Hotel Benivieni

The location is perfect for seeing the sights, and the price was good. We booked a room for two, then got a free upgrade to a room worth double because it was the quiet season, which we really appreciated. The hotel also let us leave our luggage there before check-in and again before our train home.

The cafe next door was the only good part for us, with friendly staff, great coffee, and croissants. The hotel is just steps from the Duomo, but we won't return. The manager was crude, rude, and obnoxious, and right from the start his remarks made us feel unwelcome. He objected to taking the hotel tax by credit card, saying he wouldn't give money to the government and that we had to pay cash. When we asked how to turn on the AC, he said an “environmental law” meant it couldn't be used until June. We were there in hot May, even though our Booking.com description said AC was provided. We messaged Booking.com for help, and customer care contacted the property right away. When we came into the lobby, the manager confronted me up close in a threatening way, asking why I'd complained and whether I hadn't told them he'd upgraded our room. I explained that the extra single bed was no use to me, and that I'd paid for an air-conditioned room but couldn't turn on the AC. I hadn't complained to Booking.com, just asked them to help me get air conditioning. It worked and the AC was turned on, but we felt so uncomfortable that we packed a day early, wishing checkout had come sooner. The manager also said luggage storage cost about €5.00/hour.

Owners treat you like family here, and their cappuccino is heavenly. The wine is excellent too, the kind locals drink. The rooms are cozy and clean, with free Wi-Fi. Ben Cafe is inside the hotel, serving very good food at more than reasonable prices. You're close to historic sights, restaurants, and shops, and the area is pedestrian-friendly and very well-patrolled.

The manager's attitude made us feel unwelcome, though the rest of the staff were great. We were a group using three rooms, and every bathroom had an enclosed shower with a window, only 20 inches by 20 inches. It was impossible to bend down and wash our feet. The building itself is impressive, lovely outside and a real jewel inside. Its location in Firenze is ideal: the town is small, most places are within a 15-minute radius, and many sights are just a five-minute walk from the hotel. Checkout at 10am felt like a rush, and we were planning to spend the rest of the day in town before our flight. A big lobby sign saying guests can't use the facilities after checkout seemed completely ridiculous and unwelcoming.