Italian Hotels vs. American Hotels
Differences Between Italian and American Hotels
Dear Readers,
Before embarking on that long-awaited-for journey to Italy, we’re sure that you’ve contemplated many aspects of your trip but have you ever thought that there are differences between American and European hotels? If not, we’re here to prepare you for all the cultural differences you will encounter during your next hotel stay in Italy.
Differences Between Italian and American Hotels
1. Italian hotel rooms are smaller.
Space is a valuable commodity in Italy. That’s more evident in small villages than major cities or rural areas. Italians are used to living in smaller homes and staying in rather compact hotel rooms. However, for Americans, the size of the rooms can be a huge surprise. Especially, if it’s your first time in Italy/Europe.
Whether your accommodation in Italy is housed in historic buildings or not, hotel rooms in Italy tend to be – a lot – smaller than in the US, even within the same category regardless if it’s a 3- or 5-star hotel and no matter the room rate. Believe it or not, it’s not uncommon for the hotel chains you know from your trips within North America to feature small rooms on the other side of the ocean.
As a rough rule of thumb, European hotel rooms are up to 1/3 smaller than similar category rooms in the US. If you need more space, considering moving up a room category, from standard to superior, or superior to deluxe or junior suite.
2. The beds are also smaller.
Inevitably, since hotel rooms in Italy are smaller than American hotel rooms, you should expect smaller beds, too. Contrary to most American hotels that often feature two double beds in the room, in Italy/Europe you’ll either get one large bed or two single beds – sometimes referred to as twin beds – pushed together. If you ask for a third bed, it will most probably be a rollaway bed or a pull-out couch at an additional fee.
That said, the best hotels in Italy, including smaller boutique hotels, B&Bs, and guesthouses, go out of their way to ensure guests enjoy a comfortable stay by equipping rooms with quality mattresses and bed linen.
3. Bathrooms are smaller, too.
Since space is scarce, hotel bathrooms in Italy/Europe tend to be on the small side. Don’t be surprised if it feels as though you can touch all bathroom walls from where you’re standing, without even stretching your arms too far. You probably can. Another thing to keep in mind is that, with the exception of some 5-star luxury hotels, chances are you’ll have a walk-in shower instead of a bathtub in your room.
4. Bidets are omnipresent in Italy.
Despite their lack of ample space, most hotel bathrooms in Italy have a bidet. If you’ve never heard of a bidet before, it’s a kind of low sink used to clean up after using the toilet.
5. European hotels don’t offer washcloths.
Bidets might be omnipresent in Italy, but the same can’t be said about washcloths. Even though it’s customary to have a washcloth waiting for you alongside your set of fresh, fluffy towels in US hotels, in Italy, it’s extremely rare to stay at a hotel that offers washcloths. Therefore, if you feel you can’t do without your washcloth for a few days, you might want to pack one or two of your own for your trip to Italy.
6. European showers are unlike their US counterparts.
To conclude the differences between American and European hotels in terms of room bathrooms and now that we’ve established that you’ll most likely have a walk-in shower than a bathtub in your room anyway, there are a couple of things to keep in mind.
First of all, most hotels in Italy have a handheld shower head. Moreover, in most Italian bathrooms, you won’t find shower curtains but glass doors instead. Sometimes, these glass doors don’t even close all the way, rendering showering without making a mess of the entire bathroom a challenge. But don’t worry, the designers have thought of that, and the water will drain away.
7. Floor numbers are different.
One of the differences between American and Italian hotels that you might have never thought of has to do with how floors are numbered on either side of the ocean. As you know, in the US, a hotel lobby is on Level 1 and the rooms on the floor right above the lobby are considered to be on Level 2 (second floor).
However, in Italy/Europe, Level 1 is considered the first floor above the ground level. Therefore, a hotel lobby in Italy/Europe is usually on Level 0 and the rooms right above the lobby occupy the hotel’s first floor. If there’s a level below the lobby, that’s Floor -1.
8. Elevators are tiny or non-existent.
Speaking of floors and levels, we’re brought to our next section: elevators. In Europe, elevators are usually narrow and tiny. Sometimes, they can barely fit you and your luggage. That is more true for hotels situated in city centers or housed in historic buildings that were designed before elevators were commonplace.
Trying to find space and an efficient way to install elevators in old buildings is a huge challenge as it is. Not to mention how hard it would be to make these elevators as big as the ones you’re probably used to in the US. Therefore, expect super small spaces in Italian elevators and, if you’re claustrophobic, you might want to take the stairs instead.
In any case, a small elevator is better than no elevator at all. Yes, that could happen, too. If you’re staying in a hotel set in a building of historical significance, it’s possible that no elevator can be installed because of legislation protecting the character of the structure.
9. Incompatible power outlets.
One of the most important things to know before traveling to Italy is that European countries differ from the United States in terms of electrical power, and more specifically voltage. To put it in another – more helpful – way, a European outlet is more powerful than its American counterpart (220v vs 110v). The sockets are also different – the two flat pins of a US plug won’t fit into the two round holes of a European socket. This means that if you want to use your own electric devices, you’ll have to buy converters for the outlets in Europe.
Hotel rooms in Europe are almost always equipped with hairdryers. Therefore, you don’t have to bring your own.
Since we’re on the subject of European outlets, keep in mind that not all hotel rooms in Italy will have a socket right next to the bed, which can be an issue if you’re used to charging your phone right next to you as you sleep. Pro travel tip: charge your phone away from your bed – you’ll sleep better, important when adjusting to a new time zone.
10. Don’t be alarmed by the lack of alarm clocks.
Even though it’s standard for US hotels to feature an alarm clock next to the bed, that’s not the case in Italy. More often than not, European hotel rooms don’t have a clock at all.
However, sometimes you’re going to have to set an alarm for an early morning tour or flight. In that case, you can use your smartphone alarm clock or ask the hotel front desk to set up a wake-up call for you.
11. A few places might feel outdated.
Italian hotels are renowned for their high cleanliness standards. That said, the same cannot be said for their stylistic choices sometimes. It’s not unsurprising to find a hotel room in Italy/Europe a bit outdated for your taste.
However, more and more hotels embrace more minimalistic lines and modern design when they renovate their rooms so nostalgia-inducing rooms might soon be a thing of the past.
12. Air conditioning in Europe doesn’t go as in the US.
Unlike Americans, Italians tend to avoid turning on the air conditioning. If they do, they will set it at a moderate temperature. This is because most Italians/Europeans grew up without any air conditioning whatsoever. It also has to do with Europeans being conscious of the environmental trade-off of air conditioning.
This love-hate relationship Italians have with air conditioning is reflected in hotels across Italy. In some rare cases, a hotel room might not have air conditioning at all.
That said, keep in mind that the air conditioning in your room will most probably not be able to reach the temperatures you’re used to at home because of local environmental regulations.
Enjoy your trip!
Arrivederci, (‘til we meet again)
Mic e Simo
