Last minute trip...heading to Florence

So no TI open at 5:30 PM on a Friday? That B&B looks nice, but doesn't seem set up for a Mother and her 2 adult children...Saves so much money if we can get a family room..I love that in Germany and Austria you just get off the train and can go to the TI to get a room...Italy isn't set up that way? Thank you

Are you going to Florence without a hotel or B & B reservation? If so, arriving at 5:30 p.m. without a hotel nailed down is a little ballsy. A lot of privately owned hotels/B & Bs don't have anyone on duty but half a day. Try "Il Salotto Di Firenze" located at Piazza Duomo. Ask Alessandro if he has any rooms available. He can arrange to be there when you arrive late in the afternoon. http://www.ilsalottodifirenze.it/en/index.php

Do you have Internet access? Is it too late to go online and look at some hotels and book a room before you arrive?

As I recall, there is a TI inside the train station. As soon as you arrive at the Santa Maria Novella train station, you'll find it to the left of the McDonalds inside the station. It should still be open at 5.30pm because if I remember correctly it is for last minute accommodations. I just looked at the local tourism office to see hours but it is not listed as one of their information points so it might not be actually run by the city. The official city office is outside and across the main square at Piazza Stazione 4 and their hours say it is open Monday through Saturday from 8.30-19 so it should be open when you arrive.

Lourdes: Thank you for taking the time to share your local knowledge with us. We get many questions about Florence here, and posts by you and Anthony (our other Florence resident who posts here) are especially helpful to those of us on this travel board who are only visitors.

Arco Antico is a nice B and B near the train station and owner Matteo is very good at helping navigate the city. It is located on Piazzale Aurelio 7, just a 3 minute walk from SMN train station. We were there 2 weeks ago. Price is very reasonable and the breakfast is unbelievable!!!

Thank you so much for the responses..We got a confirmation from Bookings.com to later find out from the hotel that they were booked..Marco from that hotel is now helping find us a room...Thank you again for all the help...

You're very welcome! Lauren: Booking.com generally only gives you results with availability and I've found it useful for last minute bookings. If Marco doesn't find something for you, definitely try the TI when you arrive!