No response from variety of booking attempts?

Hi robin. Have you checked your email spam file / folder? Some responses may be there. Enjoy your trip!

I have found one there, but that's all. I have tried to reserve probably 10 places. I feel like this is so strange!

Robin, not sure what you mean by "confirmations beyond the automated ones I've done at booking.com." Have you gone to booking.com, done a search of lodging they list as available for your dates, then completed a booking for one of those choices? If so, have you then received a confirmation from booking.com, with a confirmation number, or not? When I myself have had a reservation confirmed by booking.com, I have never had a problem when I arrived at the inn, they were always expecting me, and my reservation was always accurate, in terms of the room, the cost, the length of stay, etc.

It's common for hotels not to reply to email if they're full. I agree that a booking completed at booking.com should be all that you need, with no additional message from those particular hotels, and the same would apply if the hotel has a direct booking engine (not just an email link) on their web site. I've recently booked several hotels through their individual web sites (for November in France and London), used a credit card number to hold (not pre-pay) the booking, received just one automated confirmation from each one, and am counting on those.

@Larry I thought I'd read that they would confirm directly with me (perhaps I misunderstood), but yes, I do have those confirmation numbers so your account gives me comfort that we're good to go.

@Michael I definitely think you may be right, but I'm surprised to not hear at least that they have no vacancies when I have written B&Bs, etc. directly.

It sounds like if I book via booking.com and get a confirmation number I'm good to go.

Have you tried contacting the hotel directly? That's how we have always made our reservations. But, it is last minute.

Try these places we have stayed:
Florence (actually Fiesole): Pensione Bencista http://www.bencista.com/en/ info@bencista.com
Siena: Hotel Alma Domus (working convent) http://www.hotelalmadomus.it/inglese/RegolaPrenotazioni.php info@hotelalmadomus.it
We stayed in a villa with a group in Lucca, so I don't have any recommendations there
Cinque Terre: Il maestrale http://locandamaestrale.net/?lang=en / maestrale@monterossonet.com
Hope this helps.

In my experience, if they don't respond, they don't have room. In the US, they'll tell you they don't have room, but I haven't found that to be the case in other countries. Maybe you can tell us where you've tried and we can suggest some other options.

Good luck with your search and your trip!

You can sign in at booking.com and check on your reservations; the emails you received should have a booking # and a PIN. I have booked over a hundred hotels through booking.com, only a handful have contacted me directly.

I would say it is imperative that you check booking.com. If you have made reservations and have gotten automated confirmations, your cc will be charged if you don't show up.

I have confirmation numbers with pins for all of my necessary accommodations, so I think I'm good to go now, and in the meantime got a response that one of the other places I'd contacted was full. I think it's probably wise to use booking.com so you can see accurate availability when booking this close to your travel dates (or plan on booking when you get to town, which could be even better, really, from what I gather). Thank you all very much for your feedback!

Just to clarify: if you use booking.com you do not get a separate confirmation from the hotel itself. All you need is your booking.com confirmation, and you're set.

Robin, when I have a reservation at a small hotel or B & B, whether direct or through booking.com, I will usually send a very friendly and enthusiastic e-mail one or two days before I arrive there, something like "Greetings! I am excited to be arriving in Verona this Thursday October 4 and spending three nights at your Carne di Cavallo B & B. I am now in Siena, and expect to arrive at your B & B at about 17,00 oras. Looking forward to meeting you." I sometimes then also ask a question about what local bus to take to get to inn or if they recommend a taxi, or about coming by early and leaving my bags, etc. They may or may not respond to the message, usually they do, with a brief friendly note of welcome, but if there is some confusion I would rather know in advance. (Never a confusion so far)