Problems with Florence museum reservations
 

Has anyone else had problems making reservations for the Accademia, Uffizi, etc.? I've tried several times to reserve these, but it keeps going to an error page in Italian after taking my credit card info. I've been going here to book the reservations:

http://www.b-ticket.com/b-ticket/uffizi/default.aspx

Since we will be there off season (early November), is it necessary to even make resrevations to the Uffizi, Accademia, Bargello, and Medici Chapels?

I was there during a peak time and had no need to make reservations for the Bargello and Medici. The Accademia also did not have a line in the afternoon, so even though I had a reservation number, I went through the regular line so I didn't have the pay the 'skip the line' fee. Uffizi I definitely needed the reservation number, even in the afternoon.

You shouldn't need a credit card to make a reservation though because you don't have to prepay? But I didn't go through any website. I had my hotel make the reservations for me and they sent me an email with the reservation numbers to take to the ticket office once I arrived.

That website worked for me when I made reservations for Uffizi and Accademia back in July. Maybe they now have the same guy who progams the Trenitaila credit card transactions! :)

Are you aware of Friends of the Uffizi? Depending on how long you are going to be there it could be worth it. Not only does it get you into a bunch of museums, you can go back more than once, so you don't have to "do" the Uffizi all in one shot. In my case I would have loved to return to the Bargello or San Marco a few times.

I found out about it too late, otherwise I would have tried to join for our 5 day visit. Here's the website, you have to jump thru some hoops, but have a look:
http://www.amicidegliuffizi.it/en_home.aspx

What type of credit card are you trying to use?

Hi...I also had the same problem. I tried to use my Master Card for the Uffizi reservations and kept getting an error message. Finally, in frustration, seeing that the time slots were selling out, I surfed further and found www.florence-tickets.com
email:[email protected]
where I purchased tickets for entrance and a guided tour. Of course, I had to pay a premium! Another bit of advice, you might call your credit card company and have them walk through the process with you to make sure the transaction clears ...I ended up having to do this!!

I highly suggest you have your hotel make the reservations for you. They won't charge you a premium. And you just pay the small fee when you get to the venue/museum.

I don't know if this is the problem, but when making reservations on the b ticket site for the Florence museums, you have to register and create a log-in before you start to reserve tickets. I didn't register the first time I tried to reserve tickets and got an error message.

I jsut made reservations this morning using the site for the Uffizi and Accademia. I did register beforehand and had no problems with the site. I even used my Amex. Registering may resolve your issue.
Also, you can't make reservations for morning slots for those two museums online (you have to call directly or go through an intermediary)
Our particular hotel charged a service fee to book tickets on top of what the website charges. Yours might not, but it is worth doublechecking before you have them do anything.

I was trying to make the reservations with a Mastercard, maybe that is the problem? I did register and login before making the reservations.

Sounds like we probably don't need to worry about reservations, except possibly for the Uffizi and Accademia. I would actually prefer the flexibility of not being bound to a particular time slot, if you think we can get in without too long a wait.

I would advise reservations unless you are fond of wasting time in long lines. I have never been where the lines have not been long, except in January and February.

Jimday, if you haven't done it already, see if you can make reservations where are given a reservation number rather than pre-paying for the ticket for the Uffizi and Accademia. You might be able to send an email to your hotel and have them do it for you? Then keep the numbers. Once you get to the museum, if there is a short line (again, quite possible at the Accademia in the afternoon), then you can get in the regular line and not pay the 3-4 euro reservation fee. You'll probably definitely need it for the Uffizi though. And I really wouldn't worry about the Bargello or Medici Chapels.