longer in official use, one- and Una Hotels and Resorts, as
Sometimes a hotel has a two-star hotels still use the term well as the usual big inter-
lower rating than it deserves. to describe their status. On the nationals. NH Hoteles rooms
This may be because the local whole you will find immaculate usually appeal to business
tourist office has not upgraded standards of cleanliness and travellers and there are one or
it yet or the hotel itself has friendly, helpful service with basic, two of these hotels in most
opted to stay in a lower category although perfectly functional large cities. Marriott, Hyatt and
to avoid higher taxes. rooms. Be aware that, while your Best Western are international
pensioni may be in an old build- luxury chains. Italia Lodging
ing full of historic charm, this can cater for the more modest
Alberghi also mean noisy, erratic plumbing budget. Relais & Châteaux
Albergo is Italian for “hotel”, and dark rooms. Many pensioni run charming hotels in historic
but the term tends to refer to do not have public rooms other castles, villas and monasteries,
establish ments classified as with facilities to match.
three-star or above. Room
sizes vary considerably: in Meals and Facilities
city centres even expensive
hotels can have small rooms, There has been a general
especially if the hotel is improvement in the facilities
located in a historic building, offered by Italian hotels,
whereas you get far more especially in the more modern
space for your money in rural four- and five-star hotels.
areas. Alberghi will have private Street sign showing the direction and However, in some older
baths or showers in all rooms. location of hotels establishments there may not
The popular San Carlo café on Piazza San Carlo, Turin

558-559_EW_Italy.indd 558 26/04/16 5:20 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Practical template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.1)
Date 13th August 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm