Hotel Martelli

The room smelled awful, and the beds were uncomfortable. The HVAC didn't help, while opening the windows for even five minutes let in mosquitoes. The glass was too thin to block the street noise, which went on past midnight and kept recurring until 3 a.m. as people came home. I arrived a bit early and was told I could check in, so I had to pay before seeing the room. Then they said it wasn't ready and told me to come back at check-in time. When I returned, the room felt about the size of a prison cell. The location and the false impression of a bargain seem to be the only things keeping this place going. Unless you're not planning to sleep there, avoid it. However cheap it is, I don't think it's worth the money. Read the other reviews, or at least learn from my mistake.

Getting around was easy from here, just a few minutes from most of the historic center. Santa Maria Novella Station was about 10 minutes away, and the tram ride to the airport took 35 minutes. The staff were very kind, and breakfast had a good range of choices. The room, hallways, and breakfast area were all very clean and well kept.

The towels were dirty, and the included breakfast wasn't worth having. There was a strong sewage smell as soon as we arrived, and the place looked nothing like the pictures we'd booked from. Some kind of leather covering on top of the bed smelled so bad that I woke up several times. Think carefully before booking. Even an average hostel would be better.

The rooms were a little small, and breakfast was very basic. I also don't understand why I had to leave my room key at reception each time I went out. It wasn't such a bad hotel, but for this price it could be a bit better.