Italy - Where to stay in Jan 05?

[Dazza&Jenbo]

Hi all,

Have been monitoring this site for several months now, what an excellent website providing such an excellent service!!

Ok, here's the rub, my partner and I are travelling around Italy in Jan 05 and we have a semi-locked in itinerary.

If I name some places and dates, can anyone recommend hostels that provide rooms for 2 people?? The only essential thing would be they would be clean and friendly. Ok here goes, the itinerary runs as follows...

Palermo, Sicily

Catania, Sicily (Does anyone know if Etna is smoking at the moment and have they reopened the ski lifts?)

Lecce, Puglia (Is the town worth visiting?)

Matera

Amalfi Coast <Positano/Amalfi/Ravello/Salerno> I have Aagards famous landscapes on my walls, is there any cheap, but clean friendly place thats open in Jan to stay? Or should I not bother, go to Napoli and view the coast via a day trip?

Naples I'm really worried about this towns rep, wild but a bit of a rip off joint. Any recommendations??

Rome

Perugia

Siena

Lucca

Florence

Bologna

Milan

Dolomites Snowboarding!!

Verona

Venice

Ok, I admit it. This itinerary was lifted from the Lonely planets "The Grand Tour", but considering we have 4 weeks to wander via a Transitalia rail pass - why not??

If anyone has any suggestions where to stay at any of the above places, I would be truly grateful!! As a pom (expat English resident) of Perth, Western Australia whose only begun backpacking in his late 30's, I would be extremely grateful for any suggestions/recommendations from people who have been to these places in January.

Just to remind you...

We are are on a fairly strict budget and would love to find places that are: Open in Jan, clean, friendly, if possible some nice freebies (breakfast/washing powder etc), double rooms along the cheaper end of the scale.

Many, many,many thanks in advance

Darren & Jennifer

[Vetgirl]

I was in Italy in January a couple of years ago, and it's great because everything's a little cheaper in the off season. As far as places I'd honestly recommend I'd say Hotel Ada in Milan (actually a hotel with private ensuite rooms starting at 19 Euros-and that's in the summer) and it's right across the street from the train station so it's easy to get to. The Yellow Hostel in Rome was decent, and if you got to the Italian Hostels website (connect from Hostelling International website) they have loads of places listed with a reservation service. Hope that helps!

[kingcrazylegs]

Welcome aboard!

I spent quite a lot of time in Sicily, but not much as a "tourist". Mt St. Etna is a must see in my opinion. It had been active a few months before the first time I went up, but you can check the local paper ( in Catania) when you get there as far as that is concerned. Don't really know any hostels in that area, I mostly camped or stayed at people's houses.

I stayed at a nice hostel in Rome in January of 2000 - check out this site: Rome

In Siena I stayed in a place called Ostello Guidoriccio, which was clean and cheap. I'm sure you can google it and find it.

One place I noticed you are not visiting is Assisi ~ its really a great place to visit in January, its right on the side of a mountain. I stayed at the hostel type place there that had little cabins or you could just camp. It was really cheap and about half way up the mountain (absolutely beautiful!!). They will even cook for you (with lots of wine) over an open fire in the main lodge...can't remember the name of the place though

Hope this helps...have a great trip.

[Dazza&Jenbo]

thanx guys for the quick replies, does anyone else have any suggestions?

[pinion]

What was there in Bologna you wanted to see? I switched trains there and I walked around a bit...there wasn't really anything to see.