This was exactly how it looks on the ad. Carla was extremely welcoming and sweet. I absolutely love talking to her and she made us feel like we stepped into an old friends home. It does take between 15-30min. to actually get into Florence so know this ahead of time. The recommendations from Carla were Awesome places! If you visit, following her advice is wise. One thing I would mention is that it is difficult to navigate the bus system if you are not used to it and that is the way to get to her home. Also, the bus system changes or stops running by certain times so think about a taxi or other means of transportation. Overall, absolutely fantastic place to stay and enjoyed stepping into Italian life for just a short bit.