Tuscany - The Basics - Part 5

Tuscany - The Basics - Part 5 cont.

Accommodation

Accommodation is a large cost in any visit to Tuscany. This is a popular place and demand for rooms is high, generally prices seem to rise on an annual basis. Inexpensive and/or cheap are not words that you associate with Tuscan accommodation and certainly not in the major tourist centres. There are a few hostels scattered around the region but these do fill very quickly.

Accommodation in Italy is strictly regulated. All hotels are star-rated from one to five and the prices for each room must be posted at the hotel reception and in each actual room. The star rating will give a good idea of the type of facilities that you can expect. An example would be that a two-star hotel will always have rooms with a private bathroom. Whereas in a one-star you would probably have to share. Always ask to see a variety of rooms if the first you’re shown is not up to standard, they may also have cheaper rooms available but will show you a more expensive one first. Tourist offices will have a full list of hotels and other accommodation such as B& B and agriturismo options, the latter I will deal with later. They may be able to help you find a room at short notice but this is not their main function.

If you are planning to travel in high season it is vital to book your rooms in advance. However for visitors to Florence and Siena you need to do this at any time of the year. The same also applies during religious holidays like Easter for towns such as Assisi where there is a special connection, and always book anywhere a festival is taking place.

It is important to always clearly understand the full price of your room before you accept it. You need to know if it includes breakfast and any other extras; however tax and service charges are usually included. It’s always a good idea to call or email a day or so before arrival to confirm the booking especially if you are going to arriving late in the day. If you are already in the country a call that morning to reconfirm can save problems later.

The star system will give you an idea of what you can expect from a hotel. However its drawback is that the system is based on a set of criteria relating to facilities in the hotel rather than its comfort, character or location. An example would be that there must be a phone in every room for a hotel to be three stars. It could have marvellous character and wonderful comfort but without a phone it can only ever be two stars.

These prices are based on 2013 so will be higher now although the current exchange rate could make it cheaper relative to then. One-star hotels in tourist towns in high season tend to start at about €60 for a double room; two-star hotels start about €90; three stars are normally more than €100.

Four-star hotels have much better facilities and €150–200 would be a typical range with location driving the price even higher. Most deluxe five-stars begin around €250 a night and head upwards. The costs of accommodation in Florence and Siena and some of the smaller tourist towns can be a lot higher. The busy tourist centres such as Florence can set minimum stay periods of three nights during the peak summer season.

Continued in Part 6