My family and I are traveling to Switzerland, Italy and Germany but we are trying to stay away from the bigger cities even though we will visit them on a day trip. We are looking for hostels or pensiones near and around Milan, Venice or Innsbruck. We are even thinking of not going to the Milan area at all. In Switzerland we are looking at Appenzell rather than the Interlaken area. I am just looking for ideas and places to stay that are inexpensive. All info. is appreciated.
Moises Rodriguez
Posted by
Portland
3642 posts
You should check out this site: www.specialplacestostay.com. Or you could buy the book, Alistair Sawday's, Special Places to Stay: Italy. He has loads of listings of reasonably priced places, arranged by location. If you go to your nearest large bookstore and look in the travel section, you can find a couple of other lodgings- only guides. I think Michelin may have one of just Italian places under $100/night, and the Touring Club of Italy publishes a guide to agriturismos.
Posted by
cochranville, pa, usa
322 posts
While we are not ones to stay in large cities either I'd recommend you reconsider staying in Venice. That is the one city I don't think you can capture the essence of especially at night unless you stay right in the city which is actually not all that large.
Posted by
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
3 posts
Regarding Venice, I would stay right in Venice - it is a much different experience being there after most of the day trippers have left. We stayed in a small apartment halfway between the Rialto Bridge and Piazza San Marco and it was magical to see the city at night and to be there early in the morning.
Posted by
Las Cruces, NM, USA
50 posts
I would recommend getting ahold of one of Rick Steves' Italy Guidebooks. Barnes and Noble carries most of his guidebooks. You might find a copy at your local library. Even a slightly outdated one from 2003 or so will still have lots of recommendations for accomodations in Italy. First look up the town or towns you wish to visit and then look under the section entitled Sleeping. Rick gives detailed descriptions about the various places, approximate prices (he even rates them with $$...the more dollar signs before the name, the more expensive the rooms.) He tends to recommend very reasonably priced accomodations, including hostels. He also gives websites and email addresses for most of his recommendations so you can obtain more information directly from the hotels/hostels that appeal to you. When contacting hotels recommeded by Steves, be sure to mention you are one of his readers and most places will offer a discount! Hope this helps.