tower

<i>I just looked at Tower's (and ekscrunchy's) recommendation of Hotel La Residenza, and it looks perfect for you if your trip is before May 2010. After May 1st, the rate for a triple is out of your budget</i> Posted by "jean", above.

Bee:

I just checked the rate for a triple room at La Residenza for July...€125 per night with breakfast and all the inclusions I stated in my post above. The rooms are bigger than most European hotels I've stayed in over the years....so the triple should be more than ample for the three of you.

stu

dina4

hi bee:

we stayed with our two teens in a great apartment for 156 euro per night in 2008 during peak season. it was 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, washer (no dryer, but there's a drying rack in the window, living room, and kitchen. there is no minimum night requirement, and the people were lovely to deal with. it was located half a block from the baptistry and having visited florence, we thought it was a GREAT location. we walked there (rolling our luggage) from the train station.

we stayed at the casci in their quad in 2004 for almost 250 euro. this was so much better!

here's the link to the apartment. we LOVED it.
http://www.sleepinginflorence.com/co...t_florence.htm

they have several other apartments, too.

good luck!!

dina4

oh, i should probably mention there are a lot of stairs!!! if you have knee problems this might not work for you. i don't remember a lift.

also forgot to mention that their A/C was the best we had in Italy. (Better than the time we stayed at the Excelsior in Florence -- where we couldn't get cool enough!)

hope that helps.

kybourbon

Alloro B&B is between the train station and Duomo and should have a triple in your price range. They usually list a special booking rate (click book promotion) if you are staying several days. If you will be there in July or August, the discounts will be bigger.
http://www.allorobb.it/Eng/index.html

basingstoke2

Really, it is not all that much of a walk from the train station to the center of things. We walked from the station to our hotel that was actually a bit past the center in about 15 minutes with luggage.

Ronael

Bookmarking - thanks

KTtravel

We stayed at the Hotel Europa a few years ago which is located across from the Casci. We found it clean, comfortable and quiet with good A/C and breakfast was included. We stayed in a quad room which was very large. The hotel management was pleasant and easy to deal with (they helped us locate parking) and the location can't be beat -- just block or two from the cathedral. The price should be well within your range. Now this isn't a luxury property but falls within your budget/moderate category.

Flame123

We have stayed FIVE times (so far!) at Hotel Casci and so you can imagine that we love it in every possible way. I have been there once with two teenage sons and we got a beautiful and large quad room which was perfect for us. This is not a fancy hotel, which seems to be what you are looking for. But it IS spotlessly clean, has great a/c, a large and varied breakfast, right smack in the city center so you can really walk everywhere. But most of all, the people who run this small family hotel are so special, they care for you as if you are family and nothing is too much trouble for them.

All you need to do is read some of the hundreds of reviews on tripadvisor, they are all true. I would NOT stay in the train station area either. Firenze is just so small anyway that it would not make sense. Granted that this hotel is on the second floor (but with elevator albeit small) of a really drab looking apartment building but that feeling dissipates once you enter the actual hotel and are warmly greeted by the proprietors.

Have a great visit !!

Dobermina

Thus site has loads of great locations, and yes, many within a reasonable price range and distance, so it's totally worth checking out. They've never done me wrong! http://www.italiancollection.com/en/...ce/hotels.html
I know, the initial prices may frighten you, but scroll on down. They honestly handpick the properties, I've had great experiences (in fact, they were recommended to me by ITALIAN family and loads of traveling friends), and they provide really professional, friendly, caring, service. In English. Happy travels!

aussieparker

Try the Hotel Bellettini in Florence and if you book on the website it is cheaper. I booked on BOOKINGS.COM but found it cheaper on there website.

beeswing

Thanks for all the ideas; I'll check into them! One quick comment -- Flame 123 was under the impression I was looking for a "fancy hotel." I'm not, although I do want someplace clean (and not too ratty looking!). In fact, I don't tend to feel at home in fancy hotels.

*If I can get it,* I do prefer a little charm with my non-fancy hotels. In Europe, that might translate to a converted older/historic building or a location near a plaza, square, or landmark. It's not a requirement, but it is nice. My husband prefers places he can talk to the locals; a friendly staff is always great.

Thanks again for all the great ideas.

beeswing

kybourbon

>>> My husband prefers places he can talk to the locals; <<<

Does he speak Italian?

goddesstogo

Not that I'm getting a kickback from the Hotel Globus or anything, but it's about the same distance from there to the train station as it is to the Duomo (walking, I mean). I don't quite understand the concern about the train station unless something has changed about it since we were there in 2005. There were lots of people on the street, both day and night, and we felt perfectly safe walking everywhere.

It's true that Florence is very walkable -- you'll find that especially if you come from a big town or city where the distances are greater.

kybourbon

gtg - There are some areas around the train station that are a bit sketchy.

beeswing

No, my husband doesn't speak Italian (although he does know Latin, which might help)...but he's working on getting at least some basics down before our summer trip. He does surprisingly well in Mexico with the limited Spanish he's picked up. He's not at all afraid to dive into a language he doesn't know.

beeswing

Lexma90

If you're looking for charm, a historic building and close to a scenic piazza, then do consider Casa dei Tintori - and if your maximum price is 185, then it should be in your price range.

And great for practicing Italian - I'm working hard on my Italian. Alberto speaks English quite well, Valeria not so much, so each morning I'd practice with them in a mixture of Italian and English. They were very patient with me!

Flame123

beeswing - no you misinterpreted what I wrote or I was not clear enough. I KNEW you were NOT looking for anything fancy and THAT is exactly why I recommended Hotel Casci. It does seem to have all of most of what you are looking for.

Myer

You can look at Hotel Universo.

It appears to have been redone quite recently and the Tripadvisor comments seem good.

It's in Piaza Santa Maria Novella which is a 5 minute walk (max) to the train station but on the Historic side of the station.

You daughter qualifies as an adult but the rates are 105E and 130E (Piazza view) including breakfast, A/C, etc.

beeswing

Sorry, Flame123...I did misread you.

Thanks for all the ideas, everyone!

beeswing

madams77

We stayed at the Hotel David in September, 2009 for 3 nights. It is located in the Oltrarno area of Florence. We absolutely loved it. The hotel had so much charm, and the employees were so helpful. There are many great amenities included with the room rate, which was 135 euros for two adults. Our room had a king bed and two twin beds!! You can take the D bus from the train station, and it stops right across the street from the hotel. We utilized the bus system (purchased a 3-day bus pass from the hotel) as well as walked to so many beautiful sites in Florence. There is also a bus stop on the other side of the street that we used to go up to the Piazza Michelangelo.

I would not hesitate to stay here again. The hotel website: http://www.davidhotel.it/