Travel Blog

From the canals of Venice to the architecture of Florence to the ancient historic sites of Rome, Italy is land of plenty for travelers. The food is rich, the people warm and the scenery varies from towering mountains to beautiful seascapes. Italy truly offers something wonderful for every traveler.

With so many choices, it can be a daunting task to plan a visit to Italy. Your best course of action is planning a personalized itinerary, listing the top places you want to visit. One choice might be to explore Tuscany, a region synonymous with romance. Perhaps you’ll choose to spend your time exploring Rome, Milan and the Italian Riviera. Another fun choice would be to explore the island of Sicily.

Expert travel writer Karen Brown has created several special itineraries for travelers to Italy, allowing them to truly experience all the fun of this vast country. She also describes some of the best places to stay, and the following hotels are all recent winners of the Karen Brown Readers’ Choice Awards:

Selecting the most romantic place to stay in a nation that is known as one of the world’s great romantic destinations is no easy feat, but Karen Brown’s readers have voted, choosing Locanda dell’Amorosa as the “Most Romantic” spot in Italy. This Tuscan treasure was its own village and has been converted into hotel, restaurant and wine bar. Each of the guest rooms is different, simply furnished in an elegant style with antiques and rustic pieces. Views of the surrounding countryside and vineyards are sure to charm you. The hotel is a perfect home base for travelers wishing to explore Tuscany and Umbria.

Il Falconiere Relais, just a few kilometers outside of Cortona, is yet another Tuscan gem. The hotel, the recipient of the Karen Brown Readers’ Choice Award for Italy’s “Warmest Welcome,” offers an assortment of beautifully appointed, romantic guest rooms and suites. The setting at this hotel is amazing, from the views of the surrounding countryside to the ambiance of the dining room.

Albergo Villa Belvedere is proof that you can eat your cake and have it too. This beautiful villa was chosen by Karen Brown readers as Italy’s “Greatest Value.” While not luxurious, the guest rooms are clean and comfortable with simple furnishings, and some have pleasant views of Lake Como. Breakfast and dinner, both filled with hearty fare, are included in the rates, adding to the value of this lakeside retreat. The Cappelletti Family and their warm hospitality are another huge plus, and you’ll be treated more as a friend than a hotel guest.

Pamper yourself at one of the world’s great resorts on the stunning Amalfi Coast at Il San Pietro di Positano. Everything about this hotel is spectacular, from the unparalleled views from the many terraces to the elegant guest rooms to the gourmet cuisine served at the hotel’s restaurant. The list of amenities is enormous - a full-service spa, fitness center, swimming pool and tennis court. Best of all is a private beach cove where you can lounge and sunbathe to your heart’s content. Il San Pietro was chosen as Italy’s best “Splendid Splurge” by Karen Brown readers.

Are you trying to plan your next vacation, but are overwhelmed and discouraged by how much it is going to cost? Join the club, most of us who are used to a nice vacation every year or two are suddenly finding it very hard to afford to go anywhere except locally. It really doesn’t have to be that way though, as long as you can spend some time searching for the best cheap hotel deals.

The most important thing to remember when you are searching for a good deal on a hotel is that cheap does not have to mean poor quality. It really isn’t worth it to save money if you are staying in an uncomfortable bed inside a flea ridden hotel room in a dodgy part of town. What you want to find is a nice hotel that for one reason or another is offering a great deal.

Keep in mind that when you are searching for a cheap hotel you still want it to be in a desirable area, be comfortable and offer the amenities that you want like a pool or fitness facility. Otherwise you may not have as much of an enjoyable time, and then what’s the point of being on vacation? You want to save money, but not sacrifice quality at the same time.

Let You Internet Do the Walking

Surf the Internet

Can You Say Google

The internet has a vast offering of travel sites that promise to have the best deals you will find. Don’t take their word for it; shop around. Compare prices on various sites. You may be able to save a few hundred dollars or a few cents here and there but end up with cheap hotel deals that you never knew existed. Many times, if your itinerary is flexible you can find even more cheap hotel deals if you are willing to travel during the week. Hotel stays on weekends are always more expensive than weekdays.

No matter what your destination is or what your budget may be, take a little extra time to research some cheap hotel deals. You may end up with a wonderful hotel and extra cash for spending.