We're headed back to Rome next summer, and I'm looking for a place with more charm than my choice for this year. I was looking at the rates for Hotel Campo dei Fiori, and I was curious if anyone here had any experience with this establishment?
Also, I noted that there are two rates given - a "standard internet rate" and a lower rate, which appears to be if paid in cash? Really?
All assistance appreciated,
Cheers, Simon.
A discount for paying in cash (6% in this case) is not unusual, especially in Italy.
What is odd is that there appear to be other options, besides paying cash, for getting the discount: "like" them on Facebook, or write in their guestbook, or write a TripAdvisor review.
I'm familiar with discounts for cash in Italy, and with the various reasons for them (Guardia di Finanza, anyone? :) ). However, carrying around that much is impractical and unwise, in my view, anyway.
You don’t carry that cash around. You withdraw it from an ATM as needed. It the amount needed to pay the hotel is larger than your daily ATM limit, you can spread the withdrawals over 2 days, but you still don’t carry that cash around with you; return to the hotel and put it in the safe.
Or if you don’t want to use cash, ask about the other options, such as “liking” them on Facebook, or writing a review. It may just be an artifact of translation, but the options for getting the discount are written in the disjunctive, meaning you can do “this” OR “that” OR “this other thing”, with equal effect.
We've stayed there twice in the past few years and it does have character. It's a great location, right near the piazza and an easy walk to lots of the major sights. We have had nice, good size rooms that were comfortable and very clean. The breakfast is pretty good and was an easy way to start the day. The staff was friendly and we would definitely stay there again.
Lola, to clarify, as I've traveled extensively, I wasn't referring to actually toting the cash around with me everywhere. :) It just seems an odd way to pay for something like that in the 21st century.
They offer the discount as it saves them on credit card usage feesfrom the bank.. Different credit cards charge the business users different amounts, depending on volume and other criteria, but generally it runs around 3-4%. In the US it is customary for businesses to eat those fees. But in Europe ( and likely elsewhere, although we did not see this in Japan recently) it is not uncommon for small independent (not chain) hotels to either charge extra for credit card use, or offer a discount for cash payment.
It may be the 21st century, but not everyone is on board ( we have found some small towns in Germany and in the Dolomites of Italy to be particularly fond of cash payment). And doesn't necessarily have to do with tax evasion.
Agreed. I wasn't entirely serious on that, at least for larger businesses. I've seen a number of small places, however, where I've had cause to wonder.
And one more addition - I've just confirmed that the hotel does have an elevator.
Pay cash or don’t pay cash...this is a molehill that you seemed to have turned into a mountain. This is not a dilemma - choose the rate you want and book it.
No elevator??? You mean, like, hundreds of other properties in Rome??
I post questions here for advice and information; not to create problems where there are none. While I have seen the cash discount elsewhere, I had yet to run across it at a hotel in Rome, hence my curiosity. I'm not making a mountain out of anything.
I'm aware of the frequent lack of elevators in older buildings in Rome and elsewhere in the world. However, another poster mentioned that the hotel lacked one, and that could well have been an issue for me and for others, as frequently posted in these discussion forums. As the hotel web site indicated that they did, I contacted them for confirmation and posted the results here. I see no issue with doing that, either.
Enjoy Rome, Simon.
We were in Italy in October. Several of my inns requested cash. Italy has quite the "underground" economy. We never take more than 100 euros with us to Europe, and only if it is leftover from a previous trip. We used ATMs affliliated with a large bank and during business hours to withdraw cash as needed. I typically book directly with my inns and often will get a break on price or receive breakfast or other amenities. We had no issues with paying in cash and there have also been situations in other countries (Switzerland, Spain, France) in which cash was preferred/requested.
