Given a choice which of these two would you stay at? Why? Is the Loggiato dei Serviti too far from the historic center?Thanks! <BR>

<BR>I am not familiar with Loggiato dei Serviti, but my wife and I spent four nites at the Pendini this past December. Since Florence is such a 'walking' city, the Pendini is in a strategic location for doing just that. On via Strozzi, it is 50 yards from Piazza Republica, and within 12 minutes walk of many wonderful museums, churches, great views, shopping and restaurants (trattoria Buzzino has great pasta, Paoli has fantastic Riboletto, and Trattoria Ponte Vechio, near the famous bridge also has great food, as do most trattorias)! <BR>Rooms are not however the greatest. Internet travelers seem to praise this hotel excessively as far as I am concerned, but it is not that bad for the price (about $110 off season for a double) and excellent for the location. We were initially shown a room that was unacceptable to us and we ended up on the top floor (via a narrow spiral staircase) to a very narrow room but with a small balcony with a direct view of the dome of the Duomo! <BR>I would recommend the hotel mostly for its location, it is clean, people are accomidating, most bathrooms are recently renovated(the first room shown to us was not), and the price was right. <BR>Have a great trip! <BR>

When are you going? Are you sure you can even get in to both hotels? As the ever-wise Donna once noted about hotels in Paris, as you sit agonizing over where to stay, the rooms may be filling up. I have tried to stay at the LdS but couldn't get in when I called four months in advance.

We're booked at the Loggiata dei Serviti for March 23rd. We looked at lots of hotels, including the Pendini and decided on this one even though the price was higher. We have also stayed at the Morandi alla Crocetta and another "regular" hotel in Florence. We loved the MAC over the regular hotel, and we think the LDS is similar, in that they are smaller, former monastery-type places. Email me in April if you want a first-hand opinion, but the posters on this forum have highly recommended LDS except for one person who obviously hated it for whatever reason. <BR>

Thanks for all the info! I haven't booked either yet but feel I need to do so quickly! Soon I won't have a choice! How about the Hermitage? I'll be there the end of March! Thanks again! P.S Any comments on the Panada in Venice??? merci <BR>

We wrote about our stay at the Hotel Pendini in our Italy 96 travelogue which you'll find on our non-commercial web site, TheTravelzine.com &lt;http://thetravelzine.com&gt;

Gabriela, We just got back from Italy and in Florence stayed at the Hotel Astoria. I loved this hotel. It is about $150 a night, but very worth it. The room was large and had one large bed and had a large window over looking rooftops and beautiful drapes and a pretty wardrobe for clothes and the bathroom was gorgous with a marble shower with nozzles in different places on the wall so you get sprayed from every where...I thought it was neat. And the location is great. We never took a cab and it is about a 5 minute walk from the train station. And you leave your key at the front desk when you leave and they turn down your bed at night and leave a light on and leave slippers by the bed! And the breakfast is great in the morning. So if you're still seraching check them out on the web. Have fun!!

Was in Florence last April. Stayed at the Hotel Ritz. Had a flowered balcony on the River.Took a cab from the termial and walked every place for 4 days. $165. a night with breakfast. Try the Rist Montecatini to eat less than $45. a dinner with wine and dessert. It was heaven. We enjoyed walking that city. <BR>

Thanks guys! I have decided on the Hermitage. It looks good on the web and some people have made good comments about it. I'll keep my fingers crossed! <BR>merci <BR>