Affordable accomodation in Italy in October

[mj]

We're (me + wife) are currently on our way back from Tunisia to southern Germany through Sicily and Italy and have been taken by complete surprise. We've arrived in Palermo yesterday and will cross over to mainland Italy today but had major trouble finding a place to sleep last night. Everything is closed - campsites, budget hotels, literally everything. Towns are completely deserted, restaurants are closed, etc. The only things still open are the big expensive hotels. Are there any tips you can give me as to cheap accomodation? We haven't decided on a route yet so it's all out in the open. Is it easier if we stay away from the coast and travel north through the interior? Do you know any campsites that are still open or places where we could pitch our tent?

[Donmanolo]

Yes...unfortunately that is the case regarding camp-sites and most touristic infrastructure. However where I live there is still an open campsite so they must exist elsewhere.

I really recommend using booking sites such as hostelbookers/world etc, campsites are usually listed on them too, as well as bed and breakfastas and hostels..at least you'll be sure of getting a roof over your heads that way

good luck..

[markharf]

My experience riding through Italy in October and November suggests that you anticipate lots of rain, with snow always possible in the passes. There were a great many passes which didn't appear on my (poor quality) maps, so I was always being taken by surprise when a road wound way up into the hills getting colder and colder until suddenly it got dark, causing me to wonder what the hell I was doing with my limited time on the planet. Then of course there were wonderful, brisk days on some of the finest motorcycling roads ever seen, with no tourist hoards clogging the backroads or other impediments.

I don't know how representative my experience of the weather was, but if you're the sort of person who can ride in cold, drenching rains all day, then happily pull up a side road and pitch camp for the night, you're made of sterner stuff than I. I remember lots of places to pay for lodging everywhere I went, ranging from hostels to fancy hotels--it's just the really touristy regions where everything shuts down. Often, I paid high prices for hotels because the days were short and that's what was available.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark

[rsuttling]

Hi we have just travelled down the east coast of Italy and had no problems finding cheap hotels (www.booking.com). We are heading off to Pompeii tomorrow then for Sicily.

I suggest you decide how many km you want to travel in a day, then look in the area of direction. Do a search - hotels in _______. Booking.com should come up.

Best of luck.

[John933]

I use this one. The lady who rent's them live's next door. Just bang on her door.

Google Maps

John933

[mj]

Thanks. We are in Pompei right now and have had luck yesterday and today - we found campsites (Camping Sosta Camper near Belvedere last night, Camping Zeus in Pompei today). Wild camping is always good, we did it a couple of times already, but it's not recommended to do it in the touristy areas. The police is out on the hunt, fines range between 100 and 500€ and you'll have to move on regardless of time or weather. We're thinking about going to Rome next (either tomorrow or the day after), then through the interior towards Modena (the warm clothes we need to get us over the Alps are waiting at a post office in Modena). Hopefully wild camping will become easier once we've left the touristy west coast.

[Donmanolo]

You'll have absolutely no problem finding places to camp wild anywhere along the appenines, however the weather is getting pretty rainy, not quite my idea of fun.

Anyway, whenever I go to Rome I stay here, even when I 'm on foot :

Tiber Hostel and Camping in Rome, Italy - Find Cheap Hostels and Rooms at Hostelworld.com

dirt cheap and just a 20 minute train ride into the center. You can camp, or rent a bungalow it costs more or less the same.