We have decided to splurge a bit on our 4 nights in Florence and are considering 2 hotels:
Hotel Santa Maria Novella and Palazzo Niccolini al Duomo.
I have read all the reviews online and both sound fantastic with very few negatives.
We are looking for good location, charm/character, good bkft, spacious rooms, views, etc.
Can anyone offer input on these 2 hotels or suggest others in Florence that would fit the bill?
Budget is flexible but thinking up to $300 a night.
I have not stayed in either of those, but I did stay in Hotel California in 2010. It was recently renovated at the time and was very nice. Convenient location just up the street from the Duomo, and not far from the train station and other places to visit. The breakfast was closer to American style (fuller, eggs, cheese, meats, etc) than typical Italian ones. Spacious rooms (I was in a 4 person room but I assume others are similar). I don't know the price but I think it might be around your budget.
Thanks Devon-
I wish Hotel California was in our budget- it is almost $500 for a double!
Also looking at Grand Hotel Baglioni- anyone stayed there? -it's probably a much larger hotel than we'd normally like...
When are you going? Our favorite hotel is Hotel Balestri on the Arno near the Uffizi. It is closed until Spring this year for renovations, but it is a gorgeous low-key hotel with wonderful breakfast. Terrific views along the riverside rooms, but the gems are the top floor rooms, especially 503. There is a shared deck up there as well, with a view of the Duomo, the Bargello, the Santa Croce, and more. Room 503 also has a tiny private balcony with a view of Piazza Michelangelo.
Hotel Balestri is closed thru Sept 2014. We will be there 8/30-9/3.
I may have found what I was looking for and it is not as "splurgy" as I thought I'd need to spend
Loggiato Dei Serviti- right there in RS guide!
I can get superior double for about $220 a nite.
Looks wonderful, RS stays there I guess.
Good quiet location, comfort/character, HUGE rooms, etc.
Most of the reviews on here are rather dated- has anyone stayed there more recently?
Posh and Under $300 in Florence?
Ponte Vecchio Suites and Spa on via de Belfredelli.
My wife and her sister stayed there advised by my cousin who lives 50 feet from it.
This is new, amazingly posh and unknown to even most Florentines.
Let's keep it secret, so shhhhhhhhh! before Rick Steves finds out.
Sorry, Christine! I was on a trip through my university, so I didn't know what the cost of each hotel was ;) Roberto's suggestion seems great though!
That's OK Dawn- hey that is a splurgy university!
Roberto- that place does look fabulous but I don't think the spa atmosphere is for us.
Right now I am settled on Loggiato dei Serviti- unless someone tells me otherwise. The only negative I can see is wifi is only in public spaces- I think we can handle that.
My husband is 6'5" so I am just trying to find a few places where he won't have to worry about whacking his head on doorways or ceiling or hang mostly off a tiny bed!
It is not necessarily posh but looks like a lot of character and perhaps a quieter/closer area than Santa Maria della Novella. Plus it's less than I thought we'd have to spend.
I know Santa Maria is near train station but it seems a bit out of the way to me.
Hi Christine,
A good place to stay is the Hotel Cellai on Via XXVII Aprile, Number 14. They start around a 100 US, but have real nice suites at 180 US and up. 3 blocks from the train station, 3, maybe 4 blocks from the Duomo. Daniel runs it, and is a great host. There are a plethora of small bars, restaurants, and pizza places between the hotel and the train station that are local, and inexpensive. Also, there are small, not so busy sites nearby, where you can buy tickets for all the big sites, and not wait in lines. If you have a car, they have a parking garage two blocks away, and will valet it.
I stayed at Loggiato Dei Serviti in November, 2013. Fantastic location just a few minutes walk from the Duomo and just behind the Accademia. Very nice hotel with lots of "old world" character, friendly and helpful staff, great breakfast, comfortable and spacious rooms, our room was in the back (number 19 I believe) and was VERY quite. A couple of grocery stores and a laundry mat are within a minute or two walk. This is my favorite hotel out of a dozen or so I have stayed in throughout Italy.
Just stayed at Hotel Pendini last weekend and it was fabulous. Great off-season prices, FWIW, but would be a splurge for us at high season rates. Rooms have old world charm, nicely renovated bathrooms, and there's a nice breakfast buffet. Very quiet, large rooms, WIFI good everywhere. Nice common lounge area, too. It is 5 minutes from the Duomo on Piazza della Repubblica.
mockstew- can you clarify the wifi service at Loggiato?
Was it available in the rooms or only in public spaces? It is very unclear on their website
Thanks
Wifi is included in the room price and works very well in the rooms (as I said we were in the back and had no problems with reception), they give you the password at the registration desk.
