First and foremost, this hotel has to be given some major leniency in any review simply based on its location. I'm sure you're aware - but just to hammer it home - it is on some prime Florentine real estate. Sharing a cozy road with the 5 star Savoy Hotel and less than a 2 minute walk from Il Duomo (even if you crawl slowly on hands and knees), any nit-picking I may have done if it were located elsewhere, I'll forgive.
Having read the onslaught of horrible reviews I booked anyways. Partly because I spent all my extra money on other holidays earlier this year and partly because I thought it worth the gamble based on its location. The gamble paid off, but I think it was only because I made certain I at least had a good hand before my arrival.
To avoid the common complaint many have made about being sent packing to a sister property, I emailed the hotel prior to my arrival. TWICE. Once immediately after booking to let them know I had read the reviews, would be writing a review, and would not accept accommodation elsewhere; and a second time 5 days before my arrival to reconfirm that. Both received gracious replies confirming I would only be in the "main house". When I arrived at 1:30am (Never again, Ryanair! Never again!) without any issue they told me I was in room 508. When I got to room 508 and opened the shutters I almost pooped my pants. A VIEW! Not just a view, a view from a corner room with a small terrace of what I had come to see: Il Duomo. It was glorious.
The hotel has a fabulous rooftop terrace with a sweeping city view. I went up and looked at it once, then didn't go again since I had the same view and my own little terrace from the room. Lucky me!
The room itself was perfectly functional. Yes, the walls were shabby, a light bulb was out, and it was almost stark in its furnishings - but it's a 2 star hotel that gave me a 5 star view. The sheets were clean, the toilet flushed properly, and the water in the sink and shower wasn't an off colour or smell. At a European 2 star hotel, that makes it aces. I cannot comment on the hotel wifi or even state affirmatively that there was/wasn't any because having read prior reviews I assumed it didn't, and rented a satellite personal mobile wifi.
The street noise in the room might be loud for people unaccustomed to old world city living. I live in London so I'm used to it. This is also why I have no complaints regarding the shower size or splashy-ness (my shower at home is the same). Welcome to Europe! The thundering of the bells from Il Duomo at 7:45am and 8am every morning add to the charm of the location. You just have to deal with city noise and an itty bitty shower. Not a big deal.
The breakfast is nothing to either sing or swear at. Very basic automatic machine coffee, bread rolls, and jams. It'll get you to lunch without a belly rumble and if you want something more substantial, the hotel shares a common first floor wall with a lovely cafe (outdoor seating...perfectly Italian!). The waitress/server/helper/bus girl was perfectly amiable and polite. She wasn't overly friendly and didn't speak English - who cares. She brings the bread, she clears the bread. I don't need more than that. At these prices I wouldn't expect more.
Be wary of the hotel city tax that can only be paid in cash. It's 2 Euro a night per person and no matter what your booking or agent tells you, you haven't paid it. When I checked out the otherwise kind reception gent tried to charge me 24 Euro when I only owed 12 , but he also didn't bat an eye in accepting my number without complaint. Can't blame a kid for trying I suppose, but it cost the Medici a star on my review.
All in all I will give this 2 star hotel a score of 4 stars. I am not saying it is a 2 star hotel that resembles more of a 4 star hotel, because it doesn't. It is definitely a 2 star hotel, just one I personally believe is at the high end of average as a 2 star hotel. The view and location are a 5 star slam dunk no matter what star rating it officially has.
To make your stay as pleasurable as mine, I'd politely confirm the main house booking via email twice before arriving, ask for room 508 (which also has a city view from the bathroom), calculate your room tax yourself, and make sure you rent your own personal, portable wifi (I used TEP) before arriving in Italy.
Stayed November 2014 read more