Email Correspondence vs Venere

First, since it pertains to Italy probably should have been posted there. This is a reason for the various subject area BUT do not double it post it. Very confusing for everyone.

Second, Venere is a booking service. Use them once for Milan and it was fine. The hotel has given them some rooms at that rate while they prefer to offer their rooms at a higher rate. Same thing happens when a airline search engine finds a lower rate than what the airline if offering. Probably have to book it through Venere to get the rate. BUT be sure all taxes and fees are included in that rate.

It's not necessarily a red flag of sketchiness or anything. The venere rate may be cheaper because they've purchased blocks of rooms at a discount, or because the rate is non-refundable or comes with some other type of stricter terms. If you have read all the fine print (maybe one includes breakfast and the other does not?) then I'd go ahead and book with the venere site.

Set your mind at ease. I seldom make reservations, but when I do, it's almost always with Venere. Never had a problem with anything. What the others have said, in conjunction with the 8.5 rating, should alleviate all your doubts.

I haven't tried this but I'd be tempted to tell the hotel that you found a better rate on Venere--they might offer you an even lower rate to book directly with them.

We had a hotel owner in Italy tell us that he would offer a better rate by booking direct and suggested that we do so the next time. We had already made our reservation through Venere.

The other thing that I have found with Venere is that they can show cancellation policies that are more generous than the hotel's own website.

Ask the B&B about it. It's almost guaranteed that they'll match - or beat - the Venere rate.

The B&B might have quoted you a higher price because you are a rich American. Venere quotes the same price to everyone. It is unusual to see lower prices through a booking agency, but not unheard of. Venere usually has good cancellation policies and no prepayments. I have booked a number of rooms with Venere without problems.

Thank you all for your comments and advice. Also thanks for the reassurance regarding booking on venere. My husband now says to just book it on venere as well but I am curious if they would offer a better rate if I ask them about it. I also wonder if they would think it rude.

I very much doubt they would consider it rude. They might be disappointed that you didn't go for the higher rate, but a booking is a booking and they don't make money with no booking.

I would email them back and let them know that you found X rate quoted on venere and you would like to know if they would match or beat that rate. If they say no, just book through venere. If they are rude in their response, find another B&B.

I forgot to mention, some hotels will take the price you paid in to account when assigning rooms. I learned this when I called a b&b in Dublin and asked to be put in this "newly renovated wing" that I had read reviews about. The receptionist said that people who made reservations through other channels and paid less could not be guaranteed the nicer rooms. So if you correspond with your b&b again, it couldn't hurt to ask if your room location (quiet side of the bldg, nicer view, etc.) will depend on how you book it.

Just for the record, we had the opposite experience. In Sept. 2009 I booked a B&B in Rome with Venere, after unsuccessfully trying to email the B&B directly (my preference). When we arrived, our hostess lamented that we had not booked directly with her, as she could have offered us a lower rate than Venere (fees, etc.).