I recently found myself with some unexpected time off, and am considering an on-the-fly Europe trip. (Have lots of miles on a major carrier, the seem to be willing to let one book on short notice for a modest number of miles). I am seeing prices on booking.com for well-rated hotels in Rome and Florence that are lot lower than I would normally expect to pay in those cities for late October/early November. Seems too good to be true. Can anyone offer perspective on this? Do prices just get softer this time of year? I have not been to Italy since 2007 but have come to think of Italy as crazy expensive as European destinations go. I would be traveling alone and would like to keep it around/under $100 per night for accommodations. Normally I would think, that's unthinkable, but based upon what I see out there—it could work. What do you think? Might even be able to travel without every day planned in advance, go to Orvieto, Siena, Assisi. I just thought of Italy today, previously did not consider it because of my perception that it's just gotten so very expensive. Please offer any advice that comes to mind.
Posted by
🏝️ Hobe Sound, FL⛱️
3309 posts
I just returned from three weeks in Italy. I stayed in three and four star hotels, though I did not visit Rome, Florence or Venice, and never spent over $95 per night and usually got an included buffet breakfast. This is the shoulder season and prices are substantially lower than summer's high season. On November 1st, there can be additional price reductions. The exchange rate is at its most favorable in years. Go for it!
Posted by
Washington DC
28476 posts
I've used booking.com a lot over the last two summers and have had absolutely no problems. The prices you see should be accurate. Usually booking 24 to 48 hours in advance, I got some bargains when I hit a city when bookings were down. I stayed mostly in low-end 3-star places in 2015, and I think I paid under 70 euros a night (often under 50 euros) everywhere except in Rome and the Dolomites. And I was traveling between mid-May and mid-July, not in October-November.
Don't be surprised at the end of a booking to see something about paying a city tax in cash when you get to the hotel. This is very common in Italy and is totally legit. The tax rate varies (at least some of the time it's a flat amount per night), but I never saw a really high one. I think it was about 3 euros/night in Rome, which was the highest I encountered. Every place I stayed wanted the tax paid in cash even though virtually all of them accepted credit card payment for the room itself.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11851 posts
Very soft time, especially in November, but the weather is not worse than CA. Also attractions/sights are not as crowded, except the Vatican Museums which are always crazy. We used to think it was expensve, then we went to the U.K. and Switzerland, Makes Italy look like a bargain!
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
About the room tax paid in cash, some properties accept payment by credit card when the total bill is paid, but these are usually larger properties. If the room tax is paid by credit card, the property pays the credit card issuer a percentage of the total credit card charge but still has to pay the tax to the government, which can be significant for a small, inexpensive property.
Posted by
Vermont
354 posts
I'm going to Florence Oct 24th. Found a well reviewed hotel very near the Duomo for 7 nights with a price of 521 E (breakfast and city tax included). I checked booking.com and trivago then went directly to the hotel website. Not sure about Rome prices.
I am staying in Florence but for the first time, will be day tripping to Sienna, Lucca and perhaps one or 2 other towns. Except for a cooking class, I am do the day trips "on the fly" based on the weather I encounter when in Florence. Did not want to book a train to Lucca in advance only to be stuck in the rain while walking the wall. If all I get is rainy weather, I'll spend more time in museums or just kick back. After all, this is supposed to be a vacation!
This is certainly doable! Go for it!