I have been reading the recommendations for nice hotels in Florence but when I price them (if available) they are over $1,000 a night. I know what I get in a Ritz Carlton or 4 Seasons for $300-$500 per night but what makes these recommendations so special and justify these prices? Is there a nice Florence hotel that I can stay in for 3 nights near the center in this price range? Still searching - please help

On my last visit to Florence I stayed at an upscale B&B on he Piazza della Signoria. I recommend it highly.

More like staying in a luxurious private home than the usual B&B; we stayed in the Michelangelo room where prices now range from 200 to 260 Euro double with breakfast, free computer use, free wine and snacks, etc.

www.inpiazzadellasignoria.com

When are you going to Firenze? If you are going during the summer months, you will pay dearly for a nice hotel in Centro.

You are also forgetting the weak dollar against the euro. That is making any European hotel more expensive to Americans.

I can recommend only three hotels in Firenze:

Savoy 5-star
Helvetia e Bristol 5-star
Plaza Lucchesi 4-star

Sorry, but I seldom stay at anything less than a 4-star hotel

Thingorjus

We stayed at Hotel Lungarno on the banks of the Arno two years ago, and still rave about it.It's a four-star hotel with gorgeous rooms, impeccable service, and a great location. I hope that it falls within your price range, but wouldn't be totally surprised if it didn't. Anyway, if you decide to stay there, try to book one of the rooms that has a small balcony overlooking the river. We spent a few afternoons watching the crew teams on the river, Bellinis in hand. The memories? Priceless.

I am going in the middle of June and all of the above mentioned properties are either booked or the prices are $1,000 to $2,000 per night. Can't see it!! Any other suggestions??

As you know, the dollar is weak. The $500 room at a RC or 4S would be 750 in euros. So, is that what you "want" to spend or what you think you "need" to spend? (The prices are "justified" when people are willing to pay them.)

What exactly do you require? Luxury decor, large room and bathroom, fabulous lobby and restaurant, room service, etc.? Or are you looking for a "nice" hotel in the $300-500 range (or less)?

We've stayed at Hotel Villa Belvedere several times and really like it. It's not in the center, but about a 20 minute walk (or 5 minute taxi ride) and the views are lovely.
www.villa-belvdere.com

would you be willing to stay in a 3*? we stayed at hotel accademia and found it to be very suitable - good location, nice clean rooms (not luxury by any means), nice breakfast. we were travelling with our children and needed two rooms so keeping the budget in line was a challenge.

Hello, Weadles!

Weadles has very good taste in hotels.

Just make sure you don't mind a pool area labeled "Boob Central."



Thin

Here's the deal. I just went to Expedia.com and looked at hotel rates from June 12 to June 16. I DID NOT find one hotel that was anywhere near 1000k a night. NOT EVEN THE EXCELSIOR WESTIN, which is one of the grandest hotels in Florence (priced around $760 a night). There were many hotels listed around $300 a night.

Where are you finding these prices?

Thingorjus

I searched on venere.com for June 15-18 and found several "upper-end" hotels with doubles available at well under $1000: Helvetia & Bristol from 475, JK Place from 400, Plaza Lucchesi from 290, Bernini Palace from 270...

But, without knowing exactly what you're looking for, I'd venture to say you could find a nice hotel for less than these rates.

I stayed in a fantastic hotel in Florence. I think the name of it was the hotel Touro buoni. i know it has been mentioned on the boards here before.

it is one bridge down from the ponte vecchia and has a great deck upstairs to see all of florence and the river. breakfast was also included.

however, it was on top of an office building (i think that's what the building was) and the staff was not there late at night.

Are you talking about Tornabuoni?

http://www.hoteltornabuoni.it/en/location.htm

I like the Davanzati. Lovely hotel.

http://www.hoteldavanzati.it/

We stayed at the Hotel Tornabuoni Beacci in October of 06 and it was lovely. I would not hesitate to stay there again. I believe it is located above a Tiffany's jewelry store (someone mentioned it is above a business). We reserved our room on one of the internet sites - it might have been www.venere.com. It was centrally located - we walked everywhere.

Good luck!