Hotel Magenta

It only took a couple of minutes to walk into the old town from the hotel, and the staff were helpful. Breakfast was good for the price, with fresh coffee and cappuccino. Our room had plenty of space and was clean, and the bed was comfortable, though the blanket felt too thin for me. That's apparently common in Italian hotels. The bathroom was tidy but cramped, with nowhere to put even our toiletries.

I left after about 20 minutes and found another hotel nearby, so I never spent the night. When I tried to explain why, the manager was dismissive and defensive instead of helping. The online pictures gave a very misleading impression: the room looked different, was dusty and badly cleaned, and had stained walls and chipped or broken furniture. It felt neglected and unhygienic. For the high price, the quality was far below a decent standard. This was one of my most disappointing hotel stays. There are cleaner, better run places in the area, and I strongly recommend staying elsewhere.

The people working there were welcoming and really helpful, and the breakfast, while not especially large, was tasty and enough for us. It's a quiet, family-run place not far from Santa Maria Novella station or the Arno, with Florence's main sights around a 10-15 minute walk away. Our room was on the small side, but the bathroom was clean and everything worked, which hasn't always been true on my other trips in Italy. Don't expect much in the way of luxuries, but it's a decent choice for a few days. Be sure to say hello to the lovely dog at reception.

We felt completely comfortable leaving the car in the hotel's parking lot across the street, since it had a large, secure gate. The hotel itself is right in central Florence, with modern, stylish interiors and everything spotlessly clean. Staff were friendly and helpful the whole time. Although it's beside the road, the insulation kept all the noise out, which worked especially well for our family and for light sleepers. A great place to stay, highly recommended.