Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
THE SLUMBER TAX
Introduced in 2011, Italy's controversial
tassa di soggiorno
(accommodation tax) sees visitors charged
an extra €1 to €5 per night 'room occupancy tax'.
Exactly how much you're charged may depend on several factors, including the type of accommod-
ation (campground, guesthouse, hotel), a hotel's star rating and the number of people under your
booking. Children are exempt from paying the tax in some cities and towns, though age limits can
vary between destinations.
Most of our listings do not include the hotel tax, although it's always a good idea to confirm wheth-
er taxes are included when booking. At the time of research, the hotel tax was in force in more than 40
municipalities, including Ancona, Aosta, Assisi, Bologna, Cagliari, Capri, Catania, Florence, Friuli
Venezia Giulia, Genoa, Ischia, Milan, Lago di Como, Lago di Garda, Lago Maggiore, Lecce, Lipari,
Otranto, Padua, Pisa, Ravello, Rimini, Rome, Salerno, Sicily, Siena, Sorrento, Stresa, Trentino, Turin,
Verbania and Venice.
B&Bs
B&Bs are a burgeoning sector of the Italian accommodation market and can be found throughout the coun-
try in both urban and rural settings. Options include everything from restored farmhouses, city
palazzi
(man-
sions) and seaside bungalows to rooms in family houses. Tariffs per person cover a wide range, from around
€30 to €100. For more information, contact
Bed & Breakfast Italia
(
www.bbitalia.it
)
.
OFFBEAT ACCOMMODATION
Looking for something out of the ordinary? Italy offers a plethora of sleeping options that you won't
find anywhere else in the world.
»
Down near Italy's heel, rent a
trullo
, one of the characteristic whitewashed conical houses of south-
ern Puglia.
»
On the island of Pantelleria, halfway between Sicily and Africa, sleep in a
dammuso
(traditional
house with thick, whitewashed walls and a shallow cupola).
»
Cruise northern Italy on the
Ave Maria,
a hotel barge that sails from Mantua to Venice over seven
leisurely days, with cultural and foodie pit stops, and the chance to cycle between locations.
»
In Friuli Venezia Giulia, experience village life in an
albergo diffuso
, an award-winning concept in
which self-contained (self-catering) apartments in neighbouring houses are rented to guests through a
centralised hotel-style reception.
Camping
Most campgrounds in Italy are major complexes with swimming pools, restaurants and supermarkets. They
are graded according to a star system. Charges usually vary according to the season, peaking in July and
