Hotels vs. B&B's

All of our best travel memories have come from stays at B&B's...you really get to know your hosts and obtain great suggestions on itineraries, restaurants, etc. from them. Plus you naturally bond with your fellow guests, sharing highlights at the end of the day. You can't say the same for a hotel.

Two B&B recommendations: Nicolas Inn in Rome, and Al Teatro in Venice.

I love B&B's since you often end up with more personal attention and interaction with the locals than you can get at a more impersonal hotel, and B&B's often let you poke around in some fantastic old homes while you're there.

Hotels can usually offer more amenities, of course, like exercise equipment, a bar, a safe in your room, 24-hour front desk service, etc., but if you shop around you can usually find a B&B with what you need, including WIFI, at a better price than the hotels.

These days breakfast comes included with most hotels I've stayed in, so the B&B really doesn't have much advantage over hotels in that department. In fact, larger hotels can afford to put out a breakfast "spread" with a lot more variety than most B&B's, where you usually just get a few things to choose from.

I will almost always pick a nice B&B over a hotel.

Some hotels in Italy include a real breakfast in the room rate. In my experience, most do not, and the ones that include anything have something in your room like packaged rolls. In Venice, I had breakfast at Hotel Tivoli, on a B&B basis. After a few unsatisfying breakfasts in my room in other hotels and B&Bs in Italy, I decided I'd rather find a bar or cafe and have a capuccino with brioche (croissant). On the Rick Steves tours, you usually get a real breakfast with eggs or cheese or sliced meat. Sometimes all three. In Florence my hotel offered a decent breakfast with an extra charge (5-6 Eu). In the CT I stay at a place that offers no food, but has great room rates. A restaurant is across the street and there are cafes/bars within a few minutes walk.

I wouldn't stay anywhere else but a B&B in Italy. Check out this website for some great B&B's in Florence, Rome and Venice. www.cross-pollinate.com they are a bed and breakfast booking site owned and operated by an American family living in Rome. (they also own the Beehive in Rome). They are recommended in Rick's books on Italy. I have stayed at their properties before and have loved everyone (and they are affordable as well). Happy travels!!!!

Hi Nicole,

I have been to Europe 4 times and have found that the B&B's are typically cleaner, more affordable, and are definitely more welcoming than most hotels. Here are the B&B's I stayed at this past May in the cities you listed:

Venice - Corte Campana(www.cortecampana.com). Great location (near San Marco Square). Riccardo is a great host and very accomodating. Included Breakfast.

Florence - Casa di Barbano(www.casadibarbano.it). Very clean/updated rooms. Breakfast served in your room. The host is originally from the US.

Cinque Terre - Edi's Rooms (www.wel.it/Vesignaedi). This was my favorite place on my trip. Great view of the ocean with a huge balcony. Room was clean & included fridge & coffee maker.

Rome - Le Finestre Sul Vaticano (www.romabandb.it) - Very clean and included a huge breakfast. They had many recommendations. It's close to The Vatican city and also 2 blocks away from the subway (so very easy to get to the main sights).

Let me know if you have any other questions. Good luck planning and have a great trip! :-)