Rome Other Types Of Accommodations

Hotel singles in Italy cost about US$40-80 (€25-50) per night, doubles US$ 60-140 (€40-90). In many lower budget establishments, you’ll typically share a hall bathroom; a private bathroom will cost extra. Some hotels offer “ full pension” (all meals) and “half pension” (no lunch). Smaller guesthouses and pensions are often cheaper than hotels. If you make reservations in writing, indicate your night of arrival and the number of nights you plan to stay. The hotel will send you a confirmation and may request payment for the first night.

Bed And Breakfasts (B&Bs)

For a cozy alternative to impersonal hotel rooms, B&Bs (private homes with rooms available to travelers) range from acceptable to sublime. Rooms in B&Bs generally cost US$30-70 (€20-50) for a single and US$100-130 (€70-90) for a double in Italy. Many websites provide listings for B&Bs; check out Bed & Breakfast Inns Online (www.bbonline.com), BedandBreakfast.com (www.bedandbreakfast.com), or BNBFinder.com (www.bnbfinder.com).

Agriturismo

Frequently omitted by mainstream travel guides and ignored by local tourist offices, agriturismo is a pleasurable, leisurely, and inexpensive way to visit the Italian countryside. Local families open their homes to guests and provide reasonably-priced meals. The host family and guests gather around the table each night, sharing bottles of homemade wine, fresh vegetables from the garden, and stories that last far into the night. These houses, however, are usually only accessible by car—a tranquil remoteness that simply adds to their charm, provided that you can reach them. If you’re looking to truly experience the laid-back Italian lifestyle, hearty cuisine, local wines, and sweeping countryside vistas, agriturismo is the best way to spend your time and money. To find agriturismo options in your region, consult local tourist offices or check out the Associazione Nazionale per l’Agriturismo, l’Ambiente e il Territorio ( National Association of Agrotourism, Environment and Territory; www.agriturist.it).

university Dorms

Many colleges and universities open their residence halls to travelers when school is not in session; some do so even during term time. Getting a room may take a couple of phone calls and advanced planning, but rates tend to be low, and many offer free local calls and Internet access. For a list of student housing opportunities in Italian cities, write to The Italian Ministry of Education, Vle. Trastevere 76/A, 00153 Rome (☎+39 06 58 491; www.pubblica.istruzione.it), and ask for a Guide for Foreign Students.

home exchanges and Hospitality Clubs

Home exchange offers the traveler various types of homes (houses, apartments, condominiums, villas, even castles in some cases), plus the opportunity to live like a native and cut down on accommodation fees. For more information, contact HomeExchange.com Inc. (☎+1-310-798-3864 or toll-free 800-877-8723; www.homeexchange.com) or Intervac International Home Exchange (☎05 19 17 841; www.intervac.com).

Hospitality clubs link their members with individuals or families abroad who are willing to host travelers for free or for a small fee to promote cultural exchange and general good karma. In exchange, members usually must be willing to host travelers in their own homes. The Hospitality Club (www.hospitalityclub.org) is a good place to start. Servas (www.servas.org) is an established, more formal, peace-based organization, and requires a fee and an interview to join. An Internet search will find many similar organizations, some of which cater to special interests (e.g., women, GLBT travelers, or members of certain professions). As always, use common sense when planning to stay with or host someone you do not know.

Long-Term Accommodations

Travelers planning to stay in Italy for extended time periods may find it most cost-effective to locate an apartment for rent (affittasi). A basic one-bedroom or studio apartment in Rome will range €500-2000 per month. Besides the rent itself, prospective tenants are frequently required to front a security deposit (usually one month’s rent and the last month’s rent).

A good place to check for apartments is Rome’s craigslist (http://rome.it.craigslist.it/), a forum for renters and rentees where you can see others’ listings or post your own housing needs. For regional listings, try http://affittistudenti.studenti.it and www.secondamano.it. Also check out http://liveinrome.com and www.romepower.com for more apartment listings.