Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
complexes of small apart-
ments, often with swimming
pools or bars. The minimum
period of stay is usually a
week, but there is more flexi-
bility in low season.
Residential hotels in Florence
include
Residence San Niccolò
and
Palazzo Ricasoli
. The local
tourist offices can help.
gious institutions. Dormitory
accommodation can be
arranged through the local
tourist office. The
Asso-
ciazione Italiana Alberghi
per la Gioventù
(Italian Youth
Hostel Association)
in Rome has lists of youth
hostels in Italy. The main
youth hostel in Florence is
Europa Villa Camerata
.
Full lists and booking
facilities for youth hostels are
available through the Italian
tourist board (ENIT) world-
wide or from the local
tourist offices. Go to www.
enit.it; alternatively, log on to
www.ostellionline.org.
sign
albergo diurno
. This is a
day hotel without accommo-
dation but with bathroom,
showers, hairdressing, drying
and other cleaning facilities
you may need when travel-
ling. Day hotels are usually
situated at or near the main
railway station.
MOUNTAIN REFUGES
AND CAMP SITES
If you are likely to be
trekking, backpacking or
walking, there are mountain
refuges and huts dotted
throughout Tuscany. The
Garfagnana in the north west
of Tuscany is worthy of note
for these outdoor activities.
This area caters for tourists
well and is renowned for its
outstanding natural beauty.
There are also camp sites on
the fringes of most towns.
A list of camp sites and
mountain refuges is available
from www.enit.it or local
tourist offices.
Club Alpino
Italiano
in Milan owns most
of the huts in the mountain
districts of Italy, including
Tuscany. The
Touring Club
Italiano
publishes a list of
camp sites in
Campeggi e
Villaggi Turistici in
Italy.
ALBERGHI
Albergo
is Italian for hotel but
the term tends to refer to the
upper categories. Room sizes
vary considerably: in city
centres even expensive hotels
can have far smaller rooms
than their counterparts in
other countries, whereas
outside the city your room
may be more like a small
suite. In general,
alberghi
will
have private showers in all
rooms and the more luxurious
have baths. In city centres
you may come across the
Poster (about 1918) for a Pisan hotel
HOTEL COOPERATIVES
These are not chains but
consortiums of different
hotel types.
Family Hotel
specializes in small, intimate
family hotels and B&Bs,
while
Florence Promhotels
provides a wider range of
accommodation.
Chianti Slow
Travel
books rooms in villas,
castles and farmhouses in the
Chianti region.
BUDGET
ACCOMMODATION
For one- and two-star budget
hotels, visitors should expect
to pay from €30 to €50 per
person per night. They are
generally small, family-run
establishments that were
originally known as
pensioni
.
The term is no longer in use;
however, many places retain
the name and personal
character that has made them
so popular. Most offer
breakfast and some have
rooms with private
bathrooms, but do not expect
particularly high standards
of service.
Hostel and dormitory
accommodation can often
be found in convents and reli-
Vaulted entrance hall of Hotel Porta Rossa
(see p253)
