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Post by DN0914 on Aug 11, 2005 13:46:45 GMT -5
Can any recomend some decent hostels in Italy. We will be Venice/Rome/Florence and Cinque Terre.
I look forward to any comments
Thanks.
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Post by DN0914 on Aug 11, 2005 13:58:54 GMT -5
Oh, and I should have specified a price range. Relatively cheap, like around $30-$35 CDN per day.
Thanks.
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Post by LHR02 on Aug 11, 2005 14:41:13 GMT -5
While I can not offer much first hand help...I am not a hostel gal...I do know that Kim's hostel review site here on this board offers good reviews and realistic advice.
ging
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Post by Kim on Aug 11, 2005 15:38:56 GMT -5
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Post by LHR02 on Aug 11, 2005 16:00:03 GMT -5
I would add that you need to be wary of the various hostel sites and their 'reviews'. Most of them allow the hostels themselves to 'slide' in as a 'guest' and post most favorable reviews and others flat out pay for reviews submitted...the better the review, the more they pay. It's a tricky thing to find a good one. While, as I said, I do not stay in them myself, I have helped edit/spell correct and verify info for very many of those listed here. Kim does not allow any 'in house' reviews and does her best to validate anything listed. There may not be a huge number, but what is there is correct and unbiased.
ging
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Post by WillTravel on Aug 11, 2005 19:02:39 GMT -5
For Venice, there's also this hostel, but it's hard to book in advance: www.diaconiavaldese.org/venezia/foresteria/index_e.htm Foresteria Valdese There is an HI hostel on Giudecca Island, but that is definitely less convenient, and reviews are not great. For Florence, 7 Santi is sort of remote. Archi Rossi is a much better location if you can get it. There's also this one that is pretty well-recommended for Florence: www.istitutogould.it Istituto Gould <modified by Kim to fix links> |
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Post by DN0914 on Aug 12, 2005 13:17:20 GMT -5
Thanks a lot!
I've noticed though that a lot of these don't seem to give the option to book online? Is that right or am I just missing something.
Thanks.
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Post by WillTravel on Aug 12, 2005 13:35:04 GMT -5
At least some of those hostels don't. That part is very frustrating. I think with Santa Fosca, you have to reserve 7 days in advance (but not earlier). The problem is that it is popular, so you should telephone at exactly the 7-days-in-advance mark to ensure you get a bed (going by previous posts). Check the Hostel Search feature at the bottom of the page here in addition.
I recommend the reviews at BugEurope.com.
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Post by LHR02 on Aug 13, 2005 10:55:55 GMT -5
But once again I have to say....these big review sites 'pay' for the reviews they post, don't check the IP's to make sure it is not either the owner posting a great review or a competitor dishing it. And that surely happens all the time! (As Kim can tell you firsthand with all the bogus reviews she gets almost daily and never posts!) As with anything, you have to take this sort of information with a huge grain of salt!
just my humble .02
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Post by t on Aug 13, 2005 19:00:47 GMT -5
I would totally recommend (removed AGAIN)
in Florence. It is really homey and you'll a lot of people and above it will save you so much when you compare it to all the other hostels. you can double for next to nothing and free internet and breakfast. you definitely look into it if you just a low-priced hostel to crash for a few days. (removed)
.............................................................
If you would like to have your hostel included in the reviews here....do it honestly and legally. Submit a request to the site owner and have it verified. And underhanded attempts at ADS will be promptly removed....every single time!
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Post by LHR02 on Aug 13, 2005 19:29:18 GMT -5
And the above post from 't'/guest in this and other posts this evening prove the point! Posing as a traveler, he/she is posting about the wonders of this terrific hostel...but a quick check of his IP address shows it's in Florence. Kim...and we, her moderators, try to quickly remove these bogus 'reviews' and suggestions......most other hostel review sites let them stand as legitimate reviews. Which is why I raise the caution to take reviews on sites that pay for them and allow one and all with a huge degree of skepticism!
ging
(And the horrid English is a sure give away that this is likely NOT a US/Canadian traveler posting a legit review! ;D )
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Post by jennifer on Aug 13, 2005 19:31:45 GMT -5
Great work Ging! He was driving me nuts!
But do you only check by ip adress? Some may really be travellers at cafés no? Although this one smelled like fake...
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Post by LHR02 on Aug 13, 2005 19:38:31 GMT -5
Language skill and mostly IP address are my 'gut' instinct markers. But you are right, someone could be posting from Florence while traveling in Florence. And if that were true, I'd expect them to post a 'complaint' or hey, wait a minute post! You notice, these folks never do. They surf in, post the 'spam' and likely never see the deletion. Someone posting a legit opinion will normally make a complaint to Kim....and then she will give me another smack down for deleting posts! :)2I try to do a good job...but believe me, I get my fair share of hand raps from Mother Kim!!!  |
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Post by jennifer on Aug 13, 2005 19:42:57 GMT -5
hahah better be safe than sorry!
I totally understand!
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Post by WillTravel on Aug 13, 2005 19:45:06 GMT -5
Another "scam" I've read of is where one hotel or hostel owner will post bad reviews about another competing place. On several bulletin boards, there was this one guy who had a B&B in Rome with numerous glowing and fake reviews, and he would also post to run down other hotels. Thanks Ging and Kim for combatting this sort of thing.
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