Hotel recommendation in Florence

Il Villino, www.ilvillino.it/. It's become quite popular so book ASAP.

I just stayed at Hotel Il Bargellino for four nights May 2-6. They have several beautiful rooms that look out onto Carmel and Pino's wonderful terrace. They have 3 rooms that have airconditioning at the moment. It's just a short walk from the Train station and although they do not include breafast, each room has a refrigerator and there is a market around the block that works perfectly for purchasing breakfast and lunch items.

Booking way in advance is key as everything seems to book up quickly from April through October so it seems.

I will be staying at the hotel Savoy. It's suppose to be a wonderful hotel. You can check out www.concierge.com for superior hotels in the area. Also www.fodors.com has many hotels with comments from people that stayed in them.

Pitti Palace just at the end of the Ponte Vecchio. Lovely area with nice little bars and food shops. The hotel has everything you need - air conditioning, internet access, good breakfast and is very clean and staff are good. The bonus is a roof top terrace that overlooks the the town and the Duomo. All the major sights are in walking distance. Would definately stay there again.

We loved Residenza Giotto, a Rick Steves recommended bed and breakfast (the breakfast is pitiful--prepackaged croissants and a coffee maker in the room--but eating it on the rooftop terrace was nice). We loved staying in an apartment building and feeling like temporary locals, and the location is fabulous, right next to the baptistry in the center of town. We walked everywhere. Our room was beautiful, and the manager was very friendly and professional.

We stayed several nights in the Hotel Sienna in Florence and loved it. Very clean, very friendly, very comfy. Used to be a convent ages ago so the rooms are not huge, but the place has an elevator! :) Breakfasts were yummy--fresh fruit, yogurt, eggs, meats, cheeses, rolls, cereal, granola, hot drinks, cold drinks. Our room faced the river, which was fun.
The Hotel is within easy walking distance of the Pitti Palace, the bridge, lots of little shops and restaurants.

Hotel Ensa. Recommended in Rick Steves, and available at www.venere.com. Ten min walk from train station, ten min walk to duomo, six min walk to Accademia (David). Nice English-speaking people working there. Free internet. I stayed there a few weeks ago for four nights and loved it.

We loved the Palazzo Niccolini Duomo. Also right next to the Duomo in a wonderful location. Luxurious beautiful room, great breakfast, helpful desk. All this comes at a steep price. (300 euros)

That should be Hotel ENZA (not Ensa) in Firenze. I will stay there next time I'm in that city.

I can also endorse Hotel Enza. Easy to/from train station and all major sights. Need to book in advance. They seem to fill up early.

I can not recommend a hotel but there is a great little restaurant near the Ponte Viccho called Buco D' Orfo - maybe mispelled. The street before the bridge to the left. When you enter the restaurant you go down a couple of steps - the food is simple but wonderful. The dishes with fresh porcini is what I had. There is also a great gelato place before you get to the restaurant on the same side of the street - which is the right side of the street.

I recently stayed here for 3 nights & loved it:

Check out their website:

hotelcestelli.com

Set in a 16th century building near the Arno/Ponte S. Trinita (one bridge west of the Ponte Vecchio).

Lovely owners; very special place; terrific location.

Good luck!

Oh yes, definitely Il Villino. It was a lovely place with hosts that were wonderfully friendly and helpful. It was also SO much cheaper than most of the other nice places we investigated it just sounded to good to be true...and it WAS!

San Lorenzo B and B was excellent. They have 3 rooms and are very accomodating. The breakfast was tops and included for a change.

Good Luck and have fun!