Comments on: Moore n’ more about People, Places and Things, December 2009 http://my-bellavita.com/2009/12/11/win-free-nights-bed-and-breakfast-catanzaro/ Living and Traveling in Calabria, Italy Wed, 23 May 2012 14:59:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: nyc/caribbean ragazza http://my-bellavita.com/2009/12/11/win-free-nights-bed-and-breakfast-catanzaro/comment-page-1/#comment-11753 nyc/caribbean ragazza Thu, 17 Dec 2009 18:03:17 +0000 http://my-bellavita.com/?p=3115#comment-11753 Cherrye congrats on your DK job. Those guidebooks are fantastic. <em><strong>Thanks! I'm very excited about it.</strong></em> .-= nyc/caribbean ragazza´s last blog ..<a href="http://sistergirltales.blogspot.com/2009/12/if-madonna-can-still-bust-move-at-51-i.html" rel="nofollow">"If Madonna can still bust a move at 51, I can make through this class."</a> =-. Cherrye congrats on your DK job. Those guidebooks are fantastic.

Thanks! I’m very excited about it.

.-= nyc/caribbean ragazza´s last blog .."If Madonna can still bust a move at 51, I can make through this class." =-.

]]> By: AmyEmilia http://my-bellavita.com/2009/12/11/win-free-nights-bed-and-breakfast-catanzaro/comment-page-1/#comment-11748 AmyEmilia Thu, 17 Dec 2009 13:23:50 +0000 http://my-bellavita.com/?p=3115#comment-11748 My worst hotel experience was in Marina di Carrara, November 2007. Our original B&B (name forgotten unfortunately) never answered the phone, their emails, or the door when we knocked, so we needed to find another hotel for the night. We happened upon the Santa Margarita hotel, which didn't look too bad from the outside. 70 euros seemed OK and then they took us to the room. Ugh. Dark, ugly, old furnishings which were NOT elegant, NOT clean, NOT welcoming. The proprietor assured us that the heat would be turned on, and left us in the icy dark room. He wasn't lying... the radiator did start popping and clicking very soon. Unfortunately no heat ever escaped it's metal housing. We laid down on the bed fully clothed, put our coats over that, and then the "blanket" that was provided. I doubt it ever got above 40 degrees Farenheit in that room. The bathroom was scary too - cold of course! and the tiles were all cracked, the shower too grimy to contemplate using, and the mirror was dirty. We shivered through the night, beat it out of there in the early morning, and went directly to the Mediterraneo to beg for a room. We thought we would save money but after the Santa Margarita, the extra 30 euros a night seemed like the best deal we ever found. We checked in (they even let us in early), took a nap, and luxuriated in warmth and cleanliness. I understand the Mediterraneo is being rebuilt now, can't wait to see the new version! I'd love to win the free weekend! We haven't spent much time in Southern Italy, but the next trip has vague outlines already - starting in Sicily (side trip to Malta I think) and then onto the mainland, driving north and seeing the "foot" of the penisula. <strong><em>That is a horrible experience, I HATE being cold. Sounds like a good game plan to head through the south. Hope to see you here!</em></strong> .-= AmyEmilia´s last blog ..<a href="http://anormallife-amyemilia.blogspot.com/2009/12/will-it-snow.html" rel="nofollow">Will it snow?</a> =-. My worst hotel experience was in Marina di Carrara, November 2007. Our original B&B (name forgotten unfortunately) never answered the phone, their emails, or the door when we knocked, so we needed to find another hotel for the night. We happened upon the Santa Margarita hotel, which didn’t look too bad from the outside. 70 euros seemed OK and then they took us to the room. Ugh. Dark, ugly, old furnishings which were NOT elegant, NOT clean, NOT welcoming. The proprietor assured us that the heat would be turned on, and left us in the icy dark room. He wasn’t lying… the radiator did start popping and clicking very soon. Unfortunately no heat ever escaped it’s metal housing. We laid down on the bed fully clothed, put our coats over that, and then the “blanket” that was provided. I doubt it ever got above 40 degrees Farenheit in that room. The bathroom was scary too – cold of course! and the tiles were all cracked, the shower too grimy to contemplate using, and the mirror was dirty. We shivered through the night, beat it out of there in the early morning, and went directly to the Mediterraneo to beg for a room. We thought we would save money but after the Santa Margarita, the extra 30 euros a night seemed like the best deal we ever found. We checked in (they even let us in early), took a nap, and luxuriated in warmth and cleanliness. I understand the Mediterraneo is being rebuilt now, can’t wait to see the new version!

I’d love to win the free weekend! We haven’t spent much time in Southern Italy, but the next trip has vague outlines already – starting in Sicily (side trip to Malta I think) and then onto the mainland, driving north and seeing the “foot” of the penisula.

That is a horrible experience, I HATE being cold. Sounds like a good game plan to head through the south. Hope to see you here!

.-= AmyEmilia´s last blog ..Will it snow? =-.

]]> By: Alexandra http://my-bellavita.com/2009/12/11/win-free-nights-bed-and-breakfast-catanzaro/comment-page-1/#comment-11747 Alexandra Thu, 17 Dec 2009 11:46:36 +0000 http://my-bellavita.com/?p=3115#comment-11747 Okay... I want to do all 4 things, but I'm one lucky traveler: i've never had a "worst hotel experience" that was really really awful enough to be memorable and worth writing about!! Although actually, on our honeymoon in Sicily, we stayed at hotels run by a chain of upscale business hotels. In Agrigento the place was right on the beach, so I thought we could swim. But the "beach" was blocked off by a metal fence, while on the shore was washed up trash, some of which may have been toxic. There was a view onto a parking lot. Agrigento sucked; we had booked 3 days and left after reluctantly spending one night in that hotel. At that point we abandoned our plans and reservations for the rest of the trip. I subscribed to your RSS in my Netvibes; tweeted (@arttrav), facebooked... and hope I win! I've never been to Calabria. PS Like you, I was recruited for the DK Eyewitness guide too! (Florence and Tuscany) Very forward thinking of them to be hiring us travel bloggers. <strong><em>Yea, that is awesome about DK. Can't wait to compare notes with you after it is all done. Good luck with the prize drawing!</em></strong> .-= Alexandra´s last blog ..<a href="http://www.arttrav.com/florence/oblate-december-open/" rel="nofollow">Oblate Library: open till midnight, has bar, wifi, and special exhibit!</a> =-. Okay… I want to do all 4 things, but I’m one lucky traveler: i’ve never had a “worst hotel experience” that was really really awful enough to be memorable and worth writing about!! Although actually, on our honeymoon in Sicily, we stayed at hotels run by a chain of upscale business hotels. In Agrigento the place was right on the beach, so I thought we could swim. But the “beach” was blocked off by a metal fence, while on the shore was washed up trash, some of which may have been toxic. There was a view onto a parking lot. Agrigento sucked; we had booked 3 days and left after reluctantly spending one night in that hotel. At that point we abandoned our plans and reservations for the rest of the trip.

I subscribed to your RSS in my Netvibes; tweeted (@arttrav), facebooked… and hope I win! I’ve never been to Calabria.

PS Like you, I was recruited for the DK Eyewitness guide too! (Florence and Tuscany) Very forward thinking of them to be hiring us travel bloggers.

Yea, that is awesome about DK. Can’t wait to compare notes with you after it is all done. Good luck with the prize drawing!

.-= Alexandra´s last blog ..Oblate Library: open till midnight, has bar, wifi, and special exhibit! =-.

]]> By: Dana http://my-bellavita.com/2009/12/11/win-free-nights-bed-and-breakfast-catanzaro/comment-page-1/#comment-11732 Dana Tue, 15 Dec 2009 20:39:08 +0000 http://my-bellavita.com/?p=3115#comment-11732 Hi, Cherrye OK, now I'm an official subscriber, even though I've been reading your blog for months. Keeping my fingers crossed . . . Buon Natale! <strong><em>Thanks, Dana. In bocca al lupo!</em></strong> Hi, Cherrye

OK, now I’m an official subscriber, even though I’ve been reading your blog for months.

Keeping my fingers crossed . . .

Buon Natale!

Thanks, Dana. In bocca al lupo!

]]> By: Chrissy http://my-bellavita.com/2009/12/11/win-free-nights-bed-and-breakfast-catanzaro/comment-page-1/#comment-11716 Chrissy Mon, 14 Dec 2009 06:54:42 +0000 http://my-bellavita.com/?p=3115#comment-11716 My worst hotel experience was just this summer in Las Vegas. The hotel itself was very nice, but around 4am each morning we were awakened by the loudest talking people in the room next door. You could every word of their obviously very intoxicated conversation. It was impossible to fall asleep and our jet-lag was made much worse. Luckily the rest of the hotel experience was nice! Looks like I entered the contest 4 ways now. Thanks! <strong><em>Yea, loud, obnoxious neighbors is never a good thing! You get a bonus entry! Auguri!</em></strong> My worst hotel experience was just this summer in Las Vegas. The hotel itself was very nice, but around 4am each morning we were awakened by the loudest talking people in the room next door. You could every word of their obviously very intoxicated conversation. It was impossible to fall asleep and our jet-lag was made much worse. Luckily the rest of the hotel experience was nice!

Looks like I entered the contest 4 ways now. Thanks!

Yea, loud, obnoxious neighbors is never a good thing! You get a bonus entry! Auguri!

]]> By: Chrissy http://my-bellavita.com/2009/12/11/win-free-nights-bed-and-breakfast-catanzaro/comment-page-1/#comment-11715 Chrissy Mon, 14 Dec 2009 06:43:06 +0000 http://my-bellavita.com/?p=3115#comment-11715 Hi, I am a new email subscriber. Thanks so much and I love the site! <strong><em>Grazie mille!</em></strong> Hi, I am a new email subscriber. Thanks so much and I love the site!

Grazie mille!

]]> By: K http://my-bellavita.com/2009/12/11/win-free-nights-bed-and-breakfast-catanzaro/comment-page-1/#comment-11712 K Mon, 14 Dec 2009 00:53:57 +0000 http://my-bellavita.com/?p=3115#comment-11712 I'man new subscriber! <strong><em>Thanks!</em></strong> I’man new subscriber!

Thanks!

]]> By: K http://my-bellavita.com/2009/12/11/win-free-nights-bed-and-breakfast-catanzaro/comment-page-1/#comment-11711 K Mon, 14 Dec 2009 00:53:19 +0000 http://my-bellavita.com/?p=3115#comment-11711 A motel on the side of a highway in Ohio...the cleaning people actually walked right into while we were sleeping!! No knock knock knowck..Housekeeping!! AND it was the type of room that was so small the door opened right to the bed area, no small hallway to protect us from their peering eyes!!! On top of that, the sheets and towels were thread thin, and the carpet was disgusting! Thank goodness we were only there long enough to get some shut eye and hop back on the road. <strong><em>Oh dear. I have to say walking in on someone is my worst innkeeper fear.</em></strong> A motel on the side of a highway in Ohio…the cleaning people actually walked right into while we were sleeping!! No knock knock knowck..Housekeeping!! AND it was the type of room that was so small the door opened right to the bed area, no small hallway to protect us from their peering eyes!!! On top of that, the sheets and towels were thread thin, and the carpet was disgusting! Thank goodness we were only there long enough to get some shut eye and hop back on the road.

Oh dear. I have to say walking in on someone is my worst innkeeper fear.

]]> By: diana baur http://my-bellavita.com/2009/12/11/win-free-nights-bed-and-breakfast-catanzaro/comment-page-1/#comment-11694 diana baur Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:57:37 +0000 http://my-bellavita.com/?p=3115#comment-11694 Oh Cherrye!! The site looks fabulous!!! I am so happy for you that it's up!! My worst hotel experience. hmmmm. In Piemonte. We were here on a house hunting trip. We had decided to wing it, because it was January, but it turned out to be pea soup fog. We got to a town called Mondovì and pulled up to said property after a cop told us where there was a hotel. We should have just turned and run? But it was 11 pm. Let's see. I have blocked this out of my mind so I have to think about it. One fluorescent light in the hallway, and the hallway was painted dark grey. Blood red carpet with ripples. In room: orange shag carpet, one lamp with 1 - 7 Watt energy saver bulb. Shower door busted. Shower was 70x70 so with no door the entire room got wet. Pillows were about 1 inch thick. Paper thin walls, snorer in one neighboring room and a one night stand in the other. Was not completely sure that sheets had been changed. Slept fully clothed (rather laid there, who could sleep?) Breakfast: week old croissant and american coffee. I thought, man, I think we have a niche here. We were pretty sure we could do better than this. :) <strong><em>Wow. That was bad. You know it is bad when there are THAT many things working against them!</em></strong> .-= diana baur´s last blog ..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CreativeStructures/~3/dgC_fHqgKLE/gratitude-friday-friends.html" rel="nofollow">Gratitude Friday: Friends</a> =-. Oh Cherrye!! The site looks fabulous!!! I am so happy for you that it’s up!!

My worst hotel experience.

hmmmm. In Piemonte. We were here on a house hunting trip. We had decided to wing it, because it was January, but it turned out to be pea soup fog. We got to a town called Mondovì and pulled up to said property after a cop told us where there was a hotel. We should have just turned and run? But it was 11 pm.

Let’s see. I have blocked this out of my mind so I have to think about it.

One fluorescent light in the hallway, and the hallway was painted dark grey. Blood red carpet with ripples.

In room: orange shag carpet, one lamp with 1 – 7 Watt energy saver bulb.

Shower door busted. Shower was 70×70 so with no door the entire room got wet.

Pillows were about 1 inch thick.

Paper thin walls, snorer in one neighboring room and a one night stand in the other.

Was not completely sure that sheets had been changed. Slept fully clothed (rather laid there, who could sleep?)

Breakfast: week old croissant and american coffee.

I thought, man, I think we have a niche here. We were pretty sure we could do better than this. :)

Wow. That was bad. You know it is bad when there are THAT many things working against them!

.-= diana baur´s last blog ..Gratitude Friday: Friends =-.

]]> By: amber http://my-bellavita.com/2009/12/11/win-free-nights-bed-and-breakfast-catanzaro/comment-page-1/#comment-11691 amber Fri, 11 Dec 2009 10:35:40 +0000 http://my-bellavita.com/?p=3115#comment-11691 Our worst was in Austria. But it wasn't because the hotel was such a bad place, but because there was a complete breakdown in communication! They spoke German, and German only and not a single WORD in ANY other language. And between me and my counterparts we spoke four languages. (Sadly, none of which were German.) 1. In the hotel restaurant, we ordered Salmon. We received Hot Dogs. 2. In the rooms, we asked for King sized beds, we received Twin Beds. 3. When we wanted to rent bicyles, we were told no. But every one else was allowed to rent. 4. When we asked for the heat to be turned UP, they turned it OFF. 5. Oh and for breakfast, we Asked endlessly for Austrian coffee and they would only bring us capuccinos. After all, we are Italian! It was a nightmare. We couldn't wait to leave. <strong><em>Is it wrong that your description of some of these events made me smile? Yes, ok, then. I'm sorry!</em></strong> Our worst was in Austria. But it wasn’t because the hotel was such a bad place, but because there was a complete breakdown in communication! They spoke German, and German only and not a single WORD in ANY other language. And between me and my counterparts we spoke four languages. (Sadly, none of which were German.)

1. In the hotel restaurant, we ordered Salmon. We received Hot Dogs.

2. In the rooms, we asked for King sized beds, we received Twin Beds.

3. When we wanted to rent bicyles, we were told no. But every one else was allowed to rent.

4. When we asked for the heat to be turned UP, they turned it OFF.

5. Oh and for breakfast, we Asked endlessly for Austrian coffee and they would only bring us capuccinos. After all, we are Italian!

It was a nightmare. We couldn’t wait to leave.

Is it wrong that your description of some of these events made me smile? Yes, ok, then. I’m sorry!

]]> By: Shayna http://my-bellavita.com/2009/12/11/win-free-nights-bed-and-breakfast-catanzaro/comment-page-1/#comment-11689 Shayna Fri, 11 Dec 2009 09:03:54 +0000 http://my-bellavita.com/?p=3115#comment-11689 I'm a new subscriber as well! I love whenever my google reader tells me you put up a new post. I really enjoy the personal stories from you, your friends, and other readers. Thank you so much! <strong><em>Thank you, Shayna! We are glad to have you here.</em></strong> I’m a new subscriber as well! I love whenever my google reader tells me you put up a new post. I really enjoy the personal stories from you, your friends, and other readers. Thank you so much!

Thank you, Shayna! We are glad to have you here.

]]> By: sheryl http://my-bellavita.com/2009/12/11/win-free-nights-bed-and-breakfast-catanzaro/comment-page-1/#comment-11688 sheryl Fri, 11 Dec 2009 08:45:58 +0000 http://my-bellavita.com/?p=3115#comment-11688 The worst hotel experience ever is still fresh in our minds. First night of our honeymoon in Mykonos at a hotel that had top tripadvisor reviews, room booked weeks ahead. Owner had promised us a room with a view as it was our honeymoon. First he forgets to pick us up at the airport. We call, and he says 'there was traffic'. The hotel was < 10 mins from the airport. Then he realizes it's our honeymoon and tells us 'there's a problem' with our room. Long story short, we end up in a damp hole in the ground, zero privacy (we couldn't even open the window without other guests looking in), the saddest window-less bathroom, a handheld shower with no shower curtain, not to mention toiletries. Needless to say, we left first thing the next morning. Never again! Next time we leave immediately. :-) <strong><em>Oh no, that is just horrible, ESPECIALLY on your honeymoon. I hope the next place you went treated you better!</em></strong> The worst hotel experience ever is still fresh in our minds. First night of our honeymoon in Mykonos at a hotel that had top tripadvisor reviews, room booked weeks ahead. Owner had promised us a room with a view as it was our honeymoon. First he forgets to pick us up at the airport. We call, and he says ‘there was traffic’. The hotel was < 10 mins from the airport. Then he realizes it's our honeymoon and tells us 'there's a problem' with our room. Long story short, we end up in a damp hole in the ground, zero privacy (we couldn't even open the window without other guests looking in), the saddest window-less bathroom, a handheld shower with no shower curtain, not to mention toiletries. Needless to say, we left first thing the next morning. Never again! Next time we leave immediately. :-)

Oh no, that is just horrible, ESPECIALLY on your honeymoon. I hope the next place you went treated you better!

]]> By: joanne http://my-bellavita.com/2009/12/11/win-free-nights-bed-and-breakfast-catanzaro/comment-page-1/#comment-11686 joanne Fri, 11 Dec 2009 06:55:18 +0000 http://my-bellavita.com/?p=3115#comment-11686 I really do enjoy your blog! Always informative and entertaining. I just became a new subscriber, and look forward to keeping updated. <strong><em>Thanks, Joanne! I hope you enjoy the updates. You are entered in the drawing!</em></strong> I really do enjoy your blog! Always informative and entertaining. I just became a new subscriber, and look forward to keeping updated.

Thanks, Joanne! I hope you enjoy the updates. You are entered in the drawing!

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