Style: The apartment is warm, charming and inviting. It felt like Florence.
Comfort living: There is not much room to stretch out and kick back but we didn’t mind since we were out and about for all of our time there.
Comfort sleep: The bed, sheets and pillow were very comfortable. Out of our four places we stayed in Italy we had our most comfortable sleep here.
Location: Is great. You are a short walk from the river, bus stops surround the area and there is a grocery store around the corner. A short stroll will find you many places to eat and drink. It is on the 3rd floor and no elevator and is a long way up if you have lots of luggage……..and if you forget something 😊. Across the way from the entrance is a perfumery that releases beautiful flowered scents all day. Right next door to the street entrance is a wonderful café that opens at 8:30am. Great coffee and pastries. Be aware that this great café is open to 1am and turns into a fairly active gathering place. My advice is always keep the window closed because any noise, trucks, street sweepers or talking will fill the alleyway and carry into the room. It was noisy, but I have a feeling that is consistent throughout Florence since all the streets and buildings are made of stone which contributes to the echoes.
Amenities: Kitchen and bath were just fine. Everything we needed for our comforts. Though clearly stated in the notes, I was disappointed that there were not cooking basics such as salt, pepper, sugar and olive oil. We’ve stayed at others who have provided this and we find it a nice touch. I don’t understand why for a few Euros all don’t stock these basics.
Communication: Our host was kind, flexible, charming and helpful. We’d stay here again in a second. He gave us advice on what to do while we were there and we took notes and completed almost every suggestion. He made our stay much more enjoyable. He even offered to help us secure tickets to a popular art exhibit.
Check in/Check out: Make sure you read the house notes carefully as a cleaning fee is expected upon arrival. Our host said it is a fairly easy walk from the train station but this is not the case. Even without luggage it is a challenge. The cobblestone streets and crowds make it almost impossible. We were quickly frustrated and hailed a cab, which was very expensive. I’d wished we knew beforehand that it was an arduous walk and that we should plan on taking a cab or a bus. Few things are more disheartening than pulling your luggage and getting lost in an unfamiliar, crowded city. When leaving we instead took the number 23 bus, which picks you up right around the corner. This was an excellent way to travel.