Italy Travel Guide - Accommodation

There are around 38,000 hotels throughout the country. Charges vary according to class, season, services available and locality. The Italian State Tourist Board (see Contact Addresses) publishes the official list of all Italian hotels and pensions (Annuario Alberghi) every year. Service charges are included in the rates. VAT (IVA in Italy) operates in all hotels at 20% (21% in deluxe hotels) on room charges only. Visitors are required by law to obtain an official receipt when staying at hotels.

Motels are located on motorways and main roads (website: www.logis.it).

Grading: Hotels are graded on a scale of 1 to 5 stars. The term 'pension', or 'pensione', once used to describe simple, family-run accommodation, is no longer used. They are now classed as 1- or 2-star hotels.

Villas, flats and chalets are available for rent at most Italian resorts. Information is available through daily newspapers and agencies in the UK and from the Italian State Tourist Board (see Contact Addresses) or the tourist office (Azienda Autonoma di Soggiorno) of the locality concerned.

Bed & breakfast and home stays (where breakfast is not provided) are becoming increasingly popular in Italy. Visitors have the opportunity to meet local people in their own homes. Accommodation can range from simple to luxurious.

Known as agriturismi, accommodation in converted farm buildings, which ranges from self-catering accommodation in simple barns to luxurious hotels in former farm villas. Particularly popular in Tuscany. Accommodation is graded.

These consist of bungalows and apartments, usually built in or near popular resorts.

Camping is very popular in Italy. The local tourist office in the nearest town will give information and particulars of the most suitable sites. On the larger campsites, it is possible to rent tents/caravans. There are over 1,700 official campsites and full details of the sites can be obtained in the publication Campeggi in Italia, published by the Touring Club Italiano (TCI). The Touring Club Italiano offers campsites already equipped with fixed tents, restaurants, etc (see Accommodation Information).

There are over 100 youth hostels run by the Italian Youth Hostels Association (see Accommodation Information). During the summer season in the major cities, reservations are essential and should be made at least a week in advance. There are also student hostels in several towns.

Federalberghi (National Hotel Association)
Via Toscana 1, 00187 Rome, Italy
Tel: (06) 420 34610.
Website: www.italyhotels.it or www.federalberghi.it

Italian Confederation of Campers
Via Vittorio Emanuele 11, 50041 Calenzano (Florence), Italy
Tel: (055) 882 391.
Website: www.federcampeggio.it

Touring Club Italiano
Corso Italia 10, 20122 Milan, Italy
Tel: (02) 85261.
Website: www.touringclub.it

Agriturist
Corso V Emanuele 101, 00186 Rome, Italy
Tel: (06) 685 2342.
Website: www.agriturist.it

Associazione Italiana Alberghi per la Gioventù (Italian Youth Hostels Association)
Via Cavour 44, 00184 Rome, Italy
Tel: (06) 487 1152.
Website: www.ostellionline.org