choose hotel with AC?

Was there 2 years ago in early October, and, while it was warm during the day in Rome, the evenings were delightful. I would call it a non-issue--just open the windows! The biggest problem was that I was there during the German Fall break, and(I swear) I don't think anyone was left in Germany!

I have also heard they don't allow the use of A/C outside of a few summer months. I doubt you will have an issue in October. Even if the days are warm, I would expect the nights would cool down.

Don't worry about AC. We just got back from Rome, and even on the hottest day the air is cool and refreshing by early evening. If your hotel isn't too noisy, you'll want to open the windows wide for fresh breezes, bird song, and local auditory color.

Sorry, have to disagree about wanting an a/c especially in Rome. Our 2 trips to Italy have been made in October and both times we really needed that a/c even in the evenings. Needed it in Venice, but they had already turned it off. Had to leave the windows open......no screens.

You probably won't need AC in October. September or May yes, summer definitely. At some point, they are required to shut down the AC for the cool months. May '09, in Florence, we couldn't get the AC turned on and had to sleep without it. It was OK leaving the windows open, but then you have to deal with mosquitoes.

Chani,

during my student years I lived right next to a church in Germany. Being woken up at 7am on a Sunday morning after partying Saturday night was not my idea of enjoying the weekend to say the least. I hated hated hated it.

Fast forward a couple of decade and look at me at Christmas time getting teary-eyed when listening to church bells on the internet since I can't hear them outside my house anymore ...

It IS a true part of the European experience. Just as I enjoyed being woken up by cow bells in Switzerland every morning at 6 am. Yes, I did enjoy it!

To the OP: it might be nice to have AC if you really hit an unusually hot summer but I wouldn't rule out an otherwise great accommodation if it doesn't come with AC. As a typical German (see above posting) I did spend some October vacation time on the Mediterranean, sunbathing on the beach and enjoying temps in the 80s F. Never had accommodation with AC and never missed it.

We were in Tuscany and Rome last October and it was hot during the day and it cooled off a bit at night. I'd opt for a/c just in case!

A lot depends on your personal preferences - how cool and how quiet does it have to be for you to have a comfortable night's sleep. A lot depends on your hotel room - many have a single window, so the air doesn't flow through. A room facing west will heat up a lot in the afternoon. A room on a busy street can be noisy with open windows.

Generally, it is safe to assume that it will be pretty warm in October. A couple of years ago, I was in Italy for the first half of October and very glad I had AC in Florence. I managed ok in Venice with a fan (supplied on request). I think I may have even closed the windows and turned on the AC in the CT (the church bells rang until all hours and first thing in the morning too).

We were on holiday in Sorrento mid October last year and had to turn on the heating in the apartment at night. Must say this was the first time in 30 years that we have had cold weather at that time of year. It is more than likely that it was a blip (fingers crossed because we shall return this Oct) but is a reminder that weather can be fickle and past performance is no guarantee etc etc!

Thanks for all of the good advice. I guess we should choose hotels with AC to be on the safe side and hope they'll be operational if we want to use them.

Glad you decided to go with AC. Rome is a loud city so don't plan on sleeping with windows open.

In early October we stayed at a hotel in Padua, then left and returned a week or so later. It was hot enough that we tried to turn on the AC (it worked before). When I asked at the desk if we could get another room with AC, the response was, "It is no more for us." Not for us either, I guess.

Is there a specific date that they have to discountinue using it or does is vary year to year according to the weather?

If no AC you'd think they'd provide fans. Maybe that's the fix - just go to a hardware stoe and buy a little fan when we get there?

Actually, they had a rather quaint, old world custom ...you opened the window.