From rustic country houses to sleek urban apartments, there’s a wide variety of accommodation to choose from in Italy.
To narrow down your options, it’s helpful to first understand the different types of typical lodging and their primary benefits. Here are a few tips to tailor your accommodation to the holiday of your dreams!
Take hotel star ratings with a grain of salt
Like any travel destination, hotels in Italy will be assigned a star value to indicate their quality. However, it’s a good idea to compare the specific amenities along with these star ratings to make sure you’ve found a room to best suit your requirements.
There may be a 4-star hotel with plenty of character and an outdoor pool, but it might not include air conditioning, for example. This is due to the variety in age of many buildings in Italy, so always read reviews and hotel websites to make sure you’ll be comfortable.
Don’t rule out hostels
While hostels have long been associated with dormitory accommodation for younger backpackers, today’s hostels have gone through a significant upgrade and now offer many of the luxury amenities you’d associate more with a traditional hotel.
You can often find private rooms with en-suite bathrooms included, for example, along with all of the social benefits that the traditional hostelling experience provides.
It can be a great way to meet people if you’re touring around Italy on your own, at any age!
Consider a villa rental for longer stays
A villa rental may conjure up visions of antique grandeur, but villa holidays in Italy are super flexible. They’re usually self-catering, which allows you to save money on eating out in restaurants for every meal.
There’s a wide range of different sizes and styles, so you can click here for villa rentals in Italy to get an idea of the options.
For groups of friends, families, or anyone interested in a longer stay in the Italian countryside, they can be not only affordable in comparison to hotels but also more convenient since you’ll have more space to spread out.
Understand what agriturismo entails
A popular accommodation in Italy is the ‘agriturismo’ or farm holiday, but it’s closer in scope to a bed and breakfast than a working farm experience.
You won’t be expected to milk your cows for breakfast! Staying on a farm in Italy can include outdoor activities, cooking classes, or wine tasting, and accommodations can range from rustic to luxurious.
Don’t rule out more unusual accommodation
Finally, don’t be afraid to get creative when you’re looking at where to stay. For example, monasteries sometimes open up their doors to visitors in line with their tradition of housing travelling pilgrims over the centuries.
If you do decide to go this route, make sure you understand the house rules and curfews!
No matter which type of accommodation you choose, read online reviews carefully to compare your options and find the perfect fit for your Italian adventure.
You have probably seen these giant ferris wheels popping up all over the world in recent years. One of the originals that is still pulling in big crowds of people is the London Eye.
This is another of London’s great green spaces. Hampsted Heath covers 320 hectares and is one of the highest points in London.
Kew Gardens was probably the best thing I discovered in London. This incredibly beautiful place is set on 121 hectares with gardens of various sizes and styles, structures such as the red brick Kew Palace, the elegant Orangery, the great Pogoda and the amazing glasshouses plus a treetop walkway with nice views across the park.
Unfortunately St James’s Palace is not open to the public, but together with the gardens it is worth a look from the outside when you’re in the area.
In my opinion, the British Museum is one of the best free museums in the world and is an absolute must visit on any trip to London.
Most major cities around the world have an area they call Chinatown, where you will find a bunch of authentic Chinese restaurants, supermarkets and specialty stores.
Camden Market is one of London’s most popular weekend markets, offering fashion and crafts with a mix of people and foods from every corner of the world.
Opened in 1847, London Zoo is the world’s oldest scientific zoo and today houses a collection of over 700 species of animals with over 16,000 individual animals.
Most people know of The O2 as a venue for concerts, but there is a lot more to this entertainment complex than just that.
Wimbledon is known around the world as the home of tennis and is the setting for one of the four major Grand Slam tennis tournaments played each year.
East up the River Thames is the area of Greenwich. Most famous for being the place where the Greenwich Meridian line runs through, you will discover there is a lot more to this area than just that.
Chaotic, bright, in your face, touristy, over the top, these are just a few of the ways I would describe Piccadilly Circus. Despite this, first time visitors must visit this iconic heart of London area.
There is always something to see and do along London’s South Bank. A few of these things I have mentioned throughout this series, including the London Eye and London Dungeon, are located on South Bank, but there is so much more to the area most visitors don’t seek out.
The Z Hotel Shoreditch
Pullman London St Pancras
