What Makes European Hotels Different than US Hotels?

I remember my first experience staying in a European hotel in Venice. It was a cute little boutique hotel perfectly located between St. Mark’s Square and the Rialto near Camp Manin.  Checking in, the staff were fantastic and offered great suggestions for restaurants and booked ahead transportation to the hotel when ready to depart.  I collected my belongings and began making my way towards my room on the second floor.

I have to admit that I was surprised to find several differences between European hotels from those in the US.  Here is what you can expect when staying at some of the hotels in Europe, unless you are staying in a luxury hotel or one that is a US chain-based accommodation.

1. Most of the rooms begin on the next level up from the check-in desk called a 1^st  level room.  It is quite possible there are no rooms at the “ground level”.
2. The rooms can be quite small in comparison as well as the showering facilities.
3. The beds are smaller than those in the US, similar to a twin size.  When booking a room for two beds, the small space between each (just inches) may surprise you.  Many times the hotel can add a connector between the two beds to convert to a larger size.
4. Boutique hotels rarely have elevators, so you may find yourself climbing a flight or two of stairs.  If you have heavy luggage, or multiple bags, you may want to consider asking for assistance.
5. When booking your hotel, you want to make sure that you have a private shower if you do not want to share with other travelers. It is common for some European hotels to have rooms where showering facilities are shared.

Now that you know some of the unique characteristics of European hotels, you can consult the hotel’s website to confirm the amenities and location of your room and contact the hotel directly for special requests.  Happy Hotel Hunting!

Disclosure:   Please refer to our blog disclaimer tab for more information.