Hotel Palazzo Borghini

Private parking was the one good thing for us. The receptionist seemed reluctant to speak English and kept talking in Italian. After a day of travel and sightseeing, we were tired the next morning, but were woken at 10. We left the room around 11, and when we got back that night it hadn’t been made up. We hadn’t been properly told about the cleaning schedule. There were also a few bugs despite the mosquito nets. The TV is tiny, there’s no elevator, and the stairs are narrow.

The room was clean and spacious, there was enough personal parking for cars, and bus no. 1 connects with the main train station. The staff don’t know English. There’s no lift, so getting to the top floor is difficult. The kitchen was dirty and so disconnected that I didn’t feel like cooking there. They also provided too little soap and shampoo, just one small packet per adult per day.

We were very happy with our three-night stay. The hotel is extremely clean and the staff are welcoming and kind. It’s also a great deal for Florence, with well-priced local spots nearby. Down the street, a bar serves evening aperitivo for 3,50€ with a glass of wine; further along in Libertà, Perseus and L’Antico de Tito serve T-bone steaks. There are several bus stops close by for getting downtown. Buy tickets ahead at a tobacco shop, since you need a stamped ticket on the bus. A local warned us the inspectors are real ‘meanies’, though we never met them. If you come by car, free parking is a fantastic perk.

The staff were very helpful, and the room was lovely, well equipped, and very clean. There’s secure parking, and the main town is about a 35-40 minute walk away. That’s manageable, or there’s a bus route right outside. A+.