After perusing various Rome lodging options for a couple months, I've just been preparing to make actual reservations. Suddenly I find that airb&b, and venere, and (??another) that I'd assumed were good resources, apparently have burned a number of people in the past. Sounds like crosspollinate is still okay. There are other B&B central reservation sites - are most okay? Craigslist is hit or miss. Convents and monasteries are more pricey than I'd expected. I don't want to spend a couple hundred bucks for a sleeping base, and plan to avoid American-style hotels. Thoughts?
Posted by
Pa and Italy
4152 posts
No company can make 100% of people happy 100% of the time. Venere always gets good reviews and I've never heard a complaint about it. The reviews are written by people who completed a stay at the property so you must read them carefully. I'm not sure of the complaints you're talking about but I suggest you read them carefully to see if they are legitimate complaints or someone who couldn't be made happy no matter what was done for them. You can check some reviews on slowtravel.com Donna
Posted by
OP
Central Maine
83 posts
True, the content of the complain is important. If it is the "whiney" variety (the towels were stiff, the toast was soggy) I can see around that. If it impacts the wallet or actual plans (reservation lost, unjust charges) that create travel hassles, that is more problematic. I saw two sites last night that had a number of people railing against both airb&b and venere. If the service will stand behind the reservation, and the agreed price, I'm good. Thanks for weighing in about venere and slowtravel - appreciated.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23290 posts
Just make your reservation direct and skip the middle man or woman.
Posted by
Chicago
2876 posts
We stay at B&B's whenever and wherever we can and I 100% agree with Frank. Read B&B reviews on sites such as tripadvisor.com, or in the "reader feedback" section in Rick's travel store (under the Rome 2011 guidebook). Pick a few B&B's and contact them directly. These days many B&B's even have their own website. Skip the middleman.
Posted by
Coraopolis, Pa, USA
1018 posts
During the summer of 2009 we found the b&b Armonio All' Opera on venere.com and stayed there. It was brand new and 1st rate. I recommend this place here and on Frommer's Italy forum every time someone asks for accommodations. It is across the street from the Roma Opera House. I would stay there again any time. Buon viaggio, RB
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
The B&Bs would actually prefer that you contact them directly. That way they don't have to pay a fee to the listing company.
Posted by
Austin, TX, USA
492 posts
We always book directly with small hotels and B&Bs. If the prices on a site like Venere are lower or they have some deal, the hotel or B&B has always met the price for us. I research places on Tripadvisor and Venere and others, but book directly. Now if a specific hotel or B&B is constantly overbooking or having issues, we'd likely avoid that place.
Posted by
Scottsdale, AZ, USA
1127 posts
We stay in B&B's in Italy and haven't had any problems. In Rome try www.nicolasinn.com and in Florence www.residenzailvillino.com - both in Rick's book. I book directly with hotels/bed & breakfasts. I've never used Craiglists because I've heard about too many scams being posted on its boards.