We e-mailed Trattoria Gianni in english then in Italian(Rick Steves' Italy 2008 pg.319) asking for a 4 day reservation for two rooms Oct. 10 to 14 and provided credit card info. but have received no answer in 4 days. My Italian instructor says people in Cinque Terre often don't answer! Is that true? Other choice:he may be full and get so many requests from readers of your book that he doesn't have time to answer. Your recommendation? Assume we have a room? Telephone him using our poor Italian?
Jack
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
That's an awfully big assumption that could possibly lead to a disastrously stressful vacation. Also, I never send a credit card number when "requesting" a room. Only after an offer is made to me do I then send credit card info. If they don't respond to your emails (have you checked your spam folder) I would just telephone them. Especially now that you've already sent CC details - personally I would want 100% verification of having or not having a room since my CC number was in their possession.
Posted by
Wisconsin
553 posts
I'll second the suggestion to check your spam folder; I had several hotel responses in there when I was planning my trip. Don't worry about using poor Italian if you call; say Hello, and then use simple English. Also, if you get a phone card, your call will likely cost 10 cents a minute or less. I bought one at Wallgreen's; also available at Sam's and elsewhere.
Best of luck to you; the rooms where you share a bath in the hallway have balconies with awesome views, and you can likely get a discount if you pay with cash. The winding staircase with the rope to hold onto is quite an experience, too! AND the steps to the hotel itself. :)
Posted by
Vancouver, BC, Canada
191 posts
Hey I stayed at Trattoria Gianni 2 years ago. It took about a week for them to reply to my e-mail(in english). I would give it a few more days, or at least a full week before calling. From what I remember and as Rick warns the lady that does the check-in does not speak very good english and is not really the most friendly person, they do have one other young girl that was there it looked like she dealt with alot of the e-mail and she did speak english well.
I doubt they would be booked up, but you never know, I have heard that they get a lot of e-mail and if they are full they do not respond. I would not assume you have a room, but if you go and they are full there are other rooms to rent that are nice as well, I was there mid-may and it seemed there was alot open. As the previous poster said if you are willing to share a bathroom do it because the rooms with shared baths have balconies.