Relais Tosinghi

The location is the one thing that deserves five stars, just around the corner from the cathedral. Otherwise, the price felt nowhere near justified by what we got, and we wouldn't book again. We were misled by the positive reviews, though some older ones had the same view as us. This place occupies two or three floors of an ordinary apartment building and feels more like a shared flat than a hotel. Several lockable rooms share each floor, and you can hear almost everything going on there. The building smelled bad when we entered, which I suspect is an old-city issue rather than the hotel's fault. Reception is on the third floor, reached by stairs or elevator, but you have to climb at least a few steps before you can get to the lift from the ground floor. The internet in our room was so poor we couldn't use it. Check-in ends at 17:00; they kindly extended it by two hours, but it still felt more like an Airbnb key pickup than a hotel. There's no breakfast at the hotel.

Giovanni's customer service was wonderful. He shared lots of ideas for restaurants and things to do away from the usual tourist spots. The room was small but suited us perfectly. In the historic building, it felt cosy and inviting, with natural stone and a wood-beam ceiling. It's a great base for walking to places, and we'd definitely stay again.

The receptionist was so kind, recommended some great restaurants, and helped us work out what to do with our luggage. The room was spacious and very clean, with comfortable beds and a large bathroom. There's A/C and a kettle, plus a little window looking down onto the street. It does mean climbing lots of stairs, but it's a historic building with a cool elevator. Best stay of our holiday so far. 10/10, we'd return. Thanks for making it so enjoyable.

The standout for me was the service. Everyone was truly kind and attentive, and ready to help with whatever we needed. They even offered to carry our bags up the stairs, which made those steps no problem. At Relais Tosinghi, the rooms were stylish, clean, and really comfortable, and the location is unbeatable, right in the middle of Florence, close to everything. If you're after great service and a central spot, this is the place.