Stay at Convents for Cheap Accommodations in Italy
If you’re going to Italy, or elsewhere throughout Europe and you’re traveling on a tight budget, staying at convents is a great option for cheap accommodations.
Go World Travel Magazine has an article on Italian convent accommodations (which I found via Gadling Convents in Italy a long time ago) that first exposed me to this idea of staying in convents, and it seems like a very viable option for budget travelers not interested in hostels.
How to Find Italian Convents
Finding and booking a room at convents in Italy all must be done through one book: Bed and Blessings Italy: A Guide to Convents and Monasteries Available for Overnight Lodging
The Good of Italian Convents
There are many positive aspects of staying in convents, as opposed to typical traveler accommodations.
- Budget friendly - They’re cheap, hence good.
- Great Location - Convents are sometimes the only cheap lodging in expensive and ritzy parts of Italy (Lake Garda pictured above)
- No crime or scams - I don’t think travelers need to worry about very much crime, or getting ripped off at the convents. Definitely a plus for some travelers, especially women.
- Unique and different - If you want a quiet, serene atmosphere that is different than what any other accommodations can offer you, convents are the way to go. Definitely a memorable experience.
Drawbacks of staying in Convents
- Curfews - Some convents may have curfews that require travelers to be in their room by a certain time. Some are as early as 8:30 according to Gadling.
- No credit cards - A minor inconvenience for some. Just plan on using cash.
- No English - Don’t expect the convents to have English speakers. Italian and Latin rule here.
- Other Rules - Some probably have a bunch of other rules that may inconvenience travelers.
- Hassle - No online booking site is available… yet (hint: I have small side project)
Overall? I think if I were planning a trip to Italy and got a hold of the Beds and Blessings travel guide, I’d try to stay at a convent for a couple nights just for the unique experience. It’s something that I think budget travelers would like to take advantage of, but only in moderation since the curfews would kill me.
[...] Stay at Convents for Cheap Accommodations in Italy [link][more] [...]
[...] Budget Globetrotting explains how to Stay at Convents for Cheap Accommodations in Italy [...]
hi i enjoyed the read
[...] See this article and this one for a few more things to consider when thinking about staying at an Italian monastery or convent. Tags: convents, monasteries By Jessica | Permalink | No Comments | September 25th, 2007 | Trackback [...]
Nothing beats bargain digs for backpackers!
[...] It appears that bargain digs for backpakers really are the flavour of the month - perhaps we should have checked out this option from Budget Globetrotting: how to stay in convents in Italy to maintain that shoestring budget… Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. [...]
Hi
I've found this great site about monasteries. It is http://www.monasterystays.com. Looks like it could save people a lot of time
[...] There are a few articles out there that give you things to keep in mind about staying in convents and monasteries - you can’t, after all, expect them to operate like the Best Western. So, some articles you should are are here, here, here, and here. [...]
Am planning to visit Italy so plss guys recommend me the best and cheap accomodation in Italy.
Hi Aussie John
Thanks for the link.