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Florence & Tuscany 2012 Guidebook

Best and worst accommodations:

Best: Katti House, Florence
Why: We felt like we were family when we checked into this charming hotel, which was an easy walk from the train station, and close to shops and tourist sights. The owner, a stereotypical Italian Mama, who did not speak English, was patient with our broken Italian and gave us several sight-seeing tips to assist during out stay. The room was huge, with the beauty of big wooden beams in the ceiling, charmingly appinted, and looked out onto a pedestrian street below - a wonderful place to perch and observe locals and tourists.

Marlys in Mahomet, IL USA 01/11/2012

Best: Apartment
Why: We stayed at an apartment which was great for traveling with kids. We saved money on dinner, and didn't have evening meltdowns in a public place when people were tired. Also, Florence is so small, it's hard to have an inconvenient location.

Carol Losos in Jersey City, NJ USA 01/02/2012

Best: Residenza il Villino, Florence
Why: Lovely B & B within walking distance of the Duomo. We particularly enjoyed the outdoor patio. Sergio was delightful and extremely helpful as was his son. His wife makes fantastic tarts for breakfast. Would most definately stay here again.

Lawrence in Surprise, AZ USA 12/18/2011

Best: Palazzina Cesira, Montalcino and Oblate Sisters of the Assumption, Florence.
Why: At Palazzina Cesira, Lucilla and Roberto take very good care of you including dinner reservations and delicious breakfast omelets using the yummy local cheeses. The Oblate Sisters offer a clean, quiet, restful ambience, including a lovely garden, which we needed while we were in crowded Florence.

Chuck&Merilee Hill in Chehalis, WA USA 10/24/2011

Best: Soggiorno Annamaria
Why: This was first trip to Italy and I was traveling alone. Finding Maria and Katti House/ Soggiorno Annamaria at the very last moment was a godsend. Maria took me in with a warm and welcoming attitude that appreciated after a very long day. Beautiful large room, large bathroom, shower was perfect with excellent water pressure. I highly recommend staying here on your next visit, I know I will.

Jennifer B. in Menasha, WI USA 10/19/2011

Best: Casa Santo Nome Di Jesu, Florence
Why: This was the most peaceful, clean and quiet place we stayed. We felt very safe and leaving our documentation in our rooms was also safe to do. Beautiful restful garden and common rooms, good breakfast and cheerful helpful staff. A great place to stop and rest and breathe easy in the midst of a busy schedule. Would definately go back to stay.

Marie Canada 10/09/2011

Best: Katti House Hotel
Why: This is our 2nd stay at Katti house and we absolutely had the best experience 2 times in a row. We booked directly with Katti house at an agreed price. Unfortunately we overheard a heated one sided argument from a person who booked through an agency and did not want to pay the full booking agency's price. The staff was very patient and explained that the price that the agency charged had to be paid since a fee has to be paid by Katti house to the agency.

Rick and fellow travelers, beware of a possible upcoming comment by this "person". He argued loudly that he should not be paying the agency rate. Instead he refused to understand the difference between direct booking and going through an agency. He may also be dreaming up other complaints just because he wants to add negative critiques. Just ignore this cranky man !!!!

Katti house remains our number 1 choice in Florence.

M&M, 7 October 2011

Mike in Raleigh, NC USA 10/07/2011

Best: Katti House
Why: I loved this place! The rooms were clean, the owners were so friendly and helpful with all our requests. This place was perfect and located in the heart of Florence. We were able to walk everywhere.

Janice Brzoticky in Wolf Creek, MT USA 10/03/2011

Best: Kattihouse
Why: Affordable, clean and great location

Pamela Robinson in Chico, Ca USA 10/03/2011

Best: Residenza Il Villino, Florence, Italy
Why: Sergio, Elizabeth and their son could not have been more genuinely concerned about our comfort and joy of visiting Florence. From volunteering and directing us to free parking space saving us over 100 euros to scheduling tours, recommending excellent restaurants and places not to miss. (He even went so far as to take me to our car and follow him back so that I would not get lost.) Our suite was spacious, quiet, clean and beautifully furnished. The morning breakfast in the courtyard provided a great selection with their unparalleled service. I look forward to joining them again.

Worst: Manarola, Italy Luciano
Why: The accommodation were nice, however, Luciano was having reconstruction done on the apartment below us and the pounding, dark hallway and dust made for very uncomfortable conditions. He could have suspended construction during out stay or let us know so we could have stayed elsewhere.

joseph olivo in rocky river, oh USA 09/04/2011

Best: Frances' Lodge - Siena
Why: Wow - where do we start?!? Our initial communications with Franca and Franco was outstanding. We were initially only going to stay in Siena for two nights, but we were encouraged to stay for three nights based on our itinerary of things that we wanted to do which we shared with our hosts via e-mail (ie. tour of Siena, day trip to Florence, Wine tasting, clay hill country, and some time to relax.) They took all of our interests and put together the most incredible adventure!!! Reservations were made for us before we even started our trip so that we had a good idea of what was in store (or so we thought.) ;-)

This kind couple started our unforgettable Siena experience with a warm and gracious welcome upon our arrival into their fabulous Bed & Breakfast / Lodge (they were literally outside waiting to greet us as we drove in!) After we settled into the Moroccan Suite (like something that you would see in a movie with vibrant tapestries and bold colors), they gave us a dinner recommendation in Siena called GuidoRicci, which was absolutely stellar (quaint little restaurant just off the front side of the main palazzo.) The next day they booked a walking tour of Siena for us, which lasted about two hours that was intriguing and informative. After a little lunch we hit the road with a map that Franca and Franco laid out for us through the clay hills where the scenery was breathtaking. We captured a multitude of beautiful pics that look like an artists rendering of what you could only imagine the Tuscany hills to look like. Our drive was timed perfectly to culminate with yet another tour that was arranged for us at a winery called Altesino. A private tasting with some light snacks was followed by our own tour of the winery. We had a short drive back to the lodge where we enjoyed some of the spoils of our winery tour along with some local meats and cheeses as we watched the sun set over this paradise sitting at one of a handful of perches at the Lodge.

The next day was a road trip to Florence. Little did we know that Franca was born and raised in Florence and she knew the city like the back of her hand. After a dynamite breakfast, another map was ready for us with advice on where to park along with the best place to enter the City. Reservations were also arranged for us to take tours of the Uffizzi and Accademia museums which saved us a considerable amount of time judging by the long lines in prime Holiday season. Franca recommended that we end the day with one last stop on the way out of town at San Michelangelo Piazza. We made the trip and pulled up a table at a little cafe overlooking the City as we enjoyed a glass of wine, listened to some romantic music and captured an amazing sunset! (It doesn't get much better than this!)

We had one last incredible breakfast where Franco shared a wealth of information on the Palio after we inquired about it's history! His eyes lit up like the fireworks that we saw in Venice earlier in the week, and it gave so much more meaning to our trip and tour of this incredible area! Franco, out of earshot from Franca mentions, "Franco is the BEST!" He is great, but it is easy to see that this it is a loving team approach in all that they do to make their guests’ feel welcomed and right at home. By the way Franca's homemade jams and honey were scrumptious (should have packed some in our bags.)

The only downside to our stay with Franco and Franca was that we couldn't stay longer. Based upon our experience, we would definitely extend our stay on another trip!

Todd & Mary in Hastings, MN USA 08/14/2011

Best: Katti House in Florence
Why: lovely, nice proprietors, great room service, excellent Trattoria next door, and short walk to everything from the Uffizi to the Academia. Maria will make you reservations for these if you wish.

Matt Knopp in Seattle, WA USA 08/05/2011

Worst: Katti House Florence
Why: We stayed at Katti House in early July, reserving the room through www.booking.com. It was my first experience with this site but after I entered my credit card info, I assumed that the room charge went through (similar to Orbitz, Expedia, etc). On the morning of our departure, we had to leave at 7 am so left the key in the room since the innkeeper was not around. About a week later, someone at Katti House (after some internet research) called my employer to tell them that I "skipped out on the bill". I later recieved a voice mail message from them on my business line that I "better get back here" to pay the bill or else I would be arrested at the airport leaving Italy. Bottom line was that this was an honest mistake and we contacted them with our credit card info within 12 hours of hearing of this. The nicer approached from Katti House would have NOT to have called my employer or threaten my arrest. Skip this place

FH in Laguna Beach, CA USA 08/02/2011

Best: residenzia il villino, Florence
Why: see above

Peter Showler in Ottawa, ON Canada 07/11/2011

Best: Albergo Katti House
Why: Maria and all of the staff were very friendly and accomodating. When we decided to stay a couple extra nights, she made sure we had an air conditioned room (a must during the summer months... a fan ain't cuttin' it) during a busy time when lodging options were sparse. Good value for folks on a budget. Also, the family's recently-opened restaurant downstairs, Trattoria Katti, served up tasty Tuscan classics with welcoming service and at good prices. Very convenient when your "Uffizzies" just can't take any more walking. ;)

Dan Kaufman in Los Angeles, CA USA 07/09/2011

Best: SIENA: Albergo Residence Borgo Grondaie
Why: Borgo Grondaie hotel/apartments was not recommended by RS, but it should be, as it's a Rick Steves kind of place. In many years of traveling in Europe, it was one of the very best places we've ever stayed. We traveled with our 3-generation family, and found nothing suitable among the recommended places. I resorted to TripAdvisor.com, where it was highly rated. It was excellent. Perched on a hill at the edge of Siena it offered great accomodations and good value. We rented two 3-person loft apartments and paid additional for breakfast, which was superb. The grounds are several acres, with free parking and a nice pool. Our stay was only two nights, and we would rather have stayed much longer. BorgoGrondaie.com

Ron in DeWitt, MI USA 06/30/2011

Best: Soggiornno AnnaMaria
Why: The staff treated me like family. The room was very clean and big compared to the other hotels I stayed at. The rooms are newly renovated but retain an elegance of old florence. Francesco the owner, greeted me with a warm welcome. Gave me a map and circled the places there that I had to go to. AnaMaria his wife, is a lovely lady who really makes you feel like your part of the family. I would stay here again in a heartbeat.

Salvatore Cacciato in New york, Ny USA 06/30/2011

Best: KATTI HOUSE Florence
Why: Clean, affordable, nice atmosphere, friendly staff, great location.

Romina M. in Roma, Italy 06/29/2011

Best: Katti House
Why: Katti is truely wonderful. She is now able to offer breakfast to guests at Trattoria Katti, next door. The trattoria is a good, friendly place at a good price.

Bob Hamilton in Austin, Tx USA 06/26/2011

Best: Katti House
Why: This hotel is amazing! The people are very nice and the rooms are very clean and beautiful.

Hanna in San Luis Obispo, CA USA 06/22/2011

Best: Podere Marcampo - Volterra
Why: This was an incredible find! The owners, Genuino and his wife, and their daughter, Claudia, were gracious and welcoming from the very beginning. The accommodations were clean and comfortable and the location can't be beat. We took many day trips to different Hill Towns and enjoyed them all. We ran into a group from the US and the UK who had also reserved rooms based on the Rick Steves' guides and they were as happy as we were.

Ann Kressin in Overland Park, KS USA 06/14/2011

Best: Katti House
Why: as above

Tim in Crossland, oh USA 06/13/2011

Best: Hotel il Bargellino
Why: If you want a place that is totally affordable, a short walk from the main train station, centrally located, simple, clean and quiet - this is the place! Carmel & Pino, the owners of Hotel il Bargellino are completely welcoming, down to earth, and very helpful. As an American traveler, having Carmel to speak to in English is a great help. Oh yes, and Leo their bird adds to the whole experience too! You can't beat the price and location in Florence!

JoAnn in San Francisco, CA USA 06/07/2011

Best: Hotel Katti
Why: It was central and Maria the owner was very nice on the phone. It was an all-around easy and enjoyable stay. The room was spacious as well as the bathroom. It is steps away from San Lorenzo Market for people interested in shopping. Again with the new restaurant they added three weeks ago, it is affordable and convenient.

Anne Ricketts in San Francisco, CA USA 06/04/2011

Best: Palazzo Masi in Siena
Why: On the recommendation of your guidebook (2009 edition) I booked a room at Palazzo Masi for my short stay in Siena that year. In 2011 returned with my wife for a longer visit and again chose to stay at Palazzo Masi. The very welcoming hosts, excellent location for the main sights, and close proximity to a self-service laundry, good restaurant (the Antica Trattoria, just across the street), and decent gelateria (on the corner of Il Campo), are among my reasons for favouring this B&B. Thanks for pointing me towards this place!

Stephen Alsford in Ottawa, ON Canada 05/22/2011

Best: Loggiato dei Serviti
Why: This converted monastery had all the atmosphere we were hoping for. The rooms were amazing and the lobby was gorgeous. The breakfast in the morning was varied and delicious. This hotel is just around the corner from the Accademia and very close to the Duomo. I would come back and stay here anytime. Rick was also staying here while we were there, so it must be good!

Allison Garth in Little Silver, NJ USA 05/17/2011

Best: Hotel Loggiato dei Serviti
Why: Incredible atmosphere. If you really want to feel as if you are in Florence, this old monastery is amazing. The rooms are beautiful and the lobby is amazing. The breakfast was wonderful. The location was steps from the Accademia and very close to the Duomo. It must be good- Rick was staying there too while we were there.

Allison Garth in Little Silver, NJ USA 05/17/2011

Best: Poggio Salvi Agriturismo (from the Snapshot Hill Towns of Central Italy 2011
Why: Poggio Salvi Agriturismo was a wonderful, relaxing place to be in the countryside, lovingly cared for by the owner, Massimo and his wife. The apartments are beautiful, with some handcrafted furniture, and beautiful aesthetic decoration touches (and wine from a spigot!). It is close to Siena, but feels far away from the city. We enjoyed being able to purchase good food at a local market, cook our own meals, and relax on the well-cared for grounds, and enjoy the jacuzzi! Internet correspondence with Massimo was easy, and he was a friendly and welcoming host. www.poggiosalvi.net

Stephanie in Newcastle, WA USA 04/22/2011

Best: HOTEL DALI, FIRENZE
Why: THE LOCATION WAS EXCELLENT. THE OWNERS SAMANTHA AND MARCO MADE ME FEEL LIKE A MEMBER OF THE FAMILY. EVEN THOUGH THE WEATHER IN NOVEMBER WAS COLD AND RAINY, THEY WERE HELPFUL AND FRIENDLY. ON MY SECOND STAY IN MARCH 2011, ALL THE STAFF MEMBERS REMEMBERED MY NAME. WE TALKED ABOUT OUR FAMILIES. SAMANTHA AND MARCO SHOWED ME THE NEW BATHROOMS THAT WERE JUST COMPLETED, AND THERE ARE NEW FLAT SCREEN TELEVISIONS IN EVERY ROOM AND THEY ALSO HAVE INTERNET AVAILABLE TO THE GUESTS. I WILL SEE THEM AGAIN NEXT YEAR, BUT THIS TIME I WILL BE COMING WITH MY SEVENTY YEAR OLD MOM THAT HAS NEVER TRAVELED TO EUROPE!

GRACE FAMILIA in MERRIMACK, NH USA 04/05/2011

Best: Residenzia Il Villino in Firenze
Why: Best breakfast, best price, great room with a view of the duomo, incredibly helpful hosts-Sergio y Lorenzo y Elizabeth. Nice location and nice big bathroom with a window and towel warmer. Molto Buono!

Dawnya USA 04/02/2011

Best: Katti House
Why: It was the perfect location for us. So close to the train station we came in on, which was also where we needed to be for a Viators tour of Tuscany. It was also close to the market which was fun to see. It had a big bathroom with a hair dryer and a quaint clean room. Finally, it was a few doors away from an Irish Pub where we met some fine English men enjoying a football game and had a blast!

Shannon Fonferko in Schaumburg, IL USA 03/20/2011

Best: Il Poggiolo B & B
Why: We chose this B&B because we had a car and did not want to deal with it in Florence. We loved our stay here. Graziella is a wonderful hostess and was so helpful in finding restaurants, and preparing us dinner when we were exhausted. The narrow road to the farm is an adventure, but one we enjoyed thoroughly When we had difficulty initially finding the B&B we called Graziella; she came and found us and led us to her place. We found driving to the Rifredi train station was an easy solution to getting into Florence.

Pamela in Kahn, GA USA 03/16/2011

Best: La Signoria de Firenze B&B
Why: We stayed here for 3 nights in Oct and loved it. The reviews are right. Great location, 50 feet from the Piazza de La Signoria, friendly, helpful hosts, clean and comfortable rooms, and an excellent breakfast at a more than reasonable cost. 100E for a couple. One minute walk to the leather market and Ufizzi Gallery, two minutes to Ponte Vecchio and to the Duomo.Two restaurants were recommended to us and they were excellent. You will love it there. No need to look further.

Brian in Ft. Lauderdale, FL USA 01/21/2011

Best: Davanzati Hotel in Florence
Why: Without question, the Davanzati Hotel is an oasis where the traveler feels like family, but is treated like royalty. Fabrizio, Tommaso and their staff provide exceptional and very personal service to their guests. I look forward to returning to Florence as much for this personal pampering as I do for the delights of the city.

Michael Brown in Lincoln, CA USA 01/10/2011

Worst: Hotel Centrale
Why: We were there in December 2010, so a big part of it may be the time of year. + Via del Conti just outside was torn up for sewer work; the sidewalks were very narrow, and hard to negotiate with large bags.

It was noisy- the workers started at 7 am. Also, the Duomo and/or Medici Chapels rang their bells at 6:45, 7, 7:45 and 8 am, and it was loud and clear in our room.

The breakfast spread was fine, but did not vary one bit during the 5 breakfasts we had there.

The TV/computer monitor was fairly horrible- it was fuzzy, and half the channels didn't work, even the Italian ones.

Also, it would be worth mentioning that the hotel lobby is on the 3rd (2 in the elevator) floor of the hotel, and that the rooms are upstairs a floor from there with no elevator; again hard to deal with large bags.

Mark Pruett in Dallas, TX USA 12/30/2010

Best: Katti House - Florence
Why: Katti House is in a fabulous central location just a few blocks from the Santa Maria Novella train station on a quiet pedestrian street filled with reasonably priced restaurants. It's close to the Mercato Centrale and the San Lorenzo market stalls, the San Lorenzo Church and Library, Medici Chapel, the Duomo, etc. Besides being spotlessly clean and having free internet access, the hosts Maria, Franco, and Katti were charming, friendly and helpful recommending places to eat and making reservations for museums, calling taxis, etc. They made me feel like family. They also have another building a block away also on the Via Faenza, the Soggiorno Annamaria but check-in is at Katti House and the wifi is at Katti House. They are going to open a restaurant in March 2011 on street level where they will serve breakfasts as opposed to serving optional continental breakfasts in the rooms at an extra charge as they do now. Katti House is a real find in Florence.

Worst: Oblate Sisters of the Assumption
Why: I found this through your book last year and thought it was a real find with a room on a quiet central courtyard and next door to a four star hotel. It appeared to be clean, but when I woke up in the middle of the night to change my camera batteries in their chargers, I was appalled to find dozens of bedbugs coming out from under the mattress and pillows. I packed everything, took a shower and sat in the chair in the middle of the room for the rest of the night.

Dotti Cichon in Mountain View, Ca USA 11/22/2010

Best: Katti House in Florence
Why: Very friendly proprietor, good location (Soggiorno Annamaria), big room.

Joan Ofteness in Bellingham, WA USA 11/12/2010

Best: Il Bargellino
Why: This was the only place we stayed in Florence. The Il Bargellino Hotel is a Great Value in Florence and Located Just Outside the Tourist Chaos Zone

Il Bargellino is a clean and basic hotel about 2 blocks north of the train station and about 2 blocks west of the indoor Central Market. It is out of the main tourist traffic areas but within walking distance of the center. This is a good location if you want to escape the tourist hustle and bustle and still be staying overnight in the old city. If you want the amenities of a 3-4-star hotel, this place is not for you. Besides offering a good value product, I see the Il Bargellino Hotel's major competitive advantages as:

(1) Great personalized customer service (museum reservations, taxis, directions, restaurants) and interaction,

(2) Access to the relaxing garden terrace (a paradise in the big city), and

(3) Excellent English speaking capability for monolingual Americans like us.

We would stay here again and recommend this hotel to friends.

Jim Gray in Novato, CA USA 10/24/2010

Best: Hotel Europa
Why: Spacious rooms! Miriam and Robert (and the rest of the family) were terrific. Family atmosphere, fantastic location, quiet nights, great view from the room, comfortable beds, excellent bathrooms, absolutely spotless...too many other great things to list! We felt like we were part of their family. STAY HERE!!!!

Deb Sheldon in Cherry Hill, NJ USA 10/19/2010

Best: Hotel San Marco, Siena
Why: Clean, modern, and conveniently located (for driving.

Gary Erickson in Kirkland, WA USA 10/02/2010

Best: Residenza Il Villino
Why: My wife and I visited Florence and Rome with our two teenage daughters. Our family will be returning soon for a visit to only Florence, in large part because our experience at Residenza il Villino was so great. We will be staying there again. Sergio, Elisabetta, and son, Lorenzo, are an English speaking family who make you feel at home and really make the stay pleasant. The breakfast was wonderful, and included american coffee. This is a nice touch when the only option is a variation of espresso all day long. The location is a quieter street, but walking distance to everything. Very, very, nice.

Bob A. in Houston, TX USA 09/19/2010

Best: De Mori Florence
Why: We learn about Dei Mori B&B from Rick Steve's book 48 hours before our arrival to Florence. While making the reservation Peter & David gave us detailed information regards the location, parking, and room feature. On the day we arrived Peter welcomed us and after we unpacked he prepare a complete itinerary for our next 48 hours. Peter book us reservations for Uffizy Gallery and Academia, as well as dinner and lunch reservation at great restaurants. Dei Mori B&B has great location close to every major sight in Florence old town. The breakfast was very good, the service is excellent, location is perfect, whats there more to ask.

Shlomi in Fremont, CA USA 09/03/2010

Best: Hotel Scoti, Florence Italy
Why: Doreen was a great hostess this was my favorite hotel in the whole Italian trip and she made it like home so a very easy spot to stay for arrival and departure from Florence. She lent me an alarm clock and got me to the train and bus stations close by, and lots of other local advice. Immaculate accomodations. It's a great location to be a walking tourist. I'll stay there on my next trip for sure.

Al in Seattle, WA USA 08/24/2010

Best: Palazzina Cesira, Montalcino, Italy
Why: The hosts of this B&B were very nice and spoke excellent english. They made us feel right at home. Roberto showed us on a map where how to tour the area to see the sights. A wonderful trip, the highlight of our trip to Italy. Clean rooms and reasonably priced.

Tom Ciaccio in St. Paul, MN USA 08/16/2010

Best: Hotel Axial
Why: Excellent service. Great price, in the heart of town, close to everything. Very clean, nice AC, WiFi free service. Great, great, great.

Alicia C. in Tampico, Ta Mexico 07/29/2010

Best: Hotel Maxim, Florence
Why: The hotel was described well in the book, but the reality was a very pleasant surprise. Making reservations was a snap and they made reservations for us as a matter of course. The entrance is well marked and the entire facility was spotless. The room was about average size,clean and had a small safe. The breakfast room is large, well lit with about anything that you would want for breakfast. The attend ands were helpful and very pleasant to us. The entire house was attractively decorated and the lobby staff were extremely patient and helpful. They had two computers for guest use and we never had to wait. All in all, a very professioinally run place. I would recommend it to anyone who is going to Florence and wants a clean comfortable and centrally located room.

W. Gruesbeck in Dayton, Oh USA 07/28/2010

Best: Hotel Davanzati
Why: Upon arrival at the Hotel Davanzati, we were welcomed by Fabrizio with jokes and laughter. He was a wealth of information throughout our stay, and we felt extremely comfortable asking him for advice and recommendations. Fabrizio even sent a bottle of Chianti to our room to congratulate us on our honeymoon. The rooms were quite spacious, and the bathroom was the biggest that we encountered during our trip. Our room had an exposed brick wall that was actually part of one of the old city towers...very beautiful! Breakfast was nice! There was a variety of pastries, breads, and cereals offered, in addition to ham, cheese, and a bowl of fruit. Afternoon happy hours were a highlight. It was a nice way to transition from sight-seeing mode. The staff and family were friendly and eager to help.

Gretchen in Virginia Beach, VA USA 07/24/2010

Best: B&B in Florence -Residenza Il Villino
Why: The room was clean, the owners are helpful and friendly. They even went out their way to find us other accomadations when our plans changed and we needed to stay another day. Highly recommend this B&B

Dennis in New York, NY USA 07/10/2010

Best: Katti House, Florence, IT
Why: Fantastic central loaction, and a laundrymat across the street. Very convienent.

Pat Kluckman in Colorado Springs, CO USA 07/09/2010

Best: Palazzo Masi, Siena
Why: Lovely room with nice furniture and art work as well as a great location near the main square Piazzo del Campo. Lovely breakfast and Daniela was very helpful!

Dave & Hillary H in Orinda, CA USA 07/06/2010

Best: il Villino
Why: Sergio, Elisabetta and Lorenzo were wonderful. They were tireless in helping us explore the city; find an evening musical event; wonderful restaurant suggestions as well as help with our side trip to Volterra. They really did make us feel like we had a "home" away from home. Starting the day on the terrace with home baked bread and coming back to refresh on that terrace in the afternoon was such a joy!

Dave and Hillary Hoppock in Orinda, CA USA 07/05/2010

Best: Taverna di Cecco
Why: Wonderful service and food! The waiter (chef?) was informative and guided us well. The bruschetta with chicken livers was wonderful. When a large party came in and we said how happy we were, they agreed because they had come in the night before. Excellent chicken cacciatore.

Nancy Atkinson in Takoma Park, MD USA 07/04/2010

Best: Il Bargellino
Why: We stayed for three nights at Il Bargellino and it was magical. The rooms are charming and spacious, and the shared terrace is a wonderful way to spend each evening with a bottle of vino! The location is within walking distance of everything. We hope to return to Florence soon, and will definitely return to Il Bargellino!

Chris Peimann in St. Louis, MO USA 06/22/2010

Best: Hotel Centrale
Why: Fabulous location with comfortable room. The staff is helpful and friendly. Great breakfast spread.

Diane Reitmyer in Spring, TX USA, USA 06/21/2010

Best: Tie: Albergo Bernini and Hotel Dei Capitani
Why: Daniella was just great in Siena. Loved the location, the views the warmth and charm. She is a gem.

Hotel Dei Capitani in Montelcino is like a little luxury hotel in an completely unexpected place. So helpful to us. The views are awesome.

Michael Chevalier in New Hope, PA USA 06/02/2010

Best: Badia Fiorentina B&B
Why: This one is not in your guide but it shares the building with Dei Mori, which is. Bruno is a kind host who gave us many useful tips during our 3 nights. We slept well, even the last night, Blanca Notte, an all-night street party, so you know it is well-insulated. Location could not be much better at 12 Dante Aligheri.

Alan in Crestwood, KY USA 05/15/2010

Best: Soggiorno Annamaria - Sister Property of Katti House
Why: My wife and I were visiting Florence to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. Over the years we have done a great deal of traveling and have stayed in a variety of accommodations. Our goal was to only spend time in the room to sleep, shower, and change, so we could spend the rest of the time seeing Florence. The location is good and easy to walk to most of the attractions. The rooms are simple and clean and we were in the back room of the Annamaria with a private Bath. Some noise traveled from the hall into the room, as guests entered and left the hotel, but since there were only 5 rooms on the floor, we rarely heard anyone. The other guests who stayed there were considerate and quite, so there was never an issue. The woman who runs the place is friendly and helpful, and though we only speak English, making it challenging to communicate, she will accommodate and assist requests such as reservations for the museums or pointing out a restaurant. There is free internet access in the main Katti house. For budget travelers looking for a clean, well located accommodation, the Annamaria is a good choice.

Michael in Manhattan NYC, NY USA 05/09/2010

Best: Hotel Loggiato dei Serviti-Florence
Why: Rick has great praise for this historic hotel and the staff. (See his DVD for Florence). We were concerned about some of the negative reviews on TripAdvisor regarding homeless people causing a problem in the piazza. We found the negative comments totally without merit. Both the hotel and staff were wonderful, the location perfect, and prices on the website much lower than the 2010 book, starting at 95 euro for an ecomomy room which we booked. Even at prices that Rick lists, its still a great value and one of our most memorable hotel stays in many years of travel in Europe.

Ron and Natalie Wickham in Foster City, CA USA 05/02/2010

Best:
Why: Il Poggiolo B & B We stayed at Il Poggiolo B&B close to the Florence airport and the local bus line into Florence. Graziella's home sits up on a hill overlooking Florence, surrounded by olive groves, horses, three collies and a few cats. Very relaxing and lovely. There are 2 apartments, one attached to the house, the other detached with a small kitchen. Graziella is a wonderful hostess, and will help you out in any way possible. On our last night there, Graziella and her son Neri, prepared a delicious home cooked meal for us. Breakfast consisted of rolls, toast, cereal, juice, coffee, homemade fig jam etc. web site is www.il-poggiolo.it

Sharon in Vancouver, WA USA 04/10/2010

Best: Mediterraneo 2 in Manarola
Why: Wow! What a great place to stay in Manarola. Looked brand new (in Italy?!). Great views. Spacious. Comfortable and a much better deal than most of the popular places in Manarola. 2 BRs, 2 baths, living area (w/ flat screen TV), kitchen with dishwasher and washing machine.

Steve in Tulsa, OK USA 04/05/2010

Best: Residenza Il Villino
Why: What a wonderful place! The rooms were quiet, spacious and well-furnished. The breakfast and cappuccinos were wonderful. The proprietors could not have been more welcoming, charming and helpful. We also loved the location near the Accademia--close to all of the action, but not in the middle of it.

Steve in Tulsa, OK USA 04/05/2010

Best: Hotel Centrale Florence
Why: Great Hotel all around. The staff was very helpful. They made reservations for Uffizi and Accademia. Great Breakfast with choice of breads, meats, cereal, fruit, sweet rolls, croissants.As the name implies they are in the center of the city. It was a straight walk from the train station and then 5 minutes to the Uffizi and Duomo. The rooms look like they have been recently renovated and the bathroom was great. The bed was really good, not too hard like at other hotels on this visit. There is Sky News and BBC News on the television if you need an English speaking channel. Best of all they gave us the Rick Steves Rate. We would love to go back to Florence and would definitely stay here again.

Lisa in Roccaforte, Tx USA 03/31/2010

Best: Hotel Il Bargellino, Florence Italy
Why: Welcoming helpful owners, centrally located, especially for a single female traveler, very clean, help with translations by Carmel, great food close by and Carmel and Pino make a conserted effort to make everyone feel very special. I loved their quaint hotel and would certainly perfer to stay there when I return to Florence. Thanks Hotel Il Bargellino!! Janet Solt, Mount Vernon WA

Worst: Mar Mar Reservations, Cinque Terre, Italy
Why: I had some trouble trying to find them eventhough they knew I was coming and I was on time. The room was OK but very cold the first night as the heater wasn't working well. Anna was very pleasent when I finally got to meet her and checked on the heater, which was sort of working by that time. I understood it was kind of off season, March 10th and 11th, 2010 but it was hard to get much information about the area. Riomaggiorie was beautiful as well as all of the other towns and I did enjoy my stay for the most part. Just a little more communication would have been nice!! Janet Solt, Mount Vernon WA

Janet Solt in Mount Vernon, WA USA 03/20/2010

Best: Il Bargellino
Why: My room was large and comfortable with ample storage, a good bed, nice bath and a good host in Pino. I had asked for a place to store my bags after check-out since my train did not leave until 5 PM. Instead, Pino told me to use my room until it was time to leave - should I need a place to rest or take a nap.

I was a solo traveler and did not want to be out much after dark. There was a charming trattoria with good food and reasonable prices just down the street.

Il Bargellino was a fine place to stay and I will be returning there.

Katharine Crosson in Kansas City, MO USA 03/12/2010

Best: Katti House, Florence
Why: Excellent location: walking distance from the train station (less than 5 minutes), but on a quiet pedestrian-only street and only 5 minutes to Duomo, Santa Maria Novella, and Medici Chapels. Lots of good restaurants, cafes, and little stores nearby. The rooms are huge by European standards, very clean, and comfortable. The owner, Mrs. Maria, is very friendly and provided all kinds of suggestions, recommendations, and help. There is a computer with free Internet on the second floor. Prices were excellent. We did detailed search on all hotel websites, and could not find anything better. Highly recommended! Will definitely stay there again (in fact, two of our family members will go back in a month for a 3-day stay).

Alexandre A. in St. Paul, MN USA 03/12/2010

Worst: Santa Monaca Hostel
Why: Creepy homeless people staying there; not your typical youth hostel experience

Mary in Ny, NY USA 02/21/2010

Best: Hotel Perseo Firenze, Via Cerretani
Why: Not in your book but should be. Very good price. Free breakfast and happy hour, both great. Easy to find, quiet, comfortable, freindly staff. Great place.

Tim Marks in Rio Dell, ca USA 02/19/2010

Best: Bellevue House
Why: Antonio of the Bellevue House was a gracious host providing us with a suite of rooms at a remarkable off-season price. Extra amenities included a refrigerator and heated towels. He willingly took time for conversation and questions. The hotel is conveniently located very near the Santa Maria Novella station and the city sights. Even though there is a climb to the 4th floor (American) location, this is the place to stay.

Mark Blankenship in W Henrietta, NY USA 02/19/2010

Best: Soggiorno Battistero
Why: Right on the square of the Duomo, B&B, cheap price, friendly owners. airtight, sound proof windows if loud outside.

David Neely in Chicago, IL USA 01/31/2010

Best: Il Bargellino
Why: I can't imagine staying elsewhere in Florence. The location is the best, with all the sites a short walk away and yet the neighborhood is very quiet. The rooms are pleasant, airy and spotless. And Carmel (from Boston) and Pino make you feel like an old friend. Terrific restaurants, caffes, banks, pharmacies, salumeria, and about anything else you might want are only a block or two away. Don't miss the Trattoria Guelfa!

Mike McCormack in Los Angeles, CA USA 01/20/2010

Worst: Albergo Firenze
Why: Upon checking in, my room's light switch fell into the wall exposing exposed and live electrical wires. When I went to the front desk to notify them of the safety hazard, I was told that it "isn't a problem" since I would only be staying for three nights, and they refused to allow us to change rooms. Also, the prices were substantially higher (25 euros) that quoted in the 2010 edition

Peter Francev in Ontario, CA USA 01/19/2010

Best: Hotel Paba in Rome
Why: Very special place.

Tom Kieselbach in St. Paul, Mn USA 01/16/2010

Best: Hotel San Marco, Lucca
Why: Not much atmosphere, but clean & modern with a quite accommodating staff and very good breakfast. It suited our needs well for Lucca since we had a car--free parking across the street--and it was a short walk to the city walls.

Chris in Cedar Point, NC USA 12/04/2009

Best: Residenza il Villino
Why: Such wonderful hospitality from Sergio, Elisabetta and son Lorenzo -- and the hotel itself was charming and peaceful

Marianne Kurtz in Union, KY USA 11/11/2009

Best: Bed & Breakfast Il Bargello
Why: Wonderful accommodations and hosts. Went the extra mile to help us for the two days Alitalia airlines lost our luggage. They even went out to the airport to try to retrieve it for us. Their renovations of the 14th century building will be a delight for fans of HGTVs International House Hunters. Will stay there next time we go to Florence.

Robert Masson in Milwaukee, WI USA 11/10/2009

Best: In Piazza Della Signoria
Why: Probably the best hotel in Florence. Clean & well decorated, elegant, friendly, gorgeous, views, and a great price - They have it all. I definitely recommend this hotel.

Cindy Lepzinski in Lone Tree, CO USA 10/31/2009

Best: Panella's Residence, Florence
Why: Very convenient to everything. Quiet room and Graziella a gracious and helpful hostess

lance Reynolds in alameda, ca USA 09/19/2009

Best: Bellevue House
Why: We have stayed there 4 times, and in spite of location on the 4th floor (American) with no elevator, we feel at home there. They have helped us get to the eye clinic with pinkeye on a Saturday, made reservations, been ever gracious and generous with suggestions. We feel like we have friends in Florence.

Ken and Peggy Williams in Marietta, GA USA 09/19/2009

Best: Pensione Palazzo Ravizza
Why: Beautiful, peaceful garden with vising neighbor cats and a great view

Lori in Minneapolis, MN USA 08/20/2009

Best: Residenza Il Villino
Why: We enjoyed our stay in Florence with the help of Sergio (owner) and his staff. They were very helpful and accommodating people. They do understand what tourist needs. They provided us maps, places to eat, and visit, etc. The hotel is very clean and we loved their outdoor patio. I highly recommend this hotel. It's exactly what you said in your book. BTW, our son got sick and they went out of their way to help us find a pharmacy to buy medicine. They are awesome! Thank you Sergio...

The Goodrich Family in Fairview, TX USA 08/14/2009

Best: A Durmi in Levanto
Why: The owners were friendly and accomodating and the room and courtyard were beautiful.

Worst: Hotel Dali in Florence
Why: Under no circumstances could the bath be considered "new", the bidet was broken and the shower didn't spray.

Jim Mundell in Surf City, NJ USA 08/12/2009

Best: Il Poggiolo, Florence
Why: It was a nice quiet relaxing retreat, from the big city, but close enought to drive to sights in Florence. Our hostess Graziella was very helpful for directions to museums etc. Also not too expensive considering it is 15 minutes away from Florence.

Marco in Montreal, QC Canada 07/16/2009

Best: DeiMori La Massa in Casentino Valley
Why: This countryside villa is owned by the same owners of Dei Mori (B&B) in Florence. (highly recommended in your guidebook.) Located an hour from Florence, high in the hills of the Casentino valley. After two weeks of hectic sight seeing in Rome, Venice, and Florence, being guided by Rick Steves the entire way, we arrived at DaiMori LaMassa. As you are driving, and see the turnoff for Vertelli, and begin the climb to La Massa, you are transported into a world of serenity and beauty you cannot imagine. After arriving, hot and tired, we were warmly greetd by Peter and Danny and offered refreshments. We felt we were visiting long, lost friends. Seeing the star jasmine, geraniums, lavender, te trees, and olive tees in a serene courtyard, made us realize we were in for a fabulous stay. When taken to our room, we were very pleased by the attention to detail throughout our accomodations. From the mini kitchen to the down comforter on our beds, we felt truly at home. Our typical day at LaMassa began with birds singing outside our door, delicious home-cooked breakfast on the terace, sightseeing during the day, and relaxing by the wonderful pool, dinner in a nearby village, and a night sky filled with bright stars and fireflies. We highly recommend this countryside villa, not just for the beauty of the valley, and well appointed accomodations, but for the graciousness of the hosts, Peter and Danny, who made us feel like family the entire stay. We will return. DeiMori La Massa, Peter, and Danny will remain in our hearts forever. Words cannot describe.

JoAnne Cruson/Norma Foster in Nampa/Eagle , Id USA 07/02/2009

Best: Dei Mori, Florence
Why: Thank you Rick Steves for this fabulous find in Florence. People should not let the undaunting initial climb up 3 flights of stairs disillusion them. At the top is a bed and breakfast that will make a trip to Florence memorable. After the climb, we were greeted by the smell of bread baking, fresh lilies, soft classical music, and a beautifully decorated lounge/library. We were greeted by Danny, offered a refreshing drink, and given recommendations for restaruants, and sightseeing, then shown our room. The rooms are small, very clean,, and tastefully decorated. Breakfast included fresh fruit, French pressed coffee, homemade bread, and yogurt. The advice that Peter, Danny, and Suzanne gave us on restaurants, local sights, and car rental were etrememly helpful. The location being halfway between the Duomo and Uffizi is ideal. We highly recommend this B&B for a truly comfortable, welcoming stay in Florence. Also, check out their B&B countryside villa, Dei Mori, La Massa in the Casentino

JoAnne Cruson in Nampa, Id USA 06/30/2009

Best: Hotel Centrale
Why: My husband and I traveled to Florence and Rome (25 May-01 June) with our new-college-graduate nephew. We got a triple room for the Rick Steves rate. This hotel was centrally located - easy walking distance to everything. Extremely quiet, comfortable beds, spacious bathroom, exceptional breakfast with wide variety of choices. They bring you fresh-brewed cappucino or espresso. They secured Ufizzi Gallery reservations for us when we asked via email for their help after having trouble with the reservations Web site. An overall lovely place for a very good value.

Cecilia in Dallas, Te USA 06/15/2009

Best: Hotel Dali, Alma Domus
Why: Hotel Dali is like a home away from home. Alma Domus views to DIE for great location and AC.

Maggie F in St Louis, MO USA 06/01/2009

Best: Hotel Il Bargellino
Why: During our time in Florence we stayed with Carmel and Pino at the Hotel Il Bargellino. Their hotel is in a quiet neighborhood close to the train station. They were the most caring and gracious hosts. Carmel speaks English since she is originally from Boston, until as she told us she married the love of her life Pino. During our time there my husband became sick with vertigo and could barely get out of bed for 2 days. Carmel called a doctor for us and had him come to the hotel. While waiting for the doctor, I went down to the cash machine to get cash to pay the doctor, but the machine would not accept my card. So Carmel gave me the money to pay the doctor until I went back with my husbands card. Since we could not leave the room to get dinner, Pino was friends with a man next to the hotel who owned a restaurant and brought us dinner to our room. Pino and his friend do favors for each other all the time, so we were not charged for the very nice dinner. Carmel even brought us some wine to have with our dinner. We could go on and on about Hotel Il Bargellino. We highly recommend staying with Carmel and Pino, we will on our next visit to Florence Italy. Jeff and Lynn Cross Spokane Washington USA

Jeff and Lynn Cross in Spokane Valley, WA USA 04/19/2009

Best: Albergo Etruria in Volterra
Why: great sitting room. However, their showers were really hard to negotiate for someone who isn't very limber.

Susan in Kansas City, KS USA 04/09/2009

Best: Kattie House/Soggiorno Annamaria in Florence
Why: We loved this place. It is very reasonable and located on Via Faenza just down the street from the Central Market and not far from the Duomo and the Accedemia. Maria and her family made us feel so welcomed and the accomodations are very comfortable. There is no internet access, but an internet cafe is just across the street and there are many others to choose from that are close by. Maria doesn't speak English, but does understand Spanish, which was good, because my daughter, who came with us, is fluent. So brush up on your Italian or bring your Spanish-speaking daughter and enjoy a very cozy stay.

Malissa Lakin-Watson in Savannah, Ga USA 03/25/2009

Best: Jolly Hotel Excelsior
Why: Lovely accommodations, helpful staff, conveniently located near Piazza Gramschi

Mary Ann Bernauer in Plymouth, WI USA 01/23/2009

Best: Il Bargellino
Why: It was my first experience of a hotel in which the owners lived in the same building. In these commercial times, it is refreshing how Carmel and Pino run it. We experienced their reliability and helpfulness when we had a sickness. I also found out the things about a regular hotel that I used to think were important but aren't really.

RK in San Francisco, CA USA 01/14/2009

Best: La Villetta di San Martino, Umbria Italy
Why: We just returned from a wonderful vacation in Italy. Our favorite accommodations were at this B&B in Umbria (near Cortona). The owners, Ernestina and Gisbert, could not have been friendlier and the rental home was cozy and very comfortable. They were very helpful with everything we needed to know about the area and treated us like family. Erni's breakfasts each day were lovingly prepared -- hearty, healthy, and delicious. We didn't want to leave and can't wait to go back someday!

A Martinez in Denver, CO USA 01/11/2009

Best: Il Poggiolo - Agriturismo
Why: If you want to escape the busy city life, for the peaceful Tuscan countryside, this is the place for you. The hospitality, and helpfulness of Graziella, is second to none. She picked us up at the Rifredi train station, and provided us with all the information needed to see the sights during our visit. Without us asking, she had already made reservations for Florence museums, which otherwise would have been sold out by the time of our arrival. She will provide you with a true taste of living in a small Tuscany village - homemade treats, restaurants, the market with fresh bread, meats, cheeses, and homemade wine. Without a car we were able to travel in about 30 minutes to the train station by bus. We stayed in a private outbuilding with a full kitchen, bathroom, bedroom/living area. Il Poggiolo is secluded and peaceful, with Graziella offering welcoming Italian hospitality. Visit her website www.il-poggiolo.it for pictures and reservation information.

Colleen and Tony in Avon, OH USA 01/04/2009