Hotel Astro Mediceo

I booked this because it’s a five-minute walk from a friend’s place, and I’m so glad I did. The shower pressure was fantastic, and the hotel has that charming old-fashioned feel, right down to real keys that turn in the locks. Dario, the host and owner, was attentive. Dinner was yummy, especially the chocolate dessert, which was ridiculously delightful.

The service was what made our two-night stay so good. We had drinks at the bar both evenings, and the lovely man at reception brought out complimentary olives and other snacks. He also offered to help with our bags and was happy to answer questions. Breakfast in the garden room was fabulous, with great service again. We had two rooms for two people each, both spacious with good pillows and air conditioning, which was invaluable in the hot weather. The Duomo is about a 20-minute walk away. Thanks so much!

It’s a quiet area, with no traffic noise or late-night revellers. The room had recently been refurbished, and the lounge and outdoor space are nicely decorated. The hotel and staff were lovely. The downside is the walk to the center, about 30 minutes, and the tram only cuts that by around five minutes.

We kept finding bugs in the room from the moment we arrived, and more turned up every night. When I told reception, she brushed it off as something common in Florence that wouldn’t hurt us. My legs were covered in bites, so that didn’t match our experience. There were spiders as well. With no AC, we sweated all night and couldn’t sleep. When I asked about the air conditioning, the receptionist told me to open the windows. I said mosquitoes would come in, and she just shrugged. The bathroom was gross, with black spots all over it that looked like mold, and no ventilation. Breakfast was awful too, everything tasted old and stale. The restaurant staff were the only decent people we dealt with. They were polite, even though they seemed stressed and overworked. The receptionist was rude and unhelpful throughout. This was a total nightmare of a stay, and the management seemed not to care about guests at all. The conditions were just plain bad. Worst hotel experience ever.