La Bella Casa del Cuoco

Really good, top-notch.

I stayed three days and really didn't want to leave, though my next trip was to Rome. If I get the chance, I'll come to Florence again and stay here. The guest house is lovely. The host is warm and welcoming, and speaks five languages, so communication is easy. Everything is spotless and nicely decorated, the beds are big and comfortable, and the kitchen has everything you need. I highly recommend it.

For €62 a night, the €20 I'd have saved by staying elsewhere wouldn't have been worth putting up with this. The apartment was run-down, with dated furniture, dirty stained sheets, bugs on the mattress, dusty carpets and shelves, and pillows that smelled damp. Towels were dirty, the hairdryer didn't work, and the shared bathroom felt unhygienic. I can't say how long it had been since it was cleaned, given all the hair and dust in the shower and bidet. The kitchen where she makes the meager breakfast was embarrassingly clean, especially for someone called a "chef." The chef kindly offered us a glass of orange juice that was dirty, a meager coffee, and delicious butter that had expired in June. At first the owner seemed very friendly, but became quite intrusive over time. There was no privacy. The Wi-Fi didn't work either, which is a big problem when the "hotel" is literally in the middle of nowhere and you can't get to Florence for an evening out without a car. For the same price, you can find a real hotel in a more convenient area, cleaner, with a private bathroom, working Wi-Fi, a generous breakfast, and everything else you might need.

I wouldn't recommend it. I stayed two nights in February and was completely frozen because the owner didn't seem to understand that the heating needed to stay on. I gave them five hours' notice to warm the room, but still had to sleep fully dressed with my hood over my head. By morning, all my clothes were damp and the room was freezing. The towels were dirty, too.