Mary

After much research, have begun to narrow down where to stay for several nights in Florence this Spring. Please give me your feedback on either the Hermitage or the Loggiato dei Serviti. Any specific comparisons you might be aware of would be very helpful as well. <BR> <BR>Also, any insights you have about either Hotel would be great, ie. which room to request, etc. <BR> <BR>Thanks lots, <BR>Mary

evan

We stayed at the Hermitage and loved it. The rooms are nice (though small, as expected in Italy). The bathrooms are very nice. The roof terrace is wonderful. <BR> <BR>The Loggiato looked ver nice from the outside and the lobby. Supposed to be very nice as well. <BR> <BR>My preference would be the Hermitage just for the location, right by the Ponte Vecchio, and closer to most of where you want to be. It's not that the Loggiato isn't in a nice location, the Piazza Annunziata is beautiful, it's that the only time we were in that area was to go to the Galleria Accademia. <BR> <BR>Where ever you stay, you will be staying a a very nice place. If you do decide to stay at the Hermitage, ask for the room on the same floor as the roof terrace. It's a little bigger and has a small terrace (if I remember, our friends stayed in that room). <BR> <BR>Have a great trip. <BR>

wes fowler

Mary, <BR>I second the recommendation for the Hermitage; an ideal location, superb views from the terrace and, not mentioned by Evan, and extremely helpful staff of young women who speak English. Take them up on their restaurant recommendations; you won't be disappointed.

sonia

We stayed at the Loggiato dei Serviti a few Septembers ago, and liked it very much. We'd planned our whole Italy trip using hotels recommended in the (British) "Charming Small Hotels in Italy" guide, and liked every one we chose. If that guide is out of print it would be a shame. <BR> <BR>The piazza in front of the Loggiato dei Serviti is closed to traffic, so it's much quieter than many Florence hotels. We walked all over the city, found the location convenient for just about everywhere we wanted to go. We had a spacious and comfortable room with well-equipped private bath. Our room had the classic "view" across a courtyard and rooftops to the Duomo, and on Sunday morning the sound of churchbells filled the air. Hotel staff were friendly and helpful, and their English better than my Italian! We would stay there again. By the way, eat at Il Latini if you can -- they recommended it to us, and we loved it. <BR> <BR>Haven't been to the Hermitage, so can't do any comparison. Buon viaggio! <BR>

Howard

We stayed at the Loggiato five years ago, and loved it. The rooms are large (the elevator is tiny) and airy, and the Piazza is wonderfully quiet, unlike the rest of Florence which is unrelentingly noisy (Vespas don't have mufflers). It's not that far from "the action"--a couple of blocks from the Duomo isn't what I'd call off the beaten path. <BR>The Piazza is from another age; one scene in Room with a view was filmed in front of the hotel without altering the area. Whether you stay at the Loggiato or not, don't miss the church SS. Annuniciata on the square--it's the only baroque church in Florence, and it's gorgeous. Most people stick to the gothic biggies--Sta Croce (the Giottos), Sta Maria Novella (the Ghirlandaios), San Lorenzo (the Michelangelos) and San Miniato (the view)--but SS. Annunziata is breathtaking. Wherever you stay, you'll have a fabulous experience. And don't forget the gelato at Vivoli!