A Room in a Great B&B in Florence is Available
 

My wife and I were going to travel to Florence with a couple of dear friends and we have reservations next week in what I think is a wonderful and unique B&B. However, my friend's wife will be unable to travel with us due to illness and their room (the Diva Suite) at this B&B is available during the week of 3 to 7 October. Her illness caused them to cancel their reservation today, so I wrote the owner and said that I would put her web site info on Fodor's and Frommer's travel sites in hopes that she can fill the room. For those of you who love quaint, moderately priced B&B's with character and good recommendations from past customers, then I think you will be impressed with the Relais Grand Tour B&B when you go to her web site. Go to www.florencegrandtour.com and you can see pictures of all of the rooms. The building is about 400 years old and has been renovated and redecorated by Cristina and Giuseppi in keeping with it's original use. It was a small neighborhood theater. All of the rooms are decorated around that theme. The suites all come with small kitchens and some open out on to a lovely small common court yard. the location is ideal for visiting Florence for a week or a day. You are less than a 10 minute walk to Duomo and the Galleria Del Academia and San Lorenzo. The Diva Suite is 130 Euros per night with a small continental breakfast and the suites have free Internet access with a computer in your room. If you book one of the rooms for a week the 7th night is free. Additionally, Cristina will book your reservations at the various museums in Florence for free. If any one is interested in a great place to stay, give the Relais Gran Tour a try It's on Via Santa Reparata No. 21 It's about 2 short blocks from the Plazza Del Mercardo Centrale off of Via Guelfa. Hope someone finds this info helpful and they can fill this unexpected cancellation since Cristina has been so kind and helpful to us over the last few months of working with us on our vacation plans.

One small correction to my last post. the room is available for a full week from 3 to 10 October. Sorry about that... adios

That's nice, but neither one of those websites is for advertising rooms in hotels, B&Bs or anywhere. I know Fodors does not allow ads, and I am pretty sure Frommers doesn't either. I don't see why this case should be an exception. It sounds like someone owes a cancellation penalty and that's the reason for this ad.

Hi Christina, I was a bit sceptical too, but it seems like socal has posted before, so perhaps we shouldn't jump to comclusions?

My friend sent them a notification of his wife's illness and I'm sure that a weeks lead time is sufficient to avoid any penalties, so I'm not trying to be a tout for this B&B, I was trying to be nice to the owner, who I have never met. She has been very nice to me in assisting with my reservations at the various museums and she has responded quickly and politely to all of my dumb emails. I regret that I violated some rule which disallows me from spreading the word on a nice place to stay in for first timers. Frankly, I use these web sites myself hoping to find recommendations from users who have been to the cities that I plan to visit. I think it's nuts for someone like me, who takes the time to pass along info like I just provided, to denied the right to post it here. I notice that my original post is gone on the talk page items listened under Italy. If this is the way I am to be treated in the future, I won't waste my time listing the pros's and con's of my visits in the future... adios I'm out of here unless I get some positive feed back from someone.... SoCal

SoCal ... from a NorCal poster, I took your post as being helpful, to us and to the B&B owner. I thought that perhaps you had stayed there on a previous trip because your post was so detailed - that may have been what threw some people off.

I am here for legitimate recommendations. Most of us have posted good or bad things about places we have stayed or eaten at, including websites etc...

Don't let these responses chase you away - now that we have gotten involved in your stay there ..... you HAVE to let us know if it is as nice as your post.

I hope your friend's wife makes a speedy recovery, and that you enjoy your trip.

Nina

Hello socal, I wish I could take advantage of renting the Diva Suite, it looks beautiful and I know where the location is (after looking at the map of course). And having such helpful and pleasant owners will certainly add to the enjoyment of your time in Florence. This B&B really looks and sounds lovely and certainly so less expensive than the average hotel room.

I remembered your posts and I knew I was right but clicked on your name to verify. You were in the military and stationed in the Med off of Brindisi many years ago. Have you been back to Italy often or is this your first return trip?

I hope that you will post after you return home..I have not been in Florence in October and have wondered if it is less crowded than the other months that get so many visitors. I tend to get overwhelmed in the historical section of Florence when it is hot, humid and crowded.

Have a beautiful visit and I too hope your friend recovers quickly from her illness. Best regards.

Nina66 and Love Italy.. Thanky ou for your kind and supportive responses. I may yet come back to this site again with folks like you reading my comments. This vacation will not be as much fun for us as we had originally hoped. Our friend who we have known since college, many years ago, has terminal cancer and although she continues to wage a gallant fight, I fear that she will never get to see Florence and I feel very sad... Sorry to come across this way, but I was upset with some of the posters on this site...adios

"A good deed never goes unpunished."
Gore Vidal

Socal, sometimes it doesn't pay to be nice. (I know from experience.)

socal,

Just wanted to let you know that I was very intrigued by your post, and appreciated your taking the time to let us know about this lovely B&B. I will definitely look into it for my next trip!

In the meantime, have a great time in Florence, and many good wishes to your friend for a speedy recovery! Please please post when you come back. I'd love to hear about your experiences.

The Relais Grand Tour looks like a gem. And the 130 price for the Diva Suite is very inexpensive, especially if you get the 7th night free. Complimentary internet access is a big plus, as otherwise it can be expensive at the internet places in Florence.

Please post a trip report when you return, to let us know if the Relais is as nice as it looks.

I think your gesture was a nice one, to help your friend and your prospective host. Maybe post a review on tripadvisor.com, too.

Enjoy our trip!
:)>-

Yes, please come back and report on your stay. It looks like an excellent place and the rate is terrific.

I have stayed in the Diva Suite, and just a few weeks ago-- mid October. I highly recommend it! The little courtyard outside of the rooms is very pleasant, and we spent all of our late afternoons there, realxing after our long walking days and gearing up for dinner. There is free internet access in the room, and we used it all the time. We opted to get breakfast in our room each morning vs. going to the cafe.

As an aside-- Just a few blocks away, on Via Guelfa 5r, there is a WONDERFUL ceramics shop: La Botteghina.

Here is their website:
http://www.labotteghina.it/

I bought 9 assorted-size plates there, and opted to carry them home (shipping was very high). They wrapped them very well for me, and now I am enjoying them on my dining room wall.

I loved Florence, and hope to go back again one day. I would stay with Cristina and Guiseppe again in a heartbeat!