khoffmann

Hi all,
A group of us (myself, hsbnd, mom & dad, mom in law and family friend) have been planning a trip since January to Florence for a week (Sept. 17th- 23rd) and then on to Garmisch for four days--we leave from Chicago Sept. 16 and return Sept. 28.

All was well, everything was booked, but just over a week ago, my mother was diagnosed with a slipped disk (she is 56, just retired and in good health otherwise). We are all praying she is back to full force by the time we leave but can't count on it. We are now trying to make it a bit easier on her back if at all possible in case there is still minor pain/discomfort. We have the Turchi Apt. in San Lorenzo Apts. (Florence) rented for the week which happens to be on the third floor of the building (60-70 steps one way). We have an email in to the manager to see if we have any options, but in the meantime, would like to see whatelse we can do.

To make a long question short, does anyone know of a property (apt. or hotel) that they would recommed that has rooms on the first floor (or only a few steps up) or has an elevator and is pretty centraly located? We were planning on sleeping two to a room and hoping on paying at most $50-60 per person ($100-120 per night/per room).

I've been trying to research this on my own, but with the time constraints (we leave in less than three weeks), I am hoping the fantasticly informative posters on this board can help also.

Mille Grazie!

sandi_travelnut

wow, good luck. Most of the hotel have rooms starting on the 2nd floor (they call it the first floor though) but some may have elevators. What's your budget and how many rooms do you require?

khoffmann

We would need three rooms (either in a hotel or a three bedroom apt)--my husband and I being the only ones sleeping in the same bed (M&D are divorced but good friends and can room together--don't ask so we could go with a double with one bed (double, queen or king) and two doubles with two beds (single beds I'm guessing). We were hoping around $150 per night/per room at the most.

I just emailed Hotel Donatello (near Piazza Indipendenza--little off the beaten path--even better). From the website, it looks like they have availablity for all nights, an elevator and is $142/night. Cross your fingers!

I will keep looking, but I'm still very interested in any findings anyone may have! Thanks

TC

We stayed at Antica Dimora last fall. It is lovely. I think they only have 5 or 6 rooms, but there is a lift. The staff was wonderful and the location is very central. They also have three other properties nearby. So if this doesn't work out, do email to them for help.

http://www.anticadimorafirenze.it/index_e.htm

g33kgrl

Hotel Scoti (www.hotelscoti.com) is wonderful and very affordable. It has a lift but I don't remeber if it goes down to the ground floor or just to the next one up. You can look at their reviews on TripAdvisor.

5alive

We stayed at the Hotel Pendini in Florence but it has been several years. It did have an elevator -- I made a point of finding lodgings with one since someone in our group had some difficulty with stairs.

We enjoyed the Pendini. Breakfast room is in a bridge over the street. Charming. Don't know if they have A/C however.
Would suggest you contact them via their website for details.

http://www.florenceitaly.net/hotel.html

skylark

Your mother may not be up to travelling so soon if she has a slipped disk. My daughter had the same thing happen to her over Easter this year, and we had a trip planned for July with all the family and grandchildren. She was told by her neurosurgeon that she probably would recover without surgery, but if she didn't and then down the track came back to him to have surgery, he told her that she might have a lot of nerve damage and it would not be a success. So after a lot of thought, she had the surgery in April, and by the time July came around, she was able to do everything as well as before it happened - included lots of shopping, lots of walking etc. Sitting in the aircraft seat for a 12 hour flight was a bit uncomfortable though her surgeon told her he had had patients fly within a couple of weeks after surgery.
Hope everything goes well for your mother.

hopingtotravel

This isn't exactly what you asked, but I traveled all over France last spring with a bulging disk in my neck. Before you leave try checking drugstores at home for those little over the counter heat wraps. They just stick on over the painful area. They actually help. On the really bad days I took Celebrex. I can sympathize with her and hope she's able to make and enjoy the trip.

khoffmann

Okay, I put an availability request in with Hotel Erina in Florence. I found it on Venere.com and the site said they had availability on all our dates for three double rooms.

I then went to the hotel website (http://www.florence-hotels.hotelerina.it/) and noticed they were having a special on rooms until Nov. 05. A double for one night is 79 Euro--great deal from what I've been seeing. I am still waiting for a response about vacancies (I assume they have rooms since I still see all our dates open on venere.com)

While I wait for a response, (I put the request in last night 9:00pm CST) just wondering if anyone has heard anything about this place. Seems nice, decent location, elevator, air conditioning, good reviews (on venere--none on TripAdvisor or anywhere else I could find) great price. Too good to be true? The site says the usual charge for a double is 140 Euro.

Any thoughts?