Sleep in a Monastery on Your Vacation!

Traveling to Italy? Who needs a hotel when you can sleep in a Monastery on your next vacation! Comfort, tranquility and maybe even a touch of spiritual well-being can be yours!

When it comes to vacations, monasteries may just be the last great Italian getaway! These historic hideaways are an economic and peaceful alternative to Italy's many hotels, the majority of which - let's face it - are expensive. Especially if your travel plans involve only a one or two night stay.

It's no secret that in Italy the actual number or nuns, monks, priests and the like is starting to run a little thin. So about 10 years ago Italy's monasteries and similar religious getaways started opening their doors in an effort to keep beds full - even if it was just with travelers.

The result is that like hotels, convents and monasteries now accommodate everyone from individuals to families to groups - regardless of religious preference. And like I mentioned earlier, monasteries and convents are generally less expensive than a hotel. As if that in itself is not enough, consider that when you sleep in a monastery on your next vacation you also reap the benefit of hundreds of years of historic art, architecture, design and culture.

The Nitty Gritty

There are an estimated 500 monasteries spread out across Italy which means that you can probably find one to suit your needs no matter where in Italy you plan on travelling. And the sleep-in-a-monastery movement has spread throughout Europe as well so that adds an entirely new dimension to your cross-country travel.

Monasteries tend to be separated into two categories:

Open Houses - which welcome tourists and Retreats which cater to visitors seeking a more spiritual visit.

No matter what your plans are, you'll find that sleeping in a monastery provides some great benefits:

Easy on the budget - They're cheap, hence good.

Great Location - often located in scenic surroundings outside of major cities or within cities themselves.

Safe - Monasteries and convents don't suffer from high crime rates.

Keep in mind

Curfew: Aaaak! The major drawback to convent and monastery lodging is the curfew. You can find yourself locked out if you're not back by a certain hour. And generally the time is earlier than what most tourists are used to.

Food: Many monasteries offer breakfast and this is usually included in the daily rate. Many more offer lunch and dinner.

Reservations: Check out the following links which can get you started on your travelling plans.

Monastery Stays(www.monasterystays.com ) is a reservation service with more than 300 property listings in Italy.

The Bridgettine Sisters(www.brigidine.org ) operate guesthouses in 18 countries, including Denmark, England, Germany, Italy, Poland, the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland.

The American Catholic Church's Santa Susanna website (www.santasusanna.org ) provides a list of lodgings in Assisi, Florence, Rome and Venice

Consider sleeping in a monastery on your next vacation or convent on your next trip to Italy or abroad. It can be just what you're looking for - not only in terms of savings but also by adding a touch of something different to your itinerary!