Hotel Abaco

The location worked very well for seeing the Florence sights, all a quick walk away. The service was neither good nor bad, and the Raphael-themed room looked nice and kept out the city noise. The air conditioner leaked badly. I woke to a puddle about 3 by 2 meters across, flowing out around my shoes, which I’d left by the door under the AC. Luckily, it didn’t reach my bags, and the shoes were still wearable on the plane. The bed wasn’t comfortable, and the king-size setup was just two twin mattresses and two frames pushed together. Since I sleep in the middle, I separated the frames and fell about 40 cm between them at 1 a.m. The mattress came along, so I wasn’t hurt, but there are nicer ways to wake up.

The staff tried to be accommodating, though there wasn’t much they could do about the state of the place. Breakfast in the front hall was one croissant, one bun, and one coffee per person. For what we paid, I wish we’d stayed somewhere else. The location is excellent, but the value and experience were poor. We spent two nights at hotel Abaco last month. It’s only a few minutes on foot from the main sights, but the property is undeniably old and smelled throughout, especially in the bathroom. On entering, we wondered if we could go elsewhere, but nothing was refundable. Paint was peeling badly, the door wood was barely holding together, and there was no inside lock. The extra beds were a joke. The bathroom was cramped, the shower barely usable, and the water pressure almost nonexistent. WiFi was down half the time, and some phones couldn’t connect at all.

The staff were warm and helpful, and made us feel at home. We enjoyed the tasty breakfast, and our cozy room worked just as it should. Decorated in a Renaissance theme, this little hotel was a great choice for our third visit to Florence. The location couldn’t be better, and the price was affordable.

The hotel’s best feature is its location: every major sight is walkable. We visited in high season and found the price competitive, though you’re mainly paying for where it is. There are about three flights of stairs and no lift. The owners don’t speak much English, which is fine, but worth knowing. We’d recommend Hotel Abaco to people who understand what they’re booking and don’t need fast WiFi or concierge service. Our stay was memorable, and definitely unlike the usual hotel experience. The Renaissance artist names for the rooms and the old-fashioned decor gave us a kick. There’s plenty of old-time charm, but the place is old. Our keys were left on a lobby hook as promised, but nobody was at reception to greet us. The room was fine, and the air conditioning was welcome on 90-degree days. Like other guests, we found the bathroom extremely small and badly in need of maintenance. Breakfast was basic, just breads, juice, and coffee. WiFi was strong near reception but unusable in the room.