General information
Most of this is just practical , much of it is self�evident but it is important that you read it and are comfortable with all the details . It combines straightforward facts and figures with extra hints we think you should have .
Hotels
Our brochure descriptions The details provided in this brochure are to our knowledge correct at the time of going to press and information about local events , local sports facilities etc is usually based on information supplied by the hotel . Changes can take place in the course of the year , bearing in mind that the brochure can be written up to a year before you go on holiday . It is our intention to provide you with the most comprehensive information possible and as and when we are advised of changes we do our best to advise you in turn .
Hotel opening and closing dates These are correct at the time of going to press . However , hotels do change their opening and closing dates as well as the closing day of their restaurant at short notice . They are meant to advise us if any detail in our brochure changes in the course of the season . Most of the time they do provide us with the information as soon as possible . If we know of a change at any point we will do our best to advise you .
Categories of hotels Hotels in Italy are classified officially by local government in Italy and they have to conform to the standards required by their particular class of hotel . The ‘ star rating ’ we state is the official rating of the hotel ; it is not our own classification . Even so , you may find that the electric fittings , plumbing , bath and shower units and door locks etc are unfamiliar . Staircases too can be steep particularly in old buildings and smaller hotels . Family rooms sometimes consist of a room with a mezzanine level for the children reached by a staircase , which can be steep and unprotected . Hotels of the same star rating can vary in quality from region to region and even within the same star rating in the same region .
Hotel facilities All are correct at the time of going to press . Outdoor swimming pools are usually operational from May until October but it does vary according to the weather . Seasonal closing times can change and certain facilities are subject to mechanical problems or changes in the weather . Maintenance work may have to take place in the course of the season . Again , if we are notified in advance , we will pass this information on to you . If sports facilities are mentioned as being ‘ nearby ’, this usually means in the case of tennis courts or cycle hire , in the nearest village or town and with golf , riding and water�sports usually within driving distance . Hotels ’ own swimming pools and tennis courts can vary in size and quality . The hotels do not usually have lifeguards at swimming pools and care should be taken when using them , particularly with children . You are advised to be cautious before diving into swimming pools � please use common sense and be sure you know how deep the pool is first .
Breakfast in Italy Breakfast is still often continental consisting ( at the discretion of the hotel ) of bread , croissants and
‘ biscotti ’, jam , butter , coffee or tea . Orange juice is being provided free of charge more and more in Italy as are little extras such as cake and fruit . However , you should not expect to have orange juice included and if you request extras such as cheese or ham or eggs you should expect to have to pay for these items . Buffet breakfasts are becoming more and more usual throughout Italy . If we state that a buffet breakfast is included this will mean the usual items of continental breakfast plus additional items you help yourself to , such as cereals , yoghourt , fruit , cheese and cold meats . However , these are only suggestions and the actual ingredients may change from day to day and are in any case at the discretion of the hotel . Buffets in Italy may or may not offer eggs as included in the buffet . This is at the discretion of the hotel . It is the usual case in Italian hotels that offer a buffet breakfast that this is only available in the main dining room and not for service to your room . If you request breakfast in your room this will be continental . There is usually also a supplement to pay for room service .
Dinner Where we include dinner in the price of the holiday , this is usually a menu of the day with a choice at each course of usually three different courses , sometimes a choice of a number of courses from the A la Carte menu or , albeit rarely , a fixed menu of the day .
Drinks at hotels The only drinks included are tea or coffee with breakfast . Coffee , aperitifs , wines and other drinks with meals are extra and must be paid direct to the hotel , unless we say that certain drinks are included at a particular hotel . We should have details on file of the cost of a bottle of house wine at our hotels if you particularly want to know in advance . Prices of drinks at hotels are regulated by the government and reflect the category of the hotel . So , usually , the higher the category the hotel is , the more expensive the drinks . It ’ s not unusual for a glass of spumante or prosecco to cost about Euro 10 or a gin and tonic to cost about Euro 15 .
Vegetarian meals If you are a vegetarian you should let us know at the time of booking and we will advise the hotels accordingly
Other extras You must pay direct to the hotel before departure for any items of personal expenditure including drinks , telephone , meals , garage costs etc , other than the items that are included in your holiday .
Check�in and check�out Rooms will not usually be ready for you until after 3pm and most hotels require you to leave your room before 11am . We advise that you should aim to arrive at the hotel no later than 6pm to allow time to settle in before dinner . If you are going to be late unexpectedly you should phone the hotel direct en route to advise them . If you do not check�out in time , hotels may charge you for an extra day .
Building work
If building work is to take place at the hotel during your stay we do ask the hotels to advise us in advance so that we can warn you . Sometimes work extends beyond the expected timescale for completion . Obviously things do go wrong with buildings in the course of the year and emergency repairs sometimes have to be done without notice . This sort of work is of course unavoidable and would probably cause more inconvenience if not dealt with . If building work is taking place nearby ( perhaps even next door or in the street outside ) but not actually on the hotel ’ s own property , it is beyond their and our control and the hotel is not obliged to advise us in advance ( although many do ).
Rooms We give you a choice of rooms at many of our hotels , usually reflecting differences in size . The actual size of a standard type A room varies from hotel to hotel , often reflecting the star rating of the hotel , but even within 4 star hotels you can find a wide discrepancy in the size of the smallest and largest rooms in the hotel . Please note that Italian hotel rooms do not have tea / coffee-making facilities .
Bed types Italian hotels have rooms with double beds and twin beds . Twins can be two single beds or two single mattresses within one large frame made as two beds . Twins are quite common in Italy . Doubles can also be two single mattresses within one large frame and made as one bed . If you have a particular preference you should communicate this to us at the time of booking and we will pass on your request to the hotel . If , once we have confirmed your booking , you want us to change the room type or beds booked , an amendment fee may be levied , and the change will be subject to availability of the room types you want .
Room descriptions When we refer to a superior room , a deluxe room , a suite or junior suite in this brochure , it is usually the exact way the hotel describes the room . It is not our interpretation of the rooms . In Italy a suite is not necessarily a suite of rooms separated by doors but is more often a large bedroom with a sitting area , sometimes through an alcove but not always . A junior suite is usually a large bedroom with a sitting area .
Extra beds An extra bed in Italy can be a proper single bed that is a permanent fixture in a double or twin room or it can be a folding bed that is placed in your room for the duration of your stay . They can vary in comfort and are most suitable for small children rather than adults .
Views When a client requests a ‘ view ’ at a particular hotel , this can lead to difficulties . Unless a ‘ View ’ is qualified such as sea view , garden view , courtyard view etc , a ‘ view ’ as in ‘ pretty view ’ is subjective and we cannot request this for you .
Bathrooms In Italy showers rather than bath are quite common
Phone 01392 441250 to make a reservation or to discuss your holiday plans 161