The apartment is beautiful, location is just right and Sumiyo is an awesome host. Everything exceeded our expectations.

We had an excellent stay at Sumiyo's apartment right along the Arno river in Florence. The apartment is very clean, spacious and elegantly simple. The location is perfect, 5 minutes walk from the Ponte Vecchio on the Oltarno side of Florence. Being on the Oltarno side means more quiet, fewer tourists and more authentic experiences. But the apartment is also close enough to the river to make walking to any major site easy enough (nothing is further than 20 minutes by foot).

Sumiyo is very kind, and speaks English, Italian and Japanese (maybe more but those three for sure!). She gave us great advice on where to go to eat and what to see nearby that may not be on the typical tourist to do list. She was attentive, extremely responsive and never once infringed on our privacy.

Only word of caution, is that the apartment building is old which has both pros and cons. Pros: charm, authenticity and vibe. Cons: no elevator (so if you have luggage it's a bit of a haul up 3 or 4 flights), very old windows, which let in noise from the street. The street noise never bothered us (we slept like babies) but some travelers may find that a deterrent.

I highly recommend this apartment to anyone looking to stay on the Oltarno side while still having easy access to the historic center.

As with any other Air B&B or apartment rental, it's not a 'hotel experience'. If looking for a hotel alternative in Florence, it doesn't get better than this, especially not for the price.