Sorry for the double post. I forgot to specify the city last time. <BR>I am going to be in Italy for the first time with my husband and inlaws for three nights in early October. We currently have two rooms booked at the Pendini..but I have done various searches on this board to find out if people post anything new and keep coming up with more negative posts each time..Our budget is inbetween $130-$200 preferrably less than $200. I want a smaller hotel that will let me feel like I am in Italy not somewhere in the US. Should I keep this hotel or switch? The Beacci Tornabuoni or City Hotels look interesting, any other suggestions? I know I am probably being too anal, but I am so excited I have been waiting for this trip my whole life and really want it to be special! <BR>PS We need an elevator for my father in law and parking. We also want to be near city center..We are driving in from Cinque Terre and then on to Rome. Thanks for the help!

I stayed at the Pendini a few years ago. The rates were irresistible, and the location, perfect. It was shabbier than I thought it would be, from the pictures I had seen, but the rooms were large, and the beds were comfortable. The bathrooms could have been cleaner, though. The concierge, in fact, one of the owners, was so, so ( if you can expect a concierge in such type of hotel, which felt more like a pensione). It has a small elevator, which not always work well, and is sometimes crowded, since the Pendini shares it with other business in the same building.<BR><BR>The breakfast room was lovely, with a great of Florence from the windows, and the breakfast itself was good, too.<BR><BR>I don't know the Beaci, but have read great things about it. The last time I was in Florence, I stayed at Hotel De La Ville. Very nice, clean, the rooms were tastefully arranged, although on the small side. I would stay there again in a heatbeat, and two nice elevators. Your father in law won't have to climb any steps there..The street where it stands is very central, close to the Duomo, the Ufizzi, the Arno and Ponte Vecchio, many, many good restaurants ( what is redundant in Italy) close by, and a wonderful tea room right at the corner.<BR><BR>The hotel will probably will make the arrangements with a parking garage for you to leave the car, but I don't have a hint on how much it would cost you.

before you think about switching hotels make sure you can get a reservation somewhere else. at this time of year it may be hard to find some place. the hotel i am staying at and have stayed at before is the mediterraneo and the phone number is 39/055/660241. the cost is about $105 dollars a night. it's a few blocks behind santa croce, but not too far from the city center. it has an elevator, 2 restaurants, a gift shop, a bar, a hair salon, and a helpful staff. <BR><BR>another suggestion...have you reserved any tickets for the galleries? the uffuzzi, the palazzo pitti, the academia? you should do that before you get there...they lines can be up to 3 hours long. you can take care of it online at firenze.net or at weekendafirenze.com <BR>with a reservation you can just skip right to the front of the line and go ahead. <BR><BR>best wishes! you will love italy! try not to panic! have fun!

DebiC,<BR><BR>I don't have any personal experience with those hotels, but parking in the city center? I don't think it is possible. I hope someone can tell you differently, but I stay in the heart of Florence, and I leave my car outside the city or if I arrive very late, I drive illegally through VERY narrow streets to get to the hotel, then they get the keys and park it in their garage. Elevators shouldn't be a problem though.

I forgot to mention, parking 60.000 lit a day in the garage ....

DebiC <BR>Please think twice about driving into the center of Florence with a car--it will not be a pleasant part of your trip, to say the least. Florence's streets are extremely narrow and crowded, most traffic is one-way (or should be!) <BR>I have a Florence file; if you'd like to take a look at it, email me.

The last thing anyone with difficulty walking should do is to stay at the Pendini. The elevator is small, very small and not reliable. For the 3 days we were there, we walked the four stories everyday. Never could use the elevator. <BR> <BR>Our room was on a floor below the lobby and we had to walk there as well. <BR> <BR>In other words, my main memories of the Pendini are hiking. Great location. Not so great convenience. change hotels.

check out the hotel Casci. nothing fancy but a very friendly, super clean place in a great location. they will park the car for you at about $30/night i believe. there are many comments about it on this board. their website it www.hotelcasci.com. it also include a very nice breakfast. <BR> <BR>as an earlier post mentioned, driving in florence is not pleasant and rome is worse. we did it and survived but it was not pleasant.

We're staying at the Hotel Casci next month (May '01) and I've already gotten excellent information about parking from them (we'll be parking the car two nights and not using it in the city at all). Nearby, I think it was about $20 per night. Or there is a parking facility at $10 per night within walking distance (which is what we'll use.) email me and I'll get you details if you want. They suggested we drive to the hotel, unload our luggage, then zip the car back up to the garage.

Try the Hotel Hermitage: we stayed there last summer and it was wonderful--a stone's throw from the Ponte Vecchio (but entrance in a little alley, so no hordes), antique-ish furnished rooms, helpful staff, year 2010 or so shower (jets of water from all angles--though I recall we didn't have a tub, in case that matters to you; don't know if available in other rooms), breakfast on the rooftop, outdoors in good weather. It was great! They even guessed who I was as I approached--I thought normally that just happens at the Ritz (which is beyond my means). I think the room was about $180/night; the lira is a little stronger now than a year ago so actually it's probably a little cheaper now. I think they have a website, or you could try calling...there always seemed to be someone on duty who spoke English. Good luck and have a great time!

Thanks for all the advice, please keep it coming...I'm checking things out as people reccomend them. Does anyone know if the Hermitage has an email address, it's not on the Venere website. <BR>Thanks again for your help. I know that driving is going to be difficult, but we just want to drive in and park the car not use it in the city. Then we are getting rid of it when we get to Rome. My husband is doing the driving and is excellent, and very patient. We grew up in LA, so we're used to difficult driving situations.

We stayed at the La Residenza a year ago and loved the location. Its about a block from the Arno River,two blocks from the Duomo,etc. It had a fabulous breakfast room,everything clean,people very nice,etc.It had an elevator that holds four with luggage(building is out of stone) and I got it out of Frommers Book,I think. We actually had a suite that was made up of a big bathroom,hallway with two different bedrooms(each bedroom had closet with two twin beds and one room had the TV)all behind one locked door on the second floor? It was right in the thick of things for eating,shopping(Ponte Vechio was a block and a half away).We even walked to train station to go to Pisa and bus station to go to Sienna. I agree with above posters-leave the car driving some place else. They park in an unusal way over there and the roads in the town are VERY small.Get the car after you leave Florence again? Need more info-email me.Debbie

Just got back from Florence. Spent 8 days there and stayed at Hotel Casci. Nice clean room and bathroom. Bathroom was totally upgraded, with shower and tub. Hairdryer included, and there was room to move around. The staff is very friendly and speaks English. It's a family own hotel. The elevator worked, though it was small. It's well located, we walked everywhere from there. As mentioned there is parking, but unless you have to drive, don't. Getting into the historic city can be a really pain. One guest we met said that it took him two hours to go 8 blocks. (There are traffic circles all over) You need a special sticker to park in the historical part of the city. You may want to try a hotel on the other side of the Arno River, where driving may be less stressful. A short bus ride ($0.80) can get you to the main site within minutes. Check out the Hotel Lugarno and eat at Mama Gina's. Have a great trip!

We stayed at the Brunneleshi (spelling?) on our honeymoon a couple of years ago. Great location and it's historic if that interests you - a combination of several buildings, including an ancient tower and a former church. They even have a small museum. Good buffet breakfast, and killer views over the rooftops and of the Duomo.

Hermitage email address is: <BR> <BR>[email protected] <BR> <BR>My parents have stayed there twice and loved it. It is in a great location. I am going to Florence in May and unfortunately it was all ready booked when I was making my reservations.

The Hotel Lugarno (on Borgo san Jocopo on the south side of the river) has a garage and elevators. Everything in the central city is within easy walking distance from the hotel. Mama Ginas is OK but expensive, I'd try La Casalinga (sp?) over by Santo Spirito (about 3-4 blocks from the hotel) as it is less expensive and very good.