Apartments

We have rented apartments all over Italy, although not yet in Firenze. I can tell you we consider it essential when we are somewhere for more than a couple of nights, and economical to boot! We love to keep water, yogurt, fruit, coffee, on hand, and enjoy having more than a bed to sit on, especially for a long stay. VRBO.com and Homelidays.com have been great resources for finding apartments, and Trip Advisor has a good list too. (Found a gem in Spello, Umbria through TA.)

I agree that an apartment would be better, both from a financial standpoint (usually) and it will be more comfortable. I use vrbo.com and homeaway.com to find apartments. I have rented an apartment for as little as two nights. I didn't stay in an apartment in Florence so can't recommend one. Will you have a car during your time there? Florence is not a good place for a car. With a car I would base myself outside of Florence. We spent time outside of Florence when we had the car, then turned it in and spent a couple of nights in town.

No, no car. Thanks so much for these suggestions.

We spent a week in an apartment two summers ago two blocks from the duomo, and it was wonderful and reasonable. Here's the site:
http://www.residenzarondinelli.it/eng/apartment2+2.php

I'd also check the airbnb website for an apartment. Maybe something like this: http://www.airbnb.com/rooms/341907
No, don't work for airbnb, haven't stayed here, simply like each place I've secured through them when I've traveled. Just another option to research.

It's all about the "etc." in your question. Apartments have much lower overhead than hotels, so yes, they're going to be less expensive. The trade-off is that you don't usually get the same level of support (help in making reservations, etc.) I enjoy interacting with front desk staff and hosts when we're in Italy, so I prefer small hotels or B&Bs to renting an apartment. But there's no one-size-fits-all when it comes to travel.

Michael,
That's a good point. With an ap't, I guess I'll be relying on the visitors center...and Rick Steves' handbook.

The apartments I have rented have come with guidebooks, plus I have my own. I have researched the cities i am staying in. I have never relied on hotel staff or B&B host to make reservations for me. I think that the pros of renting an apartment, especially for s stay of your length, outweighs the cons. As you said Jean, you can always go to the TI.

As Andrea points out, apartments also come with guidebooks as well. In addition, almost every apartment we have ever rented has also had one of three things and usually all three. Most have a personalized custom guide to the neighborhood from the owners. In it they outline spots to eat, markets and grocery stores, farmacia and other points of interest that a visitor might be interested in. We have always picked up keys from either an owner or an agent at check in. they have either met us at the place or walked us in from a meeting point. They have been a great resource as well, pointing out spots etc. Most of the places we have rented have also had a renters' log or journal as well. Where previous renters have made notes about their experiences. Many will give tips and pointers about sights and eateries they frequented. We have never really relied on hotels or staff for reservations either. We enjoy apartments for the feeling of living like a local more than any cost savings.

We stayed in an apartment in the Oltrano (across the river), which is a much more peaceful area than in tourist central. I would highly recommend that area.