|
Due to the city's prominence as a centre for business, Bologna is well-stocked with hotels, although those outside the Centro Storico have been conceived for the business traveller and are blandly decorated. During trade fairs capacity is quickly exhausted, so book well in advance. Every effort should be made to stay in the old centre, even for the sake of a few stars, since that is where you will want to be for both sights and atmosphere. Hip and contemporary design hasn't really hit Italy's hotels. Most are old and architecturally interesting buildings decorated with 1970s interiors and an assortment of dreary furniture. Rooms in central hotels are rarely spacious due to the medieval proportions. Budget options are improving with the concept of 'bed and breakfasts' breaking through. With porticoes and narrow streets, if you are looking for a view, ask for a room high up. These are also quieter, though for absolute insulation from mopeds you will need to forgo the view for a room over a courtyard.
Most rooms have en-suite bathrooms although dimensions often dictate that this will have a shower rather than a bath. Few hotels have single rooms and solo travellers will usually have to pay a supplement. Payment by card is generally accepted in the bigger hotels, but others will prefer, or in some cases only, accept cash. A hotel tax of 10% is usually included in the bill, as is breakfast. How- ever, you will have a more authentically Italian experience if you start the day with a coffee and pastry at one the city's multitude of bars.
Outside the city, Modena's narrow medieval streets offer a number of pleasing hotels for a stopover but booking ahead is essential and there are few budget options. In Rimini some might argue that sleeping is for the daytime on the beach but there are some alternatives. Imola's hotels are unspectacular and the city might be better done as a day-trip from Bologna.
|
