By : Minnie-Online.co.za

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina's tearing through New Orleans, about the first thing that you heard of was how people wanted to get tourists back in so that the city's economy could get back on its feet. In faraway Italy, dotting the countryside all over, are darling little villages that have long since fallen to the ravages of earthquakes and an unreliable economy. The few seniors who still live there, waiting their time out, have no idea how to get their beloved villages back to health.

That's where Italian Ministry of Tourism steps in. The idea is that there should be a great market for the kind of authentic Italian atmosphere that homes in these villages can offer tourists - that if properly promoted, there should be a great market out there for the kind of insight into the real Italian way of life that a stay at any one of these little homes can offer. There would be no need for these towns to look farther than the boarded up homes down the street or around the corner - to offer a bed and breakfast Italy-style experience to the average visitor.

Albergo Diffuso is the special name used to denote bed-and-breakfast, Italy style. It translates into something like a hotel that's spread out. The whole village turns into a B&B. A room here, a room around the corner, and breakfast at a third home. The whole village comes together to make it happen.

These homes in Italy's less-travelled regions like Abruzzo, are gorgeous traditional limestone, with little pointy roofs; and a stay at one of them goes for about $80 a night. A stay provides insight into the rustic way of life adopted by the locals as nothing else can. Wake up to a neighbour praying, children playing with their dogs, to the delightful aromas of cooking in the neighbours’' kitchen, sights and sounds that you could never hope for in a hotel. Your money goes to support the village, and its eco-friendly to turn an existing home into a hotel room rather than to build a whole new hotel.

The idea is really catching on in Europe with Croatia and Spain thinking of converting their historic little villages into tourist sites too with albergo diffusos of their own. The concept is drawing in new investment to help turn these village homes into profitable businesses. Millions of euros have been spent on renovating homes in entire districts into cosy informal hotels.

These bed and breakfast Italy, Spain and Croatia style pads really deserve to be on your shortlist the next time you venture on a European family vacation.