Booking the Orange House in Varenna, Italy

Thanks Sasha,
You make good points. I'll try them again later on if I haven't found anything else I like. John

It's possible they may no longer be in business. I know someone who was supposed to stay there last June, and their reservation was cancelled due to the illness of one of the owners. I have stayed there before and know that the spouse that wanted to operate the B&B was the spouse that was ill. If she is unable to work, they may have decided to shut down.

Thank you Andrea for your reply. We'll have to look at alternatives then. Thanks again. John

Their website is still active ( although no date for the last ), and there are reviews on Tripadvisor from people who stayed there in September, 2011. It is possible that they just take a break from the demands of the business during the closed season. I have encountered small family-run places in Italy that did not want to talk about summer reservations until February or March of that year. You might try again after Feb. 1 just to see.

Also, did you check your spam folder? Depending on your email provider, messages from Italy may end up there.

John, I just checked the Italy 2012 Guidebook, and don't see The Orange House listed any longer. That doesn't necessarily mean they're "out of business". However, it should be noted that their website clearly states they are open 1 April to 30 September. They may not even be checking E-mail or answering phones at this time of year? I also checked the "Guidebook Updates" section for changes since the 2012 edition went to press, and don't see any mention of Orange House. You could either wait for later in the spring to check, or choose other accommodations there. Good luck and happy travels!

Thanks Ken,
I appreciate you guys taking the time to answer my questions. John

Albergo Milano is a great native. We stayed there; it's still #1 B&B on TripAdvisor. Check th reviews.

John, Have you got a copy of the Italy 2012 Guidebook? That provides a good selection of accommodation listings in Varenna, in various price ranges. Are you interested in staying in a smaller and less expensive place, or would a more conventional Hotel suffice? Most places provide breakfast.

We were planning on staying with them last June and they emailed to cancel about a month before our trip due to illness. From what I understood it didn't seem to be a long term problem. Try them again. The location is good, price cheap and wish we could have stayed there!

Hello all,
I haven't purchased any guides yet, so far I've been getting the information from the internet and it seems to be going ok at the moment. We are really just looking for a clean safe place where to spend the night and rest after a long day of sightseeing, it doesn't need to be fancy but we expect politeness and quiet. I've noticed Alvergo Milano and it's ratings but it's a bit more than what we are looking to expend. We may though make reservations for their restaurant. We are arriving from Paris via Milano Centrale for 1 night in Varenna and 1 night in Como afterwards, there's still quite a bit of details to be worked out but it's all coming along nicely. Thanks again, John

John, Is there a particular reason you're only spending one night in Varenna and one night in Como? The change in location will use about half a day of your very short time in that area. Were you planning on taking a day trip to the resort town of Bellagio, or other spots along the lake? I'd suggest spending two nights in Varenna and if necessary taking a day trip to Como via Ferry. Another option you might consider for accommodations is This Hotel in Varenna. Cheers!