A week some time between 3rd week in January to 1st week in March as part of a longer winter away - solo traveler. I know it will be cold and damp outside and most likely the churches, so in order to have some reliable heat and comfort, do I want a hotel? I normally would book an apartment, but some are street level, and though they list 'heat', I am not sure if things will be dry and warm when I arrive. I suspect if it hasn't been rented for a bit, it could take a bit of time to warm up. Or are Monastery Stays reliably warm? Thoughts? Recommendations? Thanks.
EDIT: I should mention that I do use my lodgings. I like a slow start in the morning, and in the evening - a good sit and read or plan for the next day. I prefer a padded reading chair and a cup of coffee before getting dressed for the day, but I am learning to adapt without those.
Posted by
Massachusetts
1111 posts
I did MonasteryStays in October 2018 and again in October 2023 [oops! I meant October 2022} at Madonna Dell Orto. In 2018, it got chilly in the evenings and at night. My "hotel" had heat (and our of curiosity I tried the A/C and that worked too). One note of caution, not all rooms at Madonna Dell Orto have been upgraded to the same heating and A/C systems I had in 2018. I stayed at an older room in 2022. It had the old style heating system but I never turned it on because it was warm. They also had extra blankets in my room, which I did not need.
Posted by
OP
Ontario, Canada
4657 posts
Thanks for the details, Mary. Good they have spare blankets. I'll most likely also pack a hot water bottle.
Posted by
Washington DC
28249 posts
I've been in Rome/Naples/Salerno since February 11. I know Venice is a lot chillier and probably damper, but I've had no problem with heat in the sleeping areas of my accommodations. Bathrooms have been iffier, the issue apparently being poorly insulated windows. I was somewhat worried about the reported limits on heating in Italy this winter, but it hasn't been an issue for me. The lows have been in the 30s or lower 40s Fahrenheit, so it could have been a problem.
I've stayed in one hotel and a couple of small B&Bs; the latter were really more like Airbnbs.
I would be prepared for your room to be chilly upon arrival, because the heat probably will have been turned off if the room wasn't rented the previous night. My first room was cold when I arrived. In addition to the heat being off, I discovered (not immediately, unfortunately) that the bathroom window was open. Once those issues were addressed, it was fine as long as I had consistent hot water in the shower. If the hot water drops out, showers can be not so comfortable in the winter.
Posted by
OP
Ontario, Canada
4657 posts
@acraven, thanks for the current experience. Good that you are not suffering from the energy crunch expected. I hope you at least have a heated towel rack in those bathrooms. It was a lifesaver in Madrid one year - with the same leaky window situation. I got used to cold showers in India this October, but they were not as comfortable in Costa Rica last month when temps were 55F. No heated towel racks, but the blow dryer did some warming up.
Enjoy the rest of your Italian sojourn.
M
Posted by
Western Canada
3515 posts
Hi Maria,
I’ve been in Venice in rainy weather a couple of times, and did have to buy hot water bottles both times!
You can buy them at pharmacies.
The last time we were in a ground floor apartment , quite near a canal in the Canareggio area, and it was quite cool and felt damp indoors in the mornings and evenings.
I think at that time it was too early for the heating to be turned on for the season.
If you’ve been in the UK in winter, it’s the same damp sort of feeling.
I hope you will love Venice!
Posted by
OP
Ontario, Canada
4657 posts
Thanks for the feedback, SJ. I still have my smaller hot water bottle passed on to me from an unknown sister traveler in Ecuador some years ago. (Another country with damp, cold and often no heating) I do prefer apartments, so will check for past winter reviews..specifically for heating.