rick steves italy hotels

(11:35), Pleasures of Italian Cuisine But dont forget. We had planned this trip in 2020 to celebrate our 50th Anniversary! Trevisos canals are pretty, but there arent that many of them, and anyway, Ive been to plenty of cities with canals that still manage to be miserable. Your email address will not be published. For the Vatican we took the city bus, which stopped only 1 block from the hotel. We walked along an ancient cobbled road into Barga for dinners. Great experience, off the beaten path. 2023 Rick Steves' Europe, Inc. | 8 27 Rick Steves goofed Review of Albergo Milano Reviewed November 9, 2015 via mobile We stayed here based on Rick Steves' guide book. Vincenza is worth a day, the others could be several days. I'm looking for hotel recommendations for Venice, Florence and Rome. Initially on the first night, her unbelievable prompt for us to walk to the Trevi Fountain proved to be a very enjoyable walk, then she suggested an opera aria for one of our nights. I became dependent upon Nadine. Great reviews. My next trip needs to be to Pulia to connect with my mothers family roots. (17:04), Sightseeing in the Ancient World . We loved it. But lesser-known gems like these are everywhereand not just in Italy. But I also just looked up how long ago we made that trip and it was 2008. Lovely grounds - kicked back with drinks from the outdoor pool bar after long days of sightseeing - and a superb staff. If youre going to Italy, its tempting to hit the biggies: Venice, Florence, Rome. Go to Bologna, the town with the oldest university in the western world. Posted onJanuary 19, 2022February 2, 2022by Cameron Hewitt Italy's Best Destination: Anywhere If you're going to Italy, it's tempting to hit the biggies: Venice, Florence, Rome. I find more and more small hotels offering a free breakfast to people who promise to write kindly about them on TripAdvisor. It still makes me smile. Dear guest,We thank you very much for sharing your positive experience at Hotel Italia. Also consider the air plus hotel packages offered by some airlines and airfare aggregators. / Italy Venice Guidebook Share $21.99 Rick's picks for sights, eating, sleeping Stuffed with self-guided walks and tours Full coverage of four day-trip destinations Extra tips on kids, shopping, and nightlife Includes handy full-color foldout map Shipping & Returns Buy your Venice Guidebook: Quantity: Add To Cart What's Included Product Details (That also happens to be the most touristy or, I guess, least untoursty of the bunch.) Italy Travel Guide by Rick Steves This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC. But it turned out to be far from an act of desperation; it was one my favorite meals of the trip. It is all one needs for a basic Rome visitation. I liked it even more this time around. And for that purpose, Treviso was ideal. (In fact, I sat there as I wrote this blog post.). (47:06), Culinary Adventures in Italy Our room overlooked the street/passegiata. Farther south is Paestum, with its well-preserved ancient Greek temples. But while guidebooks remain dedicated to providing detailed hotel reviews and their best advice on the sleeping scene, the power is increasingly shifting to travelers themselves and websites like TripAdvisor. 8785 posts We've been to Sorrento three times and have always stayed at Hotel La Tonnarella because we like it so much. Of course not far from Modena is Maranello, home of Ferrari but head out of town in the opposite direction and one can visit Lamborghini. We spent a week in San Pietro en Cariano which is about 30 minutes outside of Verona. Venice hotel recommendations Jump to bottom Posted by gennylord on 04/29/19 08:21 AM We would appreciate hotel suggestions for 2 nights in Venice prior to starting Village Italy tour in Padua. So great that you found this post. If youve heard of Modena, its probably because of food. 2023 Rick Steves' Europe, Inc. | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy. The room was very clean, and the bathroom looked as though it had been recently remodeled. This one is clean, has an unbeatable location and an excellent front desk staff. When I went there a few years ago, before a hiking trip through Tuscany, Ricks guide book said, Dont go here; go to Ravenna. WRONG. Perhaps for this reason, I find review sites restaurant recommendations skew to very touristy, obvious options. This produces something of an identity crisis for the trentini. Also, as a traveler with physical limitations, I found the minimal number of steps to the elevators in both buildings helpful. Also, the squares have pianos and the students walk up and play at will. Would come back in a heartbeat! Venice Guidebook for 2023 | Rick Steves Travel Store But that would make our overstuffed Italy book even more gigantic. Strange as it sounds, it was at least as good as Massimos place. Lucca is perfectly placed to not become a tourist town, while still remaining convenient for tourists an improbable feat. Sdtirol) feel absolutely Germanic, Trento feels like a Germanic city populated by Italians. I have your books and love them! What a wonderful, friendly town. Totally agree with Bobs comments only thing I would disagree with is your suggestion to included Bologna and surrounding towns in R.S.s guidebooks. Far from being overshadowed by Pisa, this works to Luccas advantage, for those of us who enjoy less touristy towns. Room was very clean, comfortable and quiet. I asked myself that several times before I arrived, and the answer was entirely practical: Because it was the only place between Milan and Croatia that had a direct flight to Prague, where I was heading next. We did take taxis occasionally in Florence and Rome to get around - and also did a lot of walking in those 2 cities! I can't vouch for it, but this one has caught my eye. The places with menus only, or mainly, in Italian and avoid places with menus that include picture of food. We loved it so much we went back the next night. . Instead, once youve identified a promising option, do a Google search to find the hotels own website. Shhh! Not to mention miles and miles of porticoes that have made the city a UNESCO World Heritage site (see https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1650). So we love you guys but you dont have to include every lovely Italian town in the guidebook. Yes, its a bit out of the way but there is a violin museum there that is fantastic. Italy's Best Destination: Anywhere - Rick Steves Europe We are in Florence now and rules change frequently. It's in Rick's books, which is were we found it. Arcades are populated by intriguing shops and delightful cafs. It's very well located just a block or so from Piazza Tasso but just far enough for noise not to be an issue. Lucky, but serendipitious. And yet, there sits Lucca. I can't vouch for it, but this one has caught my eye. We stayed City center at Hotel Mignon, which was up an ally and an easy walk to shops and restaurants, to the train station for our day in Pompeii etc. Foodies have discovered Emilia-Romagna, but so far its largely off the radar of mainstream tourism. It's classed as a hostel, because evidently there are some group facilities, but there are plenty of very nice double rooms, beautiful public areas. We traveled north after leaving the Cinque Terra heading towards Austria and happened on a little town called Sabionetta! The quality and value of this hotel make this a top choice for anyone looking for budget-friendly, and most importantly traveler-friendly place to stay. Pompeii and Nearby Famous ruins of the ancient towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum, with their nemesis, Mount Vesuvius, looming on the horizon. Rick Steves' Europe Scavenger Hunt. She and Sabrina gave 5 star concierge service for a 2 star hotel. Maybe my personal favorite part was walking all the way around the top Mainly I enjoyed sitting at the caf tables that fill the enormous loggia on the main square. Bolognas historic center is big enough (roughly 1.5 miles across) to provide endless options for walking, shopping & dining for all budgets, dining, and a variety of under-appreciated sights, attractions and activities. https://www.villamonicasorrento.com/. Calloused locals and sunburned travelers enjoy the area's unique mix of Italian culture and nature. Does anyone have any recommendations for accommodations? Rome is a horribly busy city, but the public transport is hard to beat. Our bathroom was a little more cramped than others in the hotel. the hotel is only one block walk to the outrageously busy Nationzale with buses every five minutes in both directions, one can get anywhere without using a taxi or walking. No view but lovely grounds and handy to both the train/bus station as well as downtown Sorrento. Italy Reviews / Venice hotel reco. I purchased the three day bus pass and we got on and off buses at will. Cinque Terre Travel Guide by Rick Steves Why waste your money on a more expensive hotel. Then drove through the Garfagnana to our base in Barga, where we stayed in a small villa across the valley with a view of the duomo and its huge trees against a backdrop of the Apuane Alps. We still think about Orvieto and going back, taking our friends this time so they can experience the charming little hilltop town as well:). It is a small well kept town and is near the ionio Sea beach area called Soverato! And a short ride to Marostica is also recommended. One was Bassano del Grappa, where I had a fine stroll and a coffee on the piazza before continuing on my way. We spent several days there walking the streets and enjoying everyday life, imagining what it must have been like for them and knowing that Lucca probably hadnt changed much since they were there. None of them has a single must-see sight, or an artistic masterpiece that people travel miles for. Instead of spinning racks of postcards and tacky T-shirts and shot glasses, you see pharmacies, fashion boutiques, midrange chain stores, hole-in-the-wall alimentari, and kitchen-supply shops. We make reservations to avoid frustration. On my recent trip to Paris, I added another hotel to my list of all-stars. As sure as Tagliatelle Bolognese is delicious, and visiting a different cafe and gelateria every day is a worthy task, Bologna and surrounding towns are indeed worth a few pages in Ricks guidebooks. It has the most restaurants, and the most comfortable hotels. Breakfast was served in main building in a nicely furnished dining room. Grishams descriptions of the food and culture of Emilia-Romagna are SO evocative and make me want to visit there someday! We got over jetlag in Lucca with art, music, and food for a few days. The Lakes Two relaxing lakes, each with low-key resort towns and a mountainous backdrop: Lake Como, with quaint Varenna and upscale Bellagio; and Lake Maggiore, with straightforward Stresa, manicured islands, and elegant villas. We stayed there in 17 in a room overlooking the bluff. We always stay in a RS-suggested place in the centro of Florence and enjoy strolling from dinner to our B&B after most tourists have left. Reviews can be skewed in other ways, too. Terms of Service | Privacy. 36 50 Great Rick Steves Recommendation Review of Hotel Italia Reviewed November 1, 2009 We are Rick Steves' travelers and he suggests this street and this hotel. An easy train ride from our favorite base camp Verona. My daughter will be studying in Rome for 6 weeks. We Love Italy and have been there several times, inspired by Rick Steves to enjoy major sites, as well as to move on to back door places. Finally returning to Europe just a few months ago, in addition to some old favorites (like the Cinque Terre and Siena), I made time for a few new places that most tourists miss. Sorrento, Italy Hotels - Rick Steves Travel Forum One service is a 50E limo service to the airport. Restaurants galore. Florence The cradle of the Renaissance, with the world-class Uffizi Gallery, Brunelleschi's dome-topped Duomo, Michelangelo's David, and Italy's best gelato. I can see a change in plans on the horizon. I discovered Ferrara about 5 years ago when I needed to choose a place on the map to stop the night before going to Venice. Lucky, but serendipitious.the hotel is only one block walk to the outrageously busy Nationzale with buses every five minutes in both directions, one can get anywhere without using a taxi or walking. We stayed in Room 42 during our visit. . Can't beat location. Sometimes closures are not announced, so stay flexible and relaxed. Vernazza The region's gem the most touristy and dramatic crowned with a ruined castle above and a lively waterfront cradling a natural harbor below. Lucca was a favourite of ours. A very non-touristy town. Maybe its because I was in Treviso to wander, rather than to work, but I never even began to get a handle on the curling snarl of streets that make up its historical core. Bob love to hear that you had a great week in Bologna recently! My family went to Italy this summer. What Makes a Good Guidebooka Good Guidebook. Locals commute on streets and alleys, right through the center of town. Thanks for highlighting my familys special part of northern Italy! Sites such as Mobissimo and HotelsCombined compile prices from travel agencies, consolidators, and hotel websites. I could go back any day and bike or wander across the city walls. Dont tell anyone but In nearby Possagno you can visit the church dedicated to hometown hero Antonio Canova who has art all over Italy and even a statue in The Louver. But dont forget that theres so much of Europe to see, beyond its marquee cities. Breakfast was typical for a European hotel. I would highly recommend each of these places and would stay in each of them again. The only tour we took was to the hill towns of the Veneto. Review sites are only as good as the judgment of their reviewers. Venice hotel recommendations - Rick Steves Travel Forum We took a day trip to tour Carrara quarries, eat lardo (amazingly good), and do an abbreviated Cinque Terre hike (Corniglia to Monterosso al Mare). the walks inside the city, churches, museums, beautiful homes, and the food as Our hope is to spend an entire month there at some point in the future to really appreciate daily life in Italy. The Field of Miracles is stunning and worth seeing. Some hotels (especially chain or business hotels) offer discounts only if you book on their website. ), Ferrara and Spello are coming up in a few months! In Tuscany, my wife and I stopped off for lunch in Lucca which has long been one of my favorite Tuscan towns. For us, that was easy, we like to be in city center especially because we were using it as a base for the Amalfi Coast. ;^). The location is perfect for walking to all the major sites - and as others mentioned, a bus ride was only necessary to go to the Vatican. I want to mention Cremona, which is a train ride (1 hour) from Milan. While that would be a great strategy for the right traveler, this traveler didnt bother going into Venice, and didnt miss it one bit. We would 100% stay there again. . And my favorite of these was Modena. We found the piazza where they were holding a mission festival. Amalfi Coast and Paestum String of seafront villages including hilly Positano and workaday Amalfi tied together by a scenic mountainous coastal road. And I must stay, I liked them at least as much as the biggies. Great Rick Steves Recommendation - Review of Hotel Italia, Rome, Italy Maybe well venture out a little from Lucca. But we did reserve at Massimos casual bistro, Franceschetta 58, which offered a sampling of that world-renowned fare for one-tenth of the price. The Dolomites Italy's might alps, featuring Bolzano (home of tzi the Iceman), the charming village of Castelrotto, and Alpe di Siusi (alpine meadows laced with lifts and hiking trails). Casa Beseggio (Venice) is in an old convent and there is no elevator if that is necessary for you. As you peel through its fascinating and jumbled layers, you'll find the marble ruins of ancient times, tangled streets of the medieval world, early Christian churches, grand Renaissance buildings and statues, Baroque fountains and facades, 21st-century traffic, and nearly three million people. This one is clean, has an unbeatable location and an excellent front desk staff. It was the food that brought my wife and me to Modena. There is no doubt that co-ordinationWe are Rick Steves' travelers and he suggests this street and this hotel. of the wall which is amazingly tall and wide with terrific views into and out of the Traffic-free lanes are lined with stone arcades and all of the hallmarks of an untouristy town: big chain stores with no interest in tourists, locals commuting by bike, and lots of people sitting at cafs sipping cappuccinos or bright-orange spritz cocktails. Nature and Romance in Italy's Lakes District by Rick Steves Traditions still live within a country that is vibrant and fully modern. They have developed a great service regimen for travelers. We are big walkers. First of Florence is right near the Duomo. Sabrina tried to make reservations for us, but we were too late in the day. Other services we found helpful were purchasing bus passes at the front desk, the shuttle service to the airport, and especially the map and clear directions we received each day to our destinations. Pisa is the sugar water; Lucca is the main course. Great read. Heart of Tuscany Picturesque, wine-soaked villages of Italy's heartland, including mellow Montepulciano, Renaissance Pienza, and Brunello-fueled Montalcino. We arrived in the evening and the B&B made us a reservation at some local restaurant. Some of the best meals Ive had in Italy were in those cities. (14:51), Rome II: Beneath the Surface Sabrina tried to make reservations for us, but we were too late in the day. I recommend starting with a guidebook that has a travel philosophy that matches your own. Orvieto and Civita More hill-town adventures, featuring Orvieto's classic views, Classico wine, and ornate cathedral plus pint-sized, hilltop village of Civita di Bagnoregio. Also the Scrovenci. But I have my suspicions.). Awesome article and so true. The Chicago stockyards have canals. In short, places where locals do their shopping. Excellent value and location, clean, polite, helpful. One service is a 50E limo service to the airport. Why waste your money on a more expensive hotel. This was back in the 90s, and both those places were very untouristy at the time. helpful staff, and it's just about 3 or 4 minutes walk from the town center. Room size is adequate and includes an armoir for hanging clothes. We picked up a car at the Florence airport and drove a southern route to Lucca, looping to the Medici Villa dei Poggio a Caiano, one of 12 villas the Medici owned. In Italy, those lights are flagrantly disobeyed. And the big, beautiful main square is a classic Italian piazza, with a church bell tower facing down a city hall tower over al fresco caf tables. You get a lovely breakfast on their terrrace each morning and it is very close to Row Venice if you choose to do that. In the Germanic world, pedestrians wait patiently at red lights. We were a three generation family - and we all loved it! I have no idea where to begin. Each one stretches toward forested peaks and is lined by skinny, stony townhouses with big shutters and faded frescoes. People moon over Trevisos canals, but thats an overstatement motivated, I believe, by a sort of inferiority complex relative to Venice. Scavenger Hunt for European Travelers Sorrento and Capri The seaside resort port of Sorrento, and just a short cruise away, the jet-set island getaway of Capri, with its eerie Blue Grotto. No idea how you define 'best', but we stayed here and would happily do so again. Take care and safe travels! It's like having a private house. But don't forget that there's so much of Europe to see, beyond its marquee cities. Rooms are above ground floor. You have put your post in the area for reviews. On the hotels online reservation form, punch in the dates youre considering to see what the going rate is. This is Gary, the gentleman from Atlanta who lives part-time on Lake Como that you mentioned in this blog. It feels approximately the same size, bustle, and quaintness of Siena, where wed had lunch the previous day. Would I go out of my way to visit Treviso? One of the top meals of our lives and as you say, the unknown parts of Italy are almost always the best. Downloaded your kindle ebook Cant wait to read it! In untouristy towns like Modena, another thing you notice is the near-total lack of souvenir stands. Venice - Rick Steves' Travel Blog Maybe the school changed? https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3f/Marostica6.JPG. But you dont have to spend a fortune to find a nice, comfortable place to rest your head every night. Milan Powerhouse city of commerce and fashion, with the prestigious La Scala opera house, Leonardo's The Last Supper, and three airports. Recently stayed for 3 nights and had a great time. Trento has handsome, wide streets with marbled sidewalks. Travelers use it, like it, and rave about it, creating a self-perpetuating cycle of positive reviews. I believe it is more than coincidental that in Venice I discovered a 1997 Rick Steves guidebook, abandoned discarded, in the rain, at Christmas, in the year of the pandemic. Naples Gritty, in-love-with-life port city featuring vibrant street life and a top archaeological museum starring the treasures from ancient Pompeii. Read our, ItaliaHotel, FRONT DESK at Hotel Italia, responded to this review. We enjoyed the leisurely hiking & boating and general relaxing ambiance of Cinque Terre many years ago. Look for special offers. We asked for a quiet room and got exactly that. They have developed a great service regimen for travelers. Move it to the first section, Destination Q&A, tag Italy. We stayed across the way in the annexe which provided a unique somewhat quirky experience you wouldn't get in some of the larger more traditional hotels which are common in all cities. A charming host can garner good reviews from appreciative guests who overlook other, substantial flaws. I wouldnt know, because I didnt bother to go inside; I was too busy enjoying the simple act of wandering around. Really good veal limone at nearby Ristorante la Fenice. In this land of lakes, the million-euro question is: Which one? Theres a delicate balance between tourist dollars & local living. Who knows. Your son will appreciate the variety of shops, etc. Farther north, I spent a couple of nights in Treviso, which is as close to Venice as Lucca is to Pisa. It makes me want to extend our September tour in Tuscany, which ends in Lucca. A place your friends have never heard of. . Mantua, Moderns, Padua, Vincenza, and a foray into the alps to Bolzano. This topic has been automatically closed due to a period of inactivity. We stayed there last summer. And I must stay, I liked them at least as much as the biggies. Hard to believe UNESCO world heritage sites could possibly be under the radar. They are all fantastic, however. Rick Steves goofed - Review of Albergo Milano, Varenna, Italy Required fields are marked *. There is a 2nd building directly across the street with additional bedrooms. Our room also had a balcony that overlooked what appeared to be a high school classroom But my impressions may be colored somewhat: This was the year wed retired as teachers, and sitting on the balcony sipping coffee watching some other poor guy behind the desk was almost as rewarding as our travels around Sorrento and Pompeii. Some suggest staying in Treviso and day-tripping to Venice just 30 minutes by train. (Frankly, I cant remember a single truly great meal Ive had in Florence or Venice.) We were in Italy in September-October 2021 and felt very safe, but much has changed since then. Each village fills a ravine with a lazy hive of human activity. It will take you a while but the views are extraordinary. I am taking my 2 college aged sons there next month. Sarteano is a good place from which to see Tuscany with day trips.
Recently Sold Homes In Medford Ma, Blunteffects Incense Near Me, How To Check For Asbestos In Ceiling, What Does High-fiber Poop Look Like, Articles R