Gretchen

I guess one can't be too spontaneous in the year 2000! I am trying to put together a rather last minute trip to Italy and am having a very hard time finding a hotel in Florence. I have already tried the following: Medici (booked), Hermitage (booked), Residenza (no response), Spendor (waiting for response), Morandi (waiting for response), Azalee (booked), Loggiata dei Serviti (booked), Ritz (booked), Continental (waiting for response), Lungarno (waiting for response), Casci (waiting for response), Kraft (waiting for response), Monna Lisa (waiting for response). Can anyone suggest other hotels to try? I've given up on "charming" and am now pretty much looking for anything decent. Willing to pay for a 4 star (but not more than $300/night) or go as simple as a 1 star (though 2-3 star preferred). All suggestions welcome! And if you happen to have a web site or e-mail address, please include it! Thank you!!!!

kam

Hotel Pendini (http://www.tiac.net/users/pendini/hotel) <BR>De La Ville--fax 55-238-809 <BR>Calzaiuoli--fax 55-268-310 <BR>Principe--fax 55-283-458 <BR>And, in Candeli, outside of town is the Villa La Massa with a coutesy bus to Florence--fax 55-651-0109 Note that the country code for Italy is 39, if you don't already know that. Good luck!

elaine

The following is among the many that have been recommended on this forum <BR>Hotel Giada <BR>website <BR>www.dada.it/hgiada.com <BR>email [email protected] <BR> <BR>When I was there I stayed in the <BR>Romantik Hotel J & J <BR>excellent location, 10 minute walk from the Duomo. Santa Croce neighborhood. A little pricey, but check it out. Large rooms,great breakfast, included. <BR>Only drawback is because it is a historic bldg, there is no elevator, but there is a/c. <BR>phone 055 234005 <BR>fax 055 240282 <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>

Gretchen

Thanks, Kam. Have you by chance stayed at any of these places?

martha python

When you say "no response" or "waiting for a response," does that mean you're sending faxes or e-mail and hoping to hear back? If that's the case, I strongly encourage you to pick up the phone--I can't think of a three-star hotel that didn't have English-speaking staff. Some of the smaller hotels may not have enough staff to answer every inquiry, however; if they have you on the line, it's easier for them to tell you what's up. <BR>I stayed at the Residenza, so I'm afraid I don't have any suggestions. Sorry!

Gretchen

Martha, I e-mailed several hotels last night and this morning and those are the "waiting for response" references. With La Residenza, I've determined I have a bad e-mail address so I was going to fax them. However, given your advice, maybe I'll call instead.

Dawn

I had the same problem Gretchen. I did hear back from Hotel Splendor though and got a reservation there. You should definetly call the hotels directly. I waited and waited for responses from hotels in another town and finally I just called everyone so atleast I knew and didn't have to wait. One place faxed me back a week and a half later (I had actually called them in the mean time) Good luck. Let us know how it works out.

Gretchen

Dawn - thanks for the advice. As you can see, Hotel Splendor is on my list. Maybe that will pan out. When are you going to be there?

Denise

Gretchen, <BR> <BR>We stayed at the Splendor last week. I would also suggest you call hotels because the reply time can be long. Keep in mind we had to battle mosquitos in Florence. I don't know why that was. My daughter stayed at the Hotel Nuova Italia and she said the hotel was very nice. They responded to me quickly by email. I didn't see the rooms, but the hotel was in a nice area although not far from the train. She said the staff was nice and the location was convenient. Price was about $90.00 for a double. They have screens on the windows which is a plus. Eat at Za Za in Piazza Mercado Centrale. Email: <BR>[email protected] <BR> <BR>Denise

Dawn

Gretchen, we will be there for the nights of June 20 and 21. What about you?

Gretchen

Dawn - we will be there the exact same nights. If we get a room at the Spendor, I will definitely try to find you!! You're going to Santa Margherita too, arent' you? (I think you responded to one of my postings re a good base for that area.) We're staying at the Hotel Jolanda. You?

Kam

Gretchen, I have stayed at the Principe when we were unable to book at the Lungarno, our favorite. Friends have recommended the De La Ville and it certainly has a good location. Pendini and Calzaiuoli both come highly recommended on this forum and so I had made notes about them, and the Villa La Massa is booked by our relatives when they want to overnight in Florence (they live near Lucca) and is a Karen Brown recommendation as well. Last time we were on business and stayed at the Baglioni--a big old hotel near Sta. Maria Novella and the train station. It has about 200 rooms, but might not fit your budget (we had a corporate rate) I'm sorry the Lungarno is booked--it's really a terrific place. Sometimes I find I can switch my itinerary around if I want to stay at a specific hotel. Is that possible for you? Good luck.

V.Smith

Three years ago my husband and I stayed at the Hotel Silla in Florence. It was about a block from the Arno, and just a short walk from the Piazza Michaelangelo. The rooms were large, and at that time about $130 American dollars. We had trained everywhere, including to Florence, and walked to the hotel from the train. I'd advise a cab from the train station though - it was a bit of a walk with luggage. <BR>The hotel was very nice- large, clean rooms with professional management. If you do a yahoo search you'll find the following information with some pictures. One website found: http://www.karenbrown.com/italy/hotelsilla.html ... <BR>Enjoy your trip! We're doing the last minute thing too and will be leaving for Italy on May 19. <BR> <BR> <BR>

Dawn

Gretchen, well you can disregard the last reply that you got about the hotel silla, they are booked. I can't believe that you will be there the same nights! I hope that they will have room for you. Their e-mails have always been really nice but I would try calling them tomorrow morning. When are you going to be in Santa Margherita? We will be there the nights of June 12, 13 and 14th. I did look at hotel jolanda but decided in the last minute to splurge. We are staying at the hotel continental on the water. We originally wanted to stay at the Karen Brown recommended B&B Villa Gnocci but they were booked. I was really disappointed so I decided to treat myself (and my husband!) Where else are you going? We are also staying in Pienza and Todi and leaving from Florence to the airport in Milan (couldn't get a good price out of Rome but at $375 a ticket I can't really sholdn't complain about the longer drive!) Let me know how you make out at Hotel Splendor and what you are doing for the rest of your trip!

Holly

I stayed at Hotel Giada 2 weeks ago, & although it is a no-frills 2-star hotel - the rooms are clean, you have a private bath, the staff is friendly, & I would definitely recommend it. Their e-mail address is [email protected] <BR>It's located on the same street as the San Lorenzo market.

Kate

Have you tried Hotel Alessandra: eMail address is Hotel Alessandra [[email protected]] I stayed there a couple of years ago and it was perfectly situated near the river/Uffizi. Rooms were fairly basic but clean. <BR> <BR>I've also stayed at the Hotel Lombardi which is near the station and was very handy for the Duomo. E;mail address is Domenico Ernandes [[email protected]]. <BR> <BR>Best of luck, <BR> <BR>Kate

Pam

Quite a few years ago I stayed at the Hotel Minerva (in July with just a few days notice). The rooms were average size (for Europe), clean and comfortable with private bath. The hotel is located just a few blocks from the train station. It does have a very nice, small swimming pool and bar on the roof. Great views!

alan

hi <BR> <BR>checkout www.bookeurohotels.co.uk <BR> <BR>enjoy <BR> <BR>alan

Maurice

Gretchen-I have found that a fax will most often do the trick. In fact, most hotels will respond with hand written notes on your fax. It is a much better way to communicate with these hotels than by E mail. <BR>By the way, we have stayed at the Lungarno (fantastic) and the Continental and have been able to easily communicate with them via fax. <BR>Have a great trip

Gretchen

You are all so great for giving me so many great suggestions. THANK YOU! I finally found a place last night after receiving even more rejection e-mails and making numerous phone calls only to find no availability. Finally (at about midnight last night, 9 a.m. in Italy) I found a spot at the Hotel Balestri. I've read a few good comments on this forum about the Balestri but not many. Does anyone have any words of encouragement re this place? (Believe me, I'm grateful to have it so won't be changing plans -- just looking for info that will get me excited about it.) Web-site says it's a 3 star with "Splendid location in the historical center of Florence on the bank of the Arno, a few steps from Ponte Vecchio and Uffizi Gallery (less than 50 yards). Thanks again for all your help! Hope I can do the same for others after my return.