Apartments in Florence
 

Hi - I'm starting to research for a trip next April to Florence. I'm looking at apartments on a variety of sites (vrbo, Homelidays etc) but I wondered if anyone has any recommendations? There will be just the two of us, and our budget is quite small - around 700 to 800 euro per week. Many thanks!

Only suggestion:

http://www.tuscanweb.com/property/?ID=4489

I rented from Rentvillas.com - and was very pleased. Our apartment was mroe then your budget but they had all sorts of ranges.

Enjoy - I loved Florence.

Check out Sleep in Italy. They have some reasonably priced apartments.

I stayed in a nice 2BR apartment in the Oltrarno (6 Via Serragli) --3rd floor w/elevator, small terrace with roof view--last October. Close to Arno, quiet, great location for 'local flavor'.

The woman who owns it, a great lady, responded to a Craig's list posting I made, hence, no agency fees. I can forward her email with photos to you if you email me. It was (then) 1200 E + utilities consumed for 2 weeks.

My friend and I loved it.

Karen
http://www.pbase.com/karenmickleson

Hello BettyB :)

This past March, we stayed at the Apartment San Lorenzo at this website:

www.rentflorencecity.com

We loved this apartment and would not hesitate to stay here again.

I can also recommend sleepinginflorence.com.

Thank you all - I will be checking out your suggestions and will get back!

Hello Statia,
I was looking at sleepinflorence as well. The Alberti apartment suits us best. Can you tell me more about this agency and the overall apartment condition.
Thanks.

GoPlanB, we were very satisfied with the email correspondence beforehand, the representative that met us, the apartment, and the price. We rented the Lepri apartment, so that is the only one I'm familiar with. We stayed there in 2003 and all of the apartments had been recently renovated and were very much like new. We wouldn't hesitate to rent there again.

Hello Statia,
Do you know how much a confirmation like yours in the webthread can really ease the anxiety of renting the unknown in a place you never been to before? I know sleepinginflorence has good review in Slowtravel, but with your reply, now i can make reservation for the apartment without any reservaton!

Hello Kopp
I am looking for apartment in Florence for May 2008 and was about to email sleepinginflorence for the Alberti (third floor without lift) apartment but decided to reread this webpage again. I checked all the apartments and discovered that the apartment you recommended (second floor with lift) is very attractive too! Carrying so many luggages up the stairs is quite a challenge for us.
The problem is that there are only three pictures shown in the website and it is hard to make a decision base on that. The info on the apartment is for five, we have four adults and I think that will do.
Can you tell me more about this apartment that you do not hesitate to stay again?
Can we walk from the station to the apartment?

hi, betty and goplan,

we rented through www.bed-and-breakfast-florence.com last year. We had a 2 bedroom apartment near the accademia for about 700E for the week. It was on the 2nd floor with a lift, and though not luxurious, it had everything we wanted, and in a
reasonably central position.

The agent, Roberto Redi, was reliable in answering our questions beforehand, and there when we arrived.

hope this helps,

regards, ann

Hello GoPlanB,
Hope I can help you out here.

We really liked this apartment's location, an easy 5-minute walk from the train station. It's a 30-second walk to the San Lorenzo Markets, and of course the Duomo area is right around the corner from that.

The elevator was very nice. There is a large staircase, just in case you like to walk, which we did sometimes. We did find out that you need to make sure the door to the elevator is shut when you get out. Otherwise it stays put and does not come when you ring for it (if it's on a different floor). When we first got there, it wouldn't come when the button was pushed. We looked up the stairs, and there was the door open up above. So hubby went up, closed the door, and down it came. Probably some tenant up above just left it open. It was no bother, just so you know.

There is a very well-equipped grocery store directly below the apartment. Very convenient for any and all supplies you will need during your stay.

Sleeping arrangements: we were only 2 adults, so we did not use the sofa bed. In fact, we didn't pull it out so I couldn't say how comfortable it might be. But it was firm for sitting and in good shape.

The bedroom had a bed large enough for me and DH (we have a king at home). Can't remember if it was a queen, tho. But it was comfy and there were plenty of linens and blankets in the large closet. There was also a dresser, with about 5 drawers. And a small night stands on either side of the bed, each had a light. There was plenty of room on each side of the bed to walk around. And a door separating it from the living area.

The living area is a combination room: kitchen (well equipped, microwave, washing machine, stovetop, refrigerator, drip coffee maker). I can't remember if it had a dishwasher..hmmm, just can't place it.
There is also a round table with 4 chairs.

The couch is next to the wall, and the TV is on a table between the two large windows.

The living/kitchen/TV was all one room.

Off the living area is the bathroom. Really nice and updated, clean and bright. Thru a door is the sink area, then directly to your left thru another door is the toilet and shower with glass door, plenty of water pressure and hot water. It is convenient to have the separate door because one could be using the shower or toilet while the other was using the sink area.

The building is very secure. You use a key to get into the building, then another key once you get to your floor, then another key to get into the apartment.

I'd be glad to answer any other questions. I'll check out my photos and see if I've got anything I could send you.

I'm off now for a few hours. Will check back later.

We honestly had a great stay there.

Happy travels!

Hello Kopp,
Thanks for the huge tip, we will go for San Lorenzo than the Alberti apartment. The only thing is that we cannot make up our minds whether to stay for four nights or five nights in Florence. It will take us a day or two to decide.
In the mean time, I also put in a page in Fodor’s Share with me your pleasant apartment rental experience requesting information on other apartments in other cities. We still have to tackle Venice, Milan and Paris stays. If you have time, you are welcomed to give advice.
I also asked Franco in Fodor’s Franco's favourite ... Roman accomo…districts
for advice for apartment picks in Rome and we have narrowed down to two. (it was in the last ten contributions to his page starting July 31, 2008.) Franco really knows the area well gives very useful information about Rome.
I think the trouble with us for now is that we have to make sure the apartments we booked are pleasant to live in after a tiring day of walking. It does put a damper on our holiday if it is not as good. And it is still early in my planning stages where I can have a few choices of apartment to pick from.
Since this is a webpage created by BettyB on Florence apartments, maybe you can contribute on my page “Share with me your pleasant apartment rental experience” for other cities.
Once again, my apologies to BettyB for going a little off topic.

hi, again, goplan,

ref your decision to stay 4-5 nights in Florence, it depends what you want to do, and whether you have in reality only 3 or 4 days respectively.

certainly, you could see most of what Florence has to offer in 3 days, but if you want to time to wander round the markets, explore the boboli gardens and pitti palace, do any day trips including taking the bus up to Fiesole, then 4 days minimum is essential. we were there for 5 days and never got into the pitti palace, nor several of the more minor museums or a proper look at the market. we did manage Siena and fiesole.

hope this helps,

regards, ann

PS -regarding venice, I would allow 3 days minimum, and for Paris a week. I cant' help with Milan. you also need to allow at least an extra day in your first destination to allow for jet-lag.

Hello Annhig,
We have a total of 14 days for Italy. Our city of choice is Rome 5 days, Florence 4 0r 5 days, Venice 2 or 3 days (if Florence 5, then Venice 2: If Florence 4, then Venice is 3) The struggle is two of my family members has motion sickness. Not much point to stay too long in Venice. St Marks and one or two museums is the most we will visit in Venice. We still have to look for a place where we do not need to take the water taxi of water bus.

If we stay longer in Florence, we plan to make day trips, one day to Pisa and Lucca, or the other to Sienna. By the way, is there to much to see in Fiesole?
I think most of the time, we always plan more than we can actually handle. We always forget that we will be tired and have sore feet and opt to sit, sip and people watch!

hi, goplan,

well, that's a new one, at least on me - I have never met anyone how got seasick on the vaporetti! Not even me and I've been seasick on dry land! i suppose it would be possible on the boats to the islands, but not on the canals that cross venice proper.

There is lots of to see and do in venice, besides st. marks and a couple of museums. When I was there last november, after a gap of 20+ years, I was still seeing new things after 5 days, not 2.

If you are really averse to any water transport [though you should try at least one vaportetto along the grand canal - if you get the No 1, the stops are so short, you can get off any time and walk], you could easily see St. Marks, the Doge's palace, the accademia, the gugenheim, the Frari, the school near the frari, the rialto, all without getting on a boat! with stops for meals, coffees, people watching, etc. etc., that will take you three days.

on the other hand, if you want to see florence plus Pisa and Lucca, and siena, you need 5 days!

personally, I would go for 3 nights in Venice [especially if it's your first stop, to allow for jet-lag] and 4 in Florence.

In 4 days, you could easily fit in an afternoon in Fiesole, which is a charming little town above Florence reached by the No 7 bus. there is a fascinating monastery up above the town, the cathedral, and the roman amphitheatre. Ira [a regular contributor to this board] would urge you to time your visit to co-incide with sunset so as to watch it from the terrace of the bar by the bus stop.

I would also suggest a day trip to Siena, also reached by bus, if you get fed up with Florence. In 4/5 days, you do not have time to go to Pisa/Lucca and get anything out of them, IMO, as you will spend too much time travelling.

Hope this helps,

regards, ann

Hello Annhig,
Thanks for the pointers. Maybe i should stay 4 nights for florence and 3 nights in Venice.
Anything that wobbles a little is no good for one of my family members. As a parent i just want to avoid anything uncomfortable. If the stops are short for the waterbus then forsure we will try.
I am in the process of booking for hotel and apartments in these cities, then later i will plan places i have to visit. I reap so much information from Fodor's that it make independent travels so much easier.

Hi Go :)

Have you found a Venice apartment yet? It is so good that you are looking early. Isn't it amazing how quickly some get booked?

In Venice, you can actually walk from the train station all the way to St. Mark's Square. It takes -- oh, about 30 minutes or so, lots of ups and downs on the bridges, but it is possible without going on the water.

One time in Venice the boat was so crowded, and we were just ooing and awing over the beauty that we just decided to walk. It really wasn't that bad, as long as you have a good map and know exactly where you're going. (It's very easy to get lost in those little alleyways, lol!) My husband is a photographer, so we'd stop here or there to take some photos. Really, it wasn't so bad walking.

There are many apartment choices here on this board (and I know you're searching!) You may have run across the Corte Grimani (cortegrimani.com). We have stayed here several times, and it is wonderful and only one bridge away from St. Mark's Square. I'm not sure of your budget, however, and I can't remember when you're going so I couldn't check the rate for you. This is a wonderful place if your budget allows. It is run by Donatello and Franco, sister and brother, and they are so very helpful and kind.

You are smart to get your accommodations settled first. Then comes the fun part of figuring out what to do with your time!

Happy travels!

GoPlanB - don't worry about boats in Venice. It isn't necessary to take one, though I wonder how your family member will do on the train, which rocks more any vaporetto on the canal. In any case, as a previous poster stated, you can walk from the train station. You could have your luggage loaded on to the vaporetto (there are porters) of if you prefer private transfer, a water taxi. Then one of you would go with the luggage and the other would walk with the affected family member. While in Venice you won't need to get another boat. There are two bridges that cross the Canal Grande, Accademia and Rialto, so anything you want to do on the other side of the Canal will just require a bit of walking to get to, but in reality, that's the best way to learn Venice - through the soles of your feet.

Sandra

Hello Sandra,
Thank you for the waterbus tip, I have never thought about this neat idea, ie, take the waterbus with the luggage and the other will walk.
Now, this lead to another question, will the waterbus driver allow you to haul your luggage on board?
So much for now.

Why would you want one person to walk and not go on the vaporetto?

Sorry, ignore my question - I see why now!

We spent a weekend in Florence in February & stayed at the Palazzo Gamba - here's a link to their website;

http://www.palazzogambaflorence.com/index.html

The location is simply extraordinary - if you have a look at the website, that's not trick photography; it really is that yellow building overlooking the main door of the Duomo.

We stayed in the 2 bedroom Michaelangelo apartment which is one of the apartments featured in their website photos. The double bedroom was unremarkable but perfectly acceptable. The other bedroom, however, was something special. It had a high frescoed ceiling & huge windows on two sides thanks to it's corner position. There were two single beds as well as a variety of rollaways & a sort of mini sofa-bed - I'm really not too sure how many people it could have accommodated if pushed. The view overlooking the Duomo was just sensational.

Minus points? Well the lounge/kitchen was nothing to write home about as it felt almost as though it was situated in a sort of hallway between the two bedrooms (although, to be fair, the kitchen was well enough equipped). That wasn't a problem for us as we didn't spend much time indoors &, when we did, we sat in the big bedroom & watched the world go by.

I suppose another potential problem might be noise. It didn't bother us in the slightest but I daresay that Florence is a very different city in the height of the season to what it is in February. Given the Palazzo Gamba's central location some street noise is probably inevitable.

Those minor points aside, I would certainly recommend the Palazzo Gamba & if (when!) we go back to Florence it will be top of my list for somewhere to stay.

Jim