Francesco let us down in Florence and acted rudely and aggressively when we needed assistance. I asked him before I booked the apartment whether he had a travel cot and a high chair for our baby. He said he didn’t but that he would buy them for us and for future guests to use. So I made the booking (£600 for 4 nights). I messaged him a couple of weeks before the trip to confirm the cot and high chair were in place. When we arrived at the property it became clear he had lied. There was no travel cot or high chair, just a beaten up old stroller/pram which was completely unsuitable for a baby to sleep or eat in. When I called Francesco, he shouted at me that he was in another part of Italy, couldn’t do anything, and if we weren’t happy we should find somewhere else to stay - knowing there was nowhere available in the city and that we had an 11month old with us. He also suggested the baby sleep in the bed with us. 11 month-olds do not sleep with their parents, particularly when there’s a huge drop from the bed to a terracotta floor beneath. The nerve to make this suggestion after promising to provide a cot was beyond belief. I spent the whole of our first day in Florence in desperation, trying to track down a rental crib. Had I not done this there would have been nowhere safe for our baby to sleep.
Francesco, you are an Airbnb host charging £150/night. If you’re going to accept bookings you need to be truthful with your guests and, if you are going to be away, you need a contact in the city who can provide some assistance.
The apartment itself was also a major disappointment. The kitchen is poorly equipped, with damaged pans and a mouldy worktop. The wifi doesn’t work. The toilet seat is broken and pinches you as you sit down. The air conditioning pipes out of a gaping window which I had to stuff with blankets and cushions. The view from the terrace is the one redeeming feature.
We managed to enjoy our trip in spite of this apartment. I strongly recommend you take Francesco’s advice and find somewhere else to stay.