Jun 22, 2007
Here's how you can stay cheap in Germany, Ireland, Florence and Venice
In these days of a weak dollar, the "private homestay" -- a room in someone's apartment or home -- is the key to living cheaply in Europe. In the first week that this blog appeared, I listed organizations for London and Paris that would enable you to stay for about $40 per person per night in private residences. For London, those were www.happy-homes.com, and www.athomeinlondon.co.uk. For Paris, I suggested www.goodmorningparis.fr, and www.bed-and-breakfast-in-paris.com; for Rome www.b-b.rm.it.
How about the rest of Europe? Here are some leads that you might print out and save for low-cost lodgings in Germany, Ireland, and in the cities of Florence and Venice:
In Germany: The Germany Tourism Website (http://www.germany-tourism.de/ENG/infocenter/bed_and_breakfast.htm) maintains important links to regional tourism sites, which often provide the details on private homestays. For example, at the Berlin site (www.berlin-tourist-information.de) you can download a 38-page PDF titled "Vacation Homes" or "Holiday Homes" (same document, two names), which lists hundreds of private rooms for rent.
In Ireland: The national tourist board has a searchable database (www.ireland.ie/accomodation_bb.asp) full of photos and detailed descriptions of private homestays. Among the private websites, Town and Country (www.townandcountry.ie) describes one of the largest private B&B networks, representing thousands of properties in both the Republic and Northern Ireland.
In Florence and Venice: The official Florence website (www.firenzeturismo.it) lists a staggering 341 "B&B-Rooms to Rent" in that city (plus another 277 in the province of Florence). The official Venice site (www.turismovenezia.it) offers 235 "Rooms to Rent" and another 187 "Bed & Breakfasts." Average price: around €75 ($100) -- still quite a savings when mid-range Venetian hotels routinely top €200 ($270).
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How about the rest of Europe? Here are some leads that you might print out and save for low-cost lodgings in Germany, Ireland, and in the cities of Florence and Venice:
In Germany: The Germany Tourism Website (http://www.germany-tourism.de/ENG/infocenter/bed_and_breakfast.htm) maintains important links to regional tourism sites, which often provide the details on private homestays. For example, at the Berlin site (www.berlin-tourist-information.de) you can download a 38-page PDF titled "Vacation Homes" or "Holiday Homes" (same document, two names), which lists hundreds of private rooms for rent.
In Ireland: The national tourist board has a searchable database (www.ireland.ie/accomodation_bb.asp) full of photos and detailed descriptions of private homestays. Among the private websites, Town and Country (www.townandcountry.ie) describes one of the largest private B&B networks, representing thousands of properties in both the Republic and Northern Ireland.
In Florence and Venice: The official Florence website (www.firenzeturismo.it) lists a staggering 341 "B&B-Rooms to Rent" in that city (plus another 277 in the province of Florence). The official Venice site (www.turismovenezia.it) offers 235 "Rooms to Rent" and another 187 "Bed & Breakfasts." Average price: around €75 ($100) -- still quite a savings when mid-range Venetian hotels routinely top €200 ($270).
Write and read comments about this post.
Labels: accommodations, websites
Fifty years ago, 
Arthur Frommer is generally acknowledged to be the nation's foremost travel authority. He is the founder of the
