Palazzo Guicciardini

Our room was spacious and beautiful, with a classy interior that captured the Renaissance feel. The bathroom was large and had a nice shower, though the bidet was flimsy and not fixed to the floor. The room was quite dark despite the portable lamps. We also only got one key. YouTube was available on the TV, which was a plus. We spent two nights here. The first surprise was that the hotel’s name on Google Maps was wrong, so we went to the wrong address. Booking calls it Palazzo Guicciardini, while Google lists Palazzo Bardi Guicciardini. We eventually found the right place. Arriving by car was a bigger concern. In other ZTL zones (Zona Traffico Limitato), hotels have taken my plate number and registered it so I wouldn’t get fined entering the zone. Here, they said a garage would “arrange” to pick up the car and take it to parking. I didn’t know where it would be kept, who would drive it, or what intentions they might have. I’m the only person insured to drive it, so I asked reception to register the plate instead, as four other hotels had done during our road trip. The receptionist said only the “garage” could enter it in the system. She gave me the garage street name but no number, and said I’d need to leave the keys there “for safety reasons.” I refused, parked outside the ZTL zone and took a taxi to the hotel. I paid 3 euro per hour at Parcheggio Oltrarno | Firenze Parcheggi. At least I knew where my car was, what was happening to it, and had the key. It’s not a bad hotel, but in Florence you’re better off arriving by taxi than by car.

The rooms are stunning, with the look and grandeur of a royal palace. Housekeeping was impeccable, the minibar had a good selection, and the towels were excellent. At €250 per night, though, a few service and comfort issues need attention. Parking wasn’t clearly explained when we booked. Booking.com indicated it was included, but the car is taken to an off-site location, and someone drives it around to make room for vehicles entering or leaving. It costs €35 per day, which we hadn’t expected. Communication at reception was difficult because the staff spoke very little English. On arrival, the receptionist couldn’t provide a company invoice and seemed surprised that I’d asked. English-speaking staff who can handle this would improve the service. The air conditioning kept switching itself back on, leaving the room uncomfortably cold at night, and there was nobody available to help after 8 PM. The bedding was awkward too. The blanket sits between two sheets instead of inside a duvet cover, and it came apart during the night, leaving us against the duvet. The pillows were long, thin and too firm, so we slept on the decorative ones because no one was there to bring alternatives. The hotel is beautiful and clean, but fixing these basics would make a real difference.

Nice room, but the breakfast got repetitive and the staff seemed a bit chaotic. I’ve added more detail in the room, safety and other sections below.

Nicholas welcomed us when we arrived and guided us through check-in, explaining everything we needed to make the stay comfortable. He was friendly, professional and thorough. The property is beautiful and meticulously maintained, and the amenities helped make the visit unforgettable. The service exceeded what we expected. We couldn’t have asked for a better stay and can’t wait to return!