Hotels

My partner and I travelled to Florence in mid August and stayed at the Grand Hotel Mediterraneo for nine nights. We wanted a place to stay that was near to the city so that we could explore. It took... more

My partner and I travelled to Florence in mid August and stayed at the Grand Hotel Mediterraneo for nine nights. We wanted a place to stay that was near to the city so that we could explore. It took around twenty minutes stroll to the centre, which was just fine as there was a lot to see during the walk. The hotel is situated opposite the Arno river - a beautiful setting, opposite a little park that provided us with endless hours of relaxation time when our feet hurt from all the walking!!! There is a bus stop to Florence about two minutes walk from the hotel. From the outside, you wouldn't expect the impressive lobby, or the stylish interior. The hotel inside was absolutely lovely. I understand it has been recently refurbished to a very high standard and both my partner and I were very pleased with our room on the top floor. Other guests we spoke to also said that they were very happy with the hotel. We had spectacular views of the whole of Florence and to the left, the Tuscan hills. The view as we woke up in the morning was incredible and the sunsets that we witnessed while we sat on the balcony were second to none. The staff were fantastic - friendly, polite and bent over backwards to accommodate their guests. The lady who cleaned our room always wore a smile which always helps to set the day off. Breakfast was good with a hot and continental buffet. The service in the restaurant and the bar was excellent with all staff being very professional and welcoming - a very well run team of people. There was also a lovely buffet meal on every evening in the restaurant. The American Bar also offered food in a more informal setting and we spent many hours there chatting with the members of staff who were lovely. I nearly forgot - there is a gorgeous pizzeria next door to the hotel (hotel owns it) which we were very impressed with - once again we got excellent service. By the end of the nine nights, both my partner and I said that we felt like we were part of a family. We loved our experience so much that as soon as we came back to England we booked to go to the hotel again. Having travelled a great deal, we have realised that what makes a holiday unforgettable is good surroundings, good food and the people that you meet along the way. We were fortunate to have found this gem of a hotel - apparently the largest in Florence. My advice is that you go to this hotel and enjoy it. If you encounter any minor problems, then talk with someone gently. Don't go shouting and moaning - that only puts people's backs up. Hotels don't intentionally go out of their way to irritate their guests. I won't embarass staff by mentioning names here, but we did email the hotel to let them know that we loved the holiday and to thank every single member of staff for their friendliness and professionalism. We will be seeing them again very soon! I have no hesitation in recommending this hotel to anyone. I am willing to be contacted to share experiences about this hotel. J Austin from Staffordshire Close

We were very impressed by the appearance of the hotel. Our room, a standard triple, was very clean and a good size. We found the staff very helpful, they provided some local information and also... more

We were very impressed by the appearance of the hotel. Our room, a standard triple, was very clean and a good size. We found the staff very helpful, they provided some local information and also booked tours. On balance then, the breakfast was only ok not as good as it could have been. Our room was on the first floor near one of the stairwells which meant a lot of traffic from guests and staff, this lasted well into the evening and started again very early in the morning. One evening we decided to try the buffet, a deal running throughout August, again the choice was very limited and the quality could have been better. Overall we found the hotel to be a good base to explore Florence, some elements of the hotel exceeded our expectations while others didn't quite stretch. We would recommend the hotel but with exceptions. Close

This is Florence's biggest hotel and is set up for coach parties but don't let that put you off. For the price we paid, this is excellent. The rooms are comfortable but small- we asked to move from... more

This is Florence's biggest hotel and is set up for coach parties but don't let that put you off. For the price we paid, this is excellent. The rooms are comfortable but small- we asked to move from the first room allocated to us (on the 5th floor)as there was a smell of stale smoke so ended up on the first floor. The reception area is comfortable and welcoming with a buzz- the bar has a nice balcony overlooking the road and Arno river.We took breakfast on one morning ( at an additional cost of 12 euro as our deal was room only) which was average. We also took the buffet one evening (cost 20 euro)which was better with good selection of hot and cold dishes and attentive staff.If you want a better dining experience, turn left ( away from city centre) and 300m on you right is Chalet Bellariva- an authentic Tuscany restaurant on the banks of the Arno - their fish dishes were well cooked and both quality and quantity were good. The hotel staff were friendly, helpful and unobtrusive- they will book tickets for the Uffizi gallery for you and provide a basic map of the city. It's easy to walk to all the sights and you can cross the Ponte Vecchio , explore the Boboli gardens and take the gentle climb to Piazzale Michelangelo for a wonderful view of the city- before finishing off with a pint of stout in the James Joyce on Lungarno Fransesc Ferrucci. Close

When I was in Florence I decide to stay for my two nights stay at Grand Hotel Mediterraneo . At the first site the hotel looks old and that it need a good renovation. We stay at a double bed room... more

When I was in Florence I decide to stay for my two nights stay at Grand Hotel Mediterraneo . At the first site the hotel looks old and that it need a good renovation. We stay at a double bed room with arno river view which I pay 10 euro per night extra to have this view. When I enter the room I see a nice room with a TFT TV and a nice big bed, bathroom was not very good but when I see from the window what didn’t I see! The river! I must tell you that if you book a room with arno river view I must say that from the second floor that I stay you didn’t see the river all you see is the trees from the park across the street. The major problem is the sound! This walls must be made from paper! You can hear everything and because this is one the biggest hotels in Florence lot of groups of tourist come at this hotel and it is very croudy. Also I want to tell you if you travel by car ( like I did ) do not park it at the underground parking. They made a big scratch at my cars back door and ofcourse they didn’t say a thing. I thing that you can find a better hotel in Florence with this money (74 euros with breakfast). Close

I visited this hotel (1 night) during a tour of Europe, Traditional Europe, organized by Trafalgar. We travelled as a group and I always shared a room with my boyfriend. Our room was very small... more

I visited this hotel (1 night) during a tour of Europe, Traditional Europe, organized by Trafalgar. We travelled as a group and I always shared a room with my boyfriend. Our room was very small but clean. The bathroom was modern and pleasant to use. It was very crowded at breakfast in the restaurant. There was enough food for everyone, but not a lot of space to move around. I assume they catter to a lot of organized tours. Close